As per topic.

Has anyone tried it?
Is this such a bad engine?
Very expensive?

I know 2 people with RX8's both of whom have had very bad problems with engine flooding if not warmed up, cooled down properly after short runs. Both tried plugs out etc to help it breathe but ended up being a main stealer job - they are both a bit dim when it comes to cars though so maybe not entirely the cars fault?!

its actually something i've been looking at for when the time comes. not sure about 'boxes etc.

i would like to look underneath one to see its mechanicals to judge its suitability as a donor.

nope, it's the cars. happens all the time at work.

The only two people I've known to have had RX8's have both had flooding problems from
time to time.
As ^ main dealer sorted but they were both done under warrantly. I had the opportunity
to chat with one mechanic when he came out to sort it. He said it's a common fault.

They've always struck me as an "enthusiasts" car needing a little care and attention in the way it's used. A friend had one from new and having driven it a few times it never really did it for me - it was reasonably quick and agile, but somehow just didn't feel exciting enough.

Would the running gear and suspension not be the same or very closely related to the MX-5? Can't see Mazda developing 2 different RWD set-ups

Did Mazda fix the rotor wear problem with these engines? I thought that all these wankel engines had a fundamental fault in this regard.

If that were the case, then there are not going to be many spare engines kicking around, which makes them a tricky donor.

Matt

e-bay has confirmed my fears

Loads of supply and fit packages at 2.3k

Replacement engines at £1600 out of running vehicles.

Not much money left from the £250 budget!

Matt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D2HIlyKa5I&feature=player_embedded
No problems with mine...however mine is an earlier 13btype engine.There are a few variants to look at but its all straight forward. Best thing is to drop me a U2U with your number and I can give you a call with the ins and outs of it as its to much to type, or i can type it so as every one can have a read
Cheers
Brian

A friend had one for two years. Never flooded once, was a great car. Down on torque but so are bike engines, so would go great in a kit car

Theres a rotary seven forsale on blat chat.
Rotarys are fun when they are working....they make huge power and chew fuel like a 27 litre spitfire.
But the do go pop and unless you had a supply of cheap 13b units you find rebuilds expensive....gaskets are eyewatering prices.
Later versions got better but you have to warm up and warm down.
Throw a turbo in and you are getting big power...
Goes well in a vw beetle....but cooling and a shortage of gearboxes put a stop to that....

quote:

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Originally posted by nick205Would the running gear and suspension not be the same or very closely related to the MX-5? Can't see Mazda developing 2 different RWD set-ups

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just got rid of our RX8

good car, engine did seem highly strung.
flood very easily if you dont warm them up before shutting them off.

drink fuel!!! we averaged 18 mpg and that was taking it fairly easy

good power if you rev them high, down on torque though. all in i think they would make a decent donor engine if a little pricey

I had a 231ps RX8 kit I intended to put in the Caterham I had at the time.

Pro's
Tiny
Quite light
Make good power
Rev forever
Cheap to buy

Cons
Rotor wear
Mpg
No ecu can control the oil metering pump, so have to run pre-mix

Oh... and the 6-speed box is a stormer!

We have an RX8, has flooded a couple of times, both times moving it in the drive to let someone out then turning it off. Hooked it to the Jeep pulled it a short distance fired right up.
Biggest problem is the amount of oil cooler area required to keep it cool in a 7.

Easy to fit and loads of room. Even though my engine is an earlier variant its still the same size. Mine does not have the same emissions/induction stuff on it but it will give an idea.Front on the engine is no bigger than the diameter of the gearbox bell housing so its effectivly lowering the centre of gravity.


The noise comes out these 2 holes.The exhaust is the only issue we have at the mo but I will get some pics up of the finished article hopefully next week.All in cost of the exhaust will be just under £400

here's one in a Stylus making 380BHP

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=113867

He knows a lot about the rotary engine, so u could ask him the do's and dont's

expatkiwi, is that an MX5 5-speed 'box on there tilted over? Why didn't you use the 6-speed? (both the RX8 and MX5 6-speeds are AZ6 gearboxes, just with a different front case to accomodate the different bellhousing pattern)

Chris

Mine is a std 12a mazda housing with mazda 626 internals making it a closer ratio. The centre section from a 1600 MX5 box can be used also and this gives a wicked 1st gear.
The omp on a RX8 engine is mechanical for the operation but the flow of oil is controled by the ECU. The RX8 uses a system on its wiring where one wire may do 5 different things(so I am told) and if its messed with and not got right it wont work properly.
Another option would be to go for the 6 port EGI engine out of the 2nd gen RX7(The non turbo one) If its put on a 48mm IDA carb and has a better flowing exhaust and leaving the rest of theengine standard it will make about 180bhp.Thats pretty good for a standard engine. I have one of those engines in bits but I am "enlarging" the inlet and exhaust ports a little and hope to get about 230bhp.If that fails I will go the stylus way and get a turbo.It might not be suited to the racing I do but at least I can do some mighty fine wheelies with it

[Edited on 11/5/10 by expatkiwi]

Can't type much as I'm abroad on my iPhone but we have fitted a 231bhp engine and 6 speed box in a tiger Avon, box was a squeeze though. This will be a track car and should be running soon, i don't have any upto date pictures

I need to speak to you about me going turbo