The RX 8 engines makes the Rover 200 engines look reliable...
Okay maybe thats a bit harsh...but will be very interesting to see the end result...

 

THis is how it sits right now..




We are just about to make the bulkhead panel and weld it in.. Obviously the panel is in the early stages and needs more bending and trimming up before welding in.

 

Awesome transplant

 

Fucking hell Martin. Rapid work. Any idea on a timescale?

A trailer-in and drive-out conversion would be the bollocks on one of these!

 

Damn right!

 

I have to sort the wiring yet but other than that its mostly done.

 

whatever next brilliant!!

 

Wonder if the mps engine (turbo duratec 256bhp as standard) might be worth a look at. With it being a Mazda engine it might solve some of the wiring problems.Saying that the 2.3 is a bit taller than the 2.0 and also transverse in the Mazda. Cracking project by the way .

 

this is a great idea.

could be a nice little kit to offer people who end up with a knackered RX8 and want to put a reliable motor in.

 

I really want one as I happen to think the RX-8 is such a sweet driving car ruined by the engine.

Martin if you could PM a price for a conversion if I supply the car and you could find an engine and other parts needed as soon as you have a ballpark figure i'd be well interested.

 

I will follow this project with interest. Cool idea.


The amount of RX8's on eBay that need compression tests is unreal.

 

just a couple og good engines.

ford duratec 2l

ford ecoboost

2l diesel tdci if i remember i rigth then 250hp are in reatch

or a small 1,6 tdci chiped to 150hp, then its still fun and cheap to drive.


and all engines are all aluminium engines, not like VW´s crappy 1,8T engine.

dont understand how words like.

crappy, drinking oil don get the bells ringing when VolksWagen are in the same sentense.

but nice projekt.

 

Great project, looks like it's coming on well.

As for the above, the 'Crappy' Volkswagen 1.8T is one of the most well known 4-cylinder engines of the past 10 years. Known for its reliability, not to mention it being extremely tunable, capable of 700+ HP, about 300-350 on standard internals.

I think it's a great choice personally. Obviously I prefer the Cosworth YB though, but it's good to be different

 

Can hardly suggest an Ecoboost engine? Only a new engine with no real history to judge reliability, tuning potential, etc. compared to the VAG engine

 

Awesome build! Cant wait to see it finished

 

Any more updates Martin.

 

like all brits, afraid of new.

just as a base engine the duratec outflow the 20V VW engine.

and all i have seen from VW up to now is a bit horsepower and no torque. its like tuning a honda.

ecoboost are a new engine. thats wy its interesting. the first there are tuning these are the one there are standing with next generation fast ford´s.

but just change enough parts in that 20V then it can handle HP. just use enugh mony.

 

You obviously like the VAG engine as much as I like the RX8 engine, unless I have wrongly understood what you have posted you are saying that the VAG engine drinks oil??? If so you are wrong on a huge scale

And before you start spouting engine ideas you should actually check if they will fit in an RX8 THe VAG engine is very very short.

No torque?? hahahaha that proves you have no idea! Btw all that needs changing in a VAG engine to run 350hp is the rods and they're very cheap (Ł300 H section).

Not much but the bulkhead panel is all welded up, we are back on it after the xmas hols. I sold the old dead RX8 engine on egay for Ł150 so the silver car now owes Ł750 as a base

 

Ecoboost is fantastic, check out the new radical Martin has clearly chosen the vag for his reasons tho, suitability for the bay being number one priority I imagine

 

Spot on but also availability at cheapo prices is also a major consideration.

 

Not afraid of anything new, but you cant really recommend a new engine, with very limited history to judge by, over a well proven engine like the VAG unit. There is a reason the 20V has been put in many many other cars.

 

Oh and top notch work Martin

 

as you have yours experiance, i have mine.

nothing bad in that.

but the ecoboost engine (and the 2,3turbo engine) od to be straight fit on a mx5 gearbox.

but yes, i think when a std fabrikt engine drink 1L oil /1000km and its normal thats too mutch.

to make big hp on a 20V if i remember it right you need the right bigport head, and if i remember it right then the 3. valve dont make it flow more.

but yes, im not blindet by VAG engines.

big HP cheap engines the last 10 years, then you forget volvo engines.

bu sorry for the disagrement. this is your tread. ( and just a blacktop 2,0 engine takes a lot of horsepower straight from a mondeo)

and sorry i dont know how mutch room there are in a rx8 enginebay. but i know a couple of people there work with these. and a 3 rotor shoud be a lot of fun.

 

or just the fackt that VAG is a big company.

and there proberly are a lot of those engines laying arround.

but lets agree to disagree

in big hp engines there a a LS1

or mustang cobra 4,6 32v

but lightweight the maxda engines gives a lot of hp for a small prise.

