So i have this 86 Rx-7 sitting around. It needs a lot of work to be decent car, let alone fast or nice. I love the rotary in it, but i keep coming back to the idea of swapping in a quad4. I found kits to make the Quad4 mate with a T5 or a T56 transmission and grannysspeedshop.com has kits to swap in a number of different powertrains, including an LS1 with the 6speed T56 from an F-body. I don't have the cash for that swap and the medical bills to fix my ass after i wreck the sh*t out of it.
As far as i can tell, the biggest problems lie in oil pan design (for depth and steering rack clearance) and engine mounts. Atomic could be employed to make a new/different oil pan if its needed, so its down to engine mounts. I'm thinking of building a cross-beam over the front of the motor for the top mount. Anybody know of any other spots (besides the bottom dog bone) on the Quad4 block i could use to fab up some mounts? I'm putting the cart before the horse, but i don't want to put all the pieces together only to discover its a blatantly bad idea. Any thoughts at all?
ZZZZZZZ
I really don't see how a RWD quad4 powerplant would be cheaper than a 350 swap, but if you can get into contact with
quad4rods.com, that would definately cut down on some of the custom machining. I'm guessing you are just looking for some novelty project, but I personally would look for another 4 cylinder powerplant than the quad4.
As far as mounting places, are you asking for more places to brace the lower end or upper end of the engine?
I have no signiture
Thank you for the reply Whalesac! Its not so much a novelty project. The Quad4 just happens to be my favorite 4 cylinder powerplant and the one i know the most about. The LD9 twin cam would actually be preferred, and i will go that route if i can find one for the right price.
As far as mounting spots go, I'm asking about other RWD projects and where others have mounted up their Quads.
ZZZZZZZ
If you do a Quad4 swap, I certainly would not do an LD9. 90% of the "upgrades" for the engine are just stock parts off of earlier quad4's. I built a hybrid quad4, and realize how silly all of the work I did was for a measly 0.12L more than an LG0. You will have less headaches and more money in your pocket if you just start with an LG0. But performance parts on these engines are very limited now that Rocketparts, Mantapart and other quad4 performance vendors' parts are diamonds in the rough these days. That's one of the main reasons I would probably look elsewhere for a 4 cylinder platform. If you want to stick with GM, the ECOTEC has over 8 years of proven performance (about 6 years in America I believe), and some of, if not THE fastest 4 cylinder times in drag racing.
I can't answer your question about mounting though...sorry.
I have no signiture
A guy that works at the shop has a 87 rx-7 with a carbed lt1 and turbo 400 in it. The motor is all stock except for a small cam. Maybe pushing 280 to wheels and it'll haul a22 for what it is. I think he told me he only has around a grand and a half in it. He is using the v8 mounts, radiator out of trans am with the stock rear end. Main thing is traction with a v8 swap. If you try punching his from a stop it will just start roasting the tires clear to third and hardly be moving. Also going around 60 and punching it when the 4barrel opens up it'll also just start spinning and if not careful it's almost uncontrolable.
But myself i would go with a v8 swap. His has been dailly driven for 2 years with no problems that i know of. Besides him pulling the motor a few months back to rebuild it and beef it up a little more.
I have heard of the forementioned LT1, LS1, SBC
and have also heard of people dropping a buick turbo 3.8 in there
IMO any of those combos would give you a WAYYYY better performance to cost/effort ratio to the LD9 or a quad motor
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Those so naive, so hard headed, so narcissistic, that think that by their own efforts can single handedly change the world, are always the ones that do.
If your going to drop a GM 4-cylinder in it, eco or bust, without sleeving you can pull 300HP +.
The LT1 swap will be cheaper, you can buy a kit for it.
-Chris
if using granny speed, why not go for the Nissan 300ZX engine? I can't for the life of me remember what the engine code is, but it's a great swap to do. especially the twin turbo version
one thing I'll warn about though is the ford 302 swap. go to www.rx7club.com I think it is, that will tell you everything you need to know about the fc's and fd's.
Thank you all very much for the info and opinions! The scientist in me really wants to keep the rotary, but I think the VG30DE will offer right amount of power, ease of installation, dependability, and price to fulfill my goals for this project.
ZZZZZZZ
