So how much will the purchase of an LS1 cost?? Plus all the goodies you need to get it to make 100 more HP than the stock 350?? Then a tranny then a custom driveshaft??



Yup you will have a 450 HP LS1 but at what cost???



And keep telling yourself that it weighs less than a Turbo 13B engine I know for a fact that a bare LS1 block weighs 150 pounds.



I do believe people are weighing a 13BT engine complete w/ power steering and A/c Vs. a LS1 engine stripped down. But I have no proff so you can shoot that down if you would like. BUT I have seen a LS1 block that was shipped to my shop and the shipping weight on the box said 150 lbs. so I guess the driveshaft, pistons, connecting rods, heads, inake manifold, flywheel, headers, water pump and any accessories you shoose to run will only weigh another 100 lbs....





BTW - I dont care about 1.4 mile racing I am more into track and Autocross.

yep, the only real race is on a track or autocross

i still belive that no rx7 should see any motor other tha a rotary

Hot rodding is a phrase, its the term that was developed when people started swapping engines and parts from other cars into thier own to make them better and unique.



What do you call it when you change all the parts on a Mazda then?

It is kind of amusing how people will remove almost every original mazda part from the car to make it faster.

i bought my 87 T2 about 3 years ago, with that very purpose in mind.



I thought it would be an easy way to make a sweet little car fast. I honestly have nothing against it, but i would be happy to make an arguement to keep the rotary.



Rx-7's are designed around handling, i realize that many people would argue that a smallblock wouldn't add that much weight, but it actually does, and placing counterweights in the rear of the car, to me seemed silly. The more time i spent learning about rotaries and rx-7 heritage, i began to truely appriciate what it is all about. If it needs a rebuild, its an interesting experience that is unique in the car world. Most "hot rodders" have never tried one.



Make sure you consider all of the angles in this project. If you still want the car to handle, you will have to build an extremely light chevy--> aka aluminum block. This will be very expensive. Additionally, you will need other modifications to actually make it truely fast.



Also, if you do go the route of a chevy, i sincerely recommend a 327. It will rev higher more easily, and is capable of plenty of hp but it lacks some of the torque. The rx7 has small tires, with the slightly less torque it will be an easier drive, and the speed difference will be negligable.



Remember rx stands for rotary experimental. Its always sad to see a rex go the way of the piston motor. but regardless, it will be a fun car.



just make sure you put your time in and consider all of your options.... it took me about 6 months in this regard.



best of luck,



-jeff

An Engine / Tranny will run over 5K and engine alone 2500-2900. Then you will need a custom driveshaft, etc... to get it in the car and working. How is this the cheap way out??



Even then you dont have the HP you're telling me you'll have. These are 5 year old engines. Last I checked 5 years ago the LS1 was pumping 350 HP far cry from 450. So go fast goodies are needed add what?? I have no clue another 1500 - 2500 to get the HP up and over 400.





http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=33615



http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259857





I could see a V-8 swap done right running well over 7500. For that money I could build a rock solid rotary setup with close to 400 RWHP that would be dependable too.







I am not knocking this swap but get your facts straight before you say its the cheap way out of rebuilding a rotary.



And that "I saved it from a junkyard" line doesnt hold water with me. You could easily "save" it and not swap a V-8.



My only beef is when someone comes along and says the Rotary is not worth a ****. The V-8 is where its at. Well you better have a faster car with a V-8!! You just put an engine is almost 4X bigger!!!!



The coolness of these cars is the fact that they have an engine that no other car has. Throw a V-8 in and your another camaro corvette or mustang.

agreed.

I couldn't have written it any better.

I guess i didn't state it clearly.



if you start with no engine at all, and you want decent hp, a v8 is the way to go. not a ls1



I said that when I was going to do the swap, I was planning on using an ls1. I know that it is not cheaper to go that route.



but, if you just go with an old school 350, you can get one for 100 bucks if you look in the right places. Heads/rings/headers/carb/cam and decent exaust will put you over 350hp and it will be reliable.



now go figure the cost of building a 350hp rotary when you start with no engine at all...... get my point



and the swap kit isn't that expensive.....

Let me get this straight.



A $100 old school 350 engine in an FC can kill Ferraris and Lambo's?



Is that what your telling me?



How much does it cost to rebuild a 350? The guy I worked with was rebuilding his LS1 so it would run 11's (what would be needed to kill Ferraris and Lambo's) on pure engine then he was going to spray a 250 shot of N2O to get him into the 9's. He was spending close to $8,000 on his rebuild.



An old scool 350 will not even be putting out 300 HP. You will need a LOT of mods to get to 350 let alone 400RWHP that is probably out of the question.



Lets now even start on the weight of an old school 350 cast iron engine. Your car better be a point and shoot 1/4 mile car after that swap because that is all the front heavy pig will be good for.





No offence but you're living in a fantasy world if you think a well done V-8 swap is cheaper. I know for a fact the performance parts for 350's/LS1's/LT1's are not cheap. No performance parts are.