 

LMAO you speak about the VAG 20v not giving any torque yet you then go on about the mazda rotary? get a grip mate. the rotary drinks more oil than a 20v ever would and doesn't produce anywhere near the same torque levels or spread and is so much more expensive to tune than the 20v. i think you need to go away and take a long hard look at these things before you start to spout off so you don't look like an idiot. especially after stating that all brits are scared of using new technology. that sort of thing is just plan insulting.


Martin, top project and an excellent idea. i'll be intrigued to see how this comes out.

 

VAG 20v engines in good health do not consume anywhere near 1L per 1000km.... THat's 1L per 600 mile

A std port 20V will make 350hp easily, the big port head you mention is readily available as it was fitted to the early 150hp models.

 

Always a good read these threads.

Slightly OT Martin, but is the 1.8t engine conversion something you offer as a service now, ie on the Rovers and such like?

Any other cars you have done a 1.8t conversion on?

 

As I drive an Audi S3 as my daily, I can assure you, that they defo don't use any oil... I changed mine around 4.5k ago and it hasn't moved of the full mark, fact!

BTW great build, good to see something different..

Have you had a look at the kits they do in the states for these? I think they do a pretty much bolt up kit to install a LS1 (if my memory serves me right).

 

Here's a 'crappy' 1.8T making 756bhp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4x4YIoZS1A

I've been running a 350bhp Leon 1.8T for years now, doesn't consume any oil at all, very reliable, very robust, all I did to the engine was change the rods and the exhaust valves, fitted a GT2860RS turbo kit and 350bhp with 320lbft was the result.

(I'm breaking it now if you're looking for engine parts Martin!)

 

and heres one of thouse BAD wankel engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THpV-DvJYlI

the princip is briliant, there are just only one facktory there uses it. and a 2 champer engine waigt are abaut 75kg.

all 1,8T i seen here here ind denmark aint worth using time on.

but now the dyno that i spend my time on are 2X1 tons rollers even thouse 1000hp supras often show less hp than stated.

oh, and have a nice newyear.

sorry for OFFTOPIC.

 

seen that car before years and years ago. lives in new zealand and yes it is very fast but it's also setup purely for drag so is always going to be quick.

one quick point though, how much does it cost to rebuild rotarys compared to ten a penny four bangers? I rest my case for binning the rotary mate.

 

Actually it's well cheap to rebuild a rotary , my dad had an rx7 back in the day and it was rebuilt for peanuts

 

leave this engine in the proper car

 

fcuk changing the plugs on a rotary, i'd swap it for a 20v lump for that alone

 

Great idea throwing the rotary lump away. I've just sold a 2008 231 6speed and it was a great car apart from the rotary engine. If anyone gets paranoid with a YB then double that with a rotary ...... The rotary is a dumb design IMO. I could understand it if delivered massive power, great mpg and superb reliability all at once, but it doesn't. You have to rev the tits off it to keep it happy - while getting single mpg figures at the same time! Brill! Great spec'd cars and I love the dash set up. Although the paints a bit thin.

Just one question though. As the cars are so well balanced for handling is there much of a weight difference on the 1.8t and shuffle about in relocation compared to the rotary's set up? I'm sure it's something you would of looked into. There great handling cars in the dry.

I'm not sure how helpful this site can be as they do seem pretty loyal to the marque http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/ There's also another one for the Yanks and they like doing some extreme stuff with them. It might help out with some of the ecu, electrics, etc ....

 

That thing sounds terrible!

 

Go easy guys I've got one !

Martin you're a legend keep us posted and if it works I'll have one lmao

Found this link through the rx8oc sp should be interesting watching the discussions from both sides of the fence.

CheeRS

Matt

 

There not all bad and a lot of the issues are due to poor maintenance and not RTFM , so far so good on mine and for the price they are ace.

Any questions let me know

Matt

 

i feel the biggest problem with the RX8's having engine failures is down to the owners. People these days dont feel they should check their oil levels once a week and to be honest they shouldnt have to really. Most modern cars should beable to go a year between oil top ups but these mazdas are lucky to go between fuel fill ups with out a top up. This is what kills the engines, running them too low on oil.

I have had a few RX8s now and ive had an uncountable amount of vw 1.8T powered motors including S3's, Cupra R's etc and i think one of these engines in an RX8 will be nothing short of amazing! The power, torque and general power delivery from these cars with a modified map is outstanding.

Great Project!

 

I'm thinking the same Danny if they came with a reliable 250bhp turbo 4 pot to start with they would probably be worth a lot more than they are these days!