22GoinOn2

If we are talking about the same magazine article they compared a "track ready" 13B to a basic LS1 FD with a stock camaro thrown into the mix for ***** and giggles. They even hinted that if the suspension set ups were equal the LS1 would be the better of the two. The camaro was just there to humiliate the domestics.

rowtareh

Yep, that was the article. They placed the LS1 FD higher than the 13B FD.





And who gives a damn, it's the persons car, not yours.

Rob x-7

Its not a LS1, and its not a FD, but my LT1 FC is a absolute blast to drive.



I have revved that thing to 7k once in a while, maunly because if the tires are cold and you floor it traction becomes an issue, and it never misses a beat.



With its lightweight flywheel that I have and the stock 4.1 gearing in a FC that piston motor revves QUITE fast, as fast as you can look at the tach its redline time, so much for the free-revving rotary motor arguement.



Its also been shown numerous times that Ls1 swaps retain 50/50 weight ratio and sometimes actually decrease the weight of the car once you start removing ps and ac.



Once the torque is factored in any addional weight argeument goes RIGHT out the window anyhow.



Stock LS1 motor FDs sell $20k+, thats with junkyard motors.



And for the record- I am a HOT RODDER at heart, thats when people took whatever parts they could get thier hands on and made them fit into a

different, usually lighter, vehicle to make it fast.

Stock FDs are not all that reliable and take numerous "reliability" mods to make them semi usable, modified FDs retain only the mazda engine itself with every single other part coming from the aftermarket.

2turbos

The problem with the LSx in the FD is not the weight distribution F/R but the center of gravity on the front. The engine weight sits higher in the chassis with the LSx engine than with the rotary. You can compensate with corner spring rates for weight distribution but if the engine weight sits higher it opens up a new can of worms.

Horsepower will improve straightaway times and should more than compensate for what's given up in handling and corner speeds if you are tracking the car IMHO.

CantGoStraight

He wasn't talking about the cars, he was referring to the drive trains. and yes the LS-1 (all aluminum) is actually lighter than our rotary with turbo's.

txturbogs

Having owned an FD with an LS1, I can say that they are a lot of fun. I sold that one and now I have a rotary FD, a 95. As soon as the engine blows, it will be ls2 time, 402 or 427, depending on how much $$ I have. It already has all the suspension parts, I just need a beefier differential and axles, and I will be set once the swap is done. I had 360 to the wheels and was doing 12.7 on drag radials. I loved it, and pissed people off, LOL, specially domestics.