treceb

pondered, tried, heard someone talking about sticking a rotary in a front wheel drive car???

13BAce

I heard about a 4WD RX-7 that used a 626 transaxle, or something like that.

RX-Midget

I saw an article in Grassroots Motorsports where a guy put one in a Fiat X-19. It is prety close to the same thing as a FWD package, just that it is in the back of the car like a Fiero.

treceb

Grassroots Motorsports. Dont they have a newsletter or monthly magazine?? How can I get in touch with them. The other forum once said that it was the best reading if you were a true car enthusiast.(liked looking at other cars besides riced out hondas).

13BAce

http://www.grmotorsports.com

Wooffinn

Hi Treceb. Mr technical bullshit here.Mazda actually released a front wheel drive with a rotary engine. Released in '69 it was named the R130. A stylish coupe that was a bit a mix of R100 and Rx-2. A quarter mile time of 16.9 seconds and top speed of around 190 km/h. It also utilised a unique engine called the 13A. It was the only Mazda rotary with a different stroke on the eccentric shaft.[all other engines ie 10a,12a 13b,20b, have the same offset- meaning the rotors would fit and spin between a 10a and a 13b.The only difference being the width of the housings]

The NSU ro80 was also a FWD. It was slightly different because while it was FWD, the engine/box didn't sit across the engine bay. The engine mounted well forward with the box behind it.

Citroen's rotary attempt named the Birotor also was FWD and in the Citroen it was in the 'conventional' layout. Interestingly though, both the Birotor and Ro80 both used the semi-automatic gearboxes which had manual gearshifts but without a clutch pedal! I've driven a Ferrari with the same setup and believe you me it's very hard to master!

treceb

Thanks wooffinn.

That r130, was that also known as a "luce". If it is i might have read something bout it. Ive definately heard about the 13A. Did you read the post about the letters in engine denominations for mazda rotaries??



As far as NSU, i saw one for sale at a local show, but it was a piston(they came with boingers too, right), so i didnt pay much attention.



And, VW also had a semi-automatic car.

laters

KinetikRX

Definitely subscribe to them if you want some really cool reading- alot of it is geared towards autoX but their articles on their project cars is really good. Their magazine is produced locally and I get to see some of their cars around town. They've even made a Rotary -Spitfire, coincidentally enough called a Ro-Spit. Interesting car- other weird engine swap type stuff too. Project porsches and BMW's where they take a fairly ratted out car that they buy really cheap and then show you everything that needed to be done to put it into pristine racing condition- They are definitely not about rice- its all about the speed.