Damon Hill
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| posted on 24/6/05 at 04:00 PM |
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rx7 engine - no good?
i was wondering about an rx7 in the paper, but something at the back of my head says "mid-engine". Is it a middy, and if so, can you use
it for a locost?
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ethomas
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| posted on 24/6/05 at 04:39 PM |
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No, it is front engined, and should be PERFECT for a locost, it has a better power/weight than anything except for a bike engine.
Decent gearbox too
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Spottty
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| posted on 24/6/05 at 04:55 PM |
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They are a great engine. But be warned you will probly need to rebuild it. The Rotaries are bad if they arnt maintained. If they over heat or get low
on oil it hurts them bad.
But on the plus side, a street port job and some better exhuast and intake and you can get 175hp with out the turbo. And they weight about 200 pounds
less than most 4 cyls.
Ohh and if your mental you can add a turbo for 250+hp!!
1 more thing, if its a 86+ it has IRS with probly a 4.10 gear.
Can you tell what i'm using as a donor? 
Best thing to do for a build....
Ditch the wife! 
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Arthur Dent
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| posted on 25/6/05 at 05:30 AM |
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I've got an 81 Rx-7 (12A) so I can take a few measurements for you if you want.
I'm not using an Rx-7 as a donor mainly because the engine needs a really beefy exhaust to survive the heat the engine puts out and to muffle
the noise generated. Locosts don't leave a lot of room for the exhaust system ...
cool engine though - mine was taken care of and runs like a champ! I just think it would work better in a Triumph Spitfire or something with a bit
more room.
'The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go
wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.' Douglas Adams
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Spottty
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| posted on 25/6/05 at 06:31 PM |
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Ya, the noise may be a problem. they are really loud without a good muffler. There is a solution to this though:
Add a turbo! I know it sounds silly but a turbo will muffle some of the exhuast plus now you only have a downpipe to worry about instead of a
header!
But the downside is now there is more heat. I guess you could put tons of louvers in the hood, that should cool things down. or a 3 core radiator.
The main reason I'm sticking to the rotary is the small size, light weight with good power. Ohh and that it can rev to 9k rpm 
Best thing to do for a build....
Ditch the wife!
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