New Daily Driver

[manbridge 74]

Seems all the rotary guys I used to know have moved on. Didn’t keep them long...

Like an old air cooled Porsche they don’t bounce back from overheating too well.

I think the Mazda Lemans winner was a heck of a car...

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Jeff, most rotary enthusiasts premix with their gas. It’s a safety and longevity measure, it adds extra lubrication for the apex seals and protects you if the oil metering pump fails. One of the biggest misconceptions is that rotaries burn oil because they are crap. They burn oil by design for internal engine lubrication. I have no doubt that the 787B fuel was premixed, and it won Le Mans.

I think the “LSX all the things” movement is stupid because if I want a car with an LSX I’ll buy a Corvette. To each their own and I love a good hot rod, but in a car like the RX8 you’ll throw off the weight distribution and handling. Yes they make great power, and power can overcome a lot, but if you want huge HP you’re looking at the wrong car. Much like the flat six is a great fit for a 911, the rotary fits well with the character of the RX8.

When I put my last engine in my FC we yanked all the OMP stuff out and I purely premixed it. If I was going to put the OMP back on I would go with Rotary Aviations version that has its own reservoir that you put 2 cycle oil in.

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Seems all the rotary guys I used to know have moved on. Didn’t keep them long...

Like an old air cooled Porsche they don’t bounce back from overheating too well.

I think the Mazda Lemans winner was a heck of a car...

Go back and read my posts.


Ran mine at 280° for 2 days at a track day. Drove it around for a week and actually drove it to the shop that was going to rebuild it. Would still turn sideways in 2nd gear at WOT. Was a little hard to start when hot fired right up when cold.

I cannot think of any other engine you can run at 280° all weekend at a track event and will continue to run after.


I sold mine in a moment of stupidity. Regret it ever since. I am just buying time until I get into another one, I was itching to buy an FD a month ago. Like Matt, I have extreme ADHD when it comes to cars. Just posting about my 20B powered Cobra has me already looking around for parts.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Jeff, most rotary enthusiasts premix with their gas. It’s a safety and longevity measure, it adds extra lubrication for the apex seals and protects you if the oil metering pump fails. One of the biggest misconceptions is that rotaries burn oil because they are crap. They burn oil by design for internal engine lubrication. I have no doubt that the 787B fuel was premixed, and it won Le Mans.

I think the “LSX all the things” movement is stupid because if I want a car with an LSX I’ll buy a Corvette. To each their own and I love a good hot rod, but in a car like the RX8 you’ll throw off the weight distribution and handling. Yes they make great power, and power can overcome a lot, but if you want huge HP you’re looking at the wrong car. Much like the flat six is a great fit for a 911, the rotary fits well with the character of the RX8.

Thanks, Matt. I feel very much the same way, in that LS swaps into cars I know and care about are frowned upon. I don't know a darn thing about Mazda RX's, and they don't really interest me at all, so butchering them doesn't set off any emotions for me in any way. That said, I certainly emphasize with those who like these cars, and can understand their objections to this kind of modification. I can see where if a guy loves his rotaries, putting a pushrod V-8 into the veritable temple of the triangle would really put them off. I can definitely see where the rotary is a large part of, if not the entire character, of the car. Spoiling that, in the eyes of a purist, is blasphemy. I get that.

[manbridge 74]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

When I put my last engine in my FC we yanked all the OMP stuff out and I purely premixed it. If I was going to put the OMP back on I would go with Rotary Aviations version that has its own reservoir that you put 2 cycle oil in.



Go back and read my posts.


Ran mine at 280° for 2 days at a track day. Drove it around for a week and actually drove it to the shop that was going to rebuild it. Would still turn sideways in 2nd gear at WOT. Was a little hard to start when hot fired right up when cold.

I cannot think of any other engine you can run at 280° all weekend at a track event and will continue to run after.


I sold mine in a moment of stupidity. Regret it ever since. I am just buying time until I get into another one, I was itching to buy an FD a month ago. Like Matt, I have extreme ADHD when it comes to cars. Just posting about my 20B powered Cobra has me already looking around for parts.

Yes, but you’ve moved on...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Well I’ve owned an RX-8 and an RX-7 and just bought another, so I’m not moving anywhere it appears....

Jeff, I’ll also amend my post from last night to say that the LSX is one hell of an engine. Reliable, powerful, relatively compact and lightweight for a V8, and cheap. Great combo! For me I just think that the engine is the essence of the car, particularly a more unique engine like a rotary. I think you ruin the spirit and uniqueness when you toss in a LSX. For that matter, I would probably consider a rotary swapped Corvette as stupid because a Corvette without a big American V8 just seems blasphemous.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Yes, but you’ve moved on...

LOL I guess you can say that, I say I am in between them.

I have owned some sort of Rotary powered car since I was 19 years old.

The FC I recently sold, I owned from 1999 until 2013. Dang... Its been 5 years!!

I was shopping in earnest for a FD last month, I just need to sell some cars first. Too many in garage and shop.

I really want to do the 20B Cobra, I will probably settle for a nicely tuned FD.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Thanks, Matt. I feel very much the same way, in that LS swaps into cars I know and care about are frowned upon. I don't know a darn thing about Mazda RX's, and they don't really interest me at all, so butchering them doesn't set off any emotions for me in any way. That said, I certainly emphasize with those who like these cars, and can understand their objections to this kind of modification. I can see where if a guy loves his rotaries, putting a pushrod V-8 into the veritable temple of the triangle would really put them off. I can definitely see where the rotary is a large part of, if not the entire character, of the car. Spoiling that, in the eyes of a purist, is blasphemy. I get that.

I have a old online Rotary friend who has an FD with a LSx (not sure which one) with twin turbo's he works in the tuning industry. It is a mental car, I appreciate it for what it is, not my cup of tea.

I have always maintained those that give up on a rotary engine and swap in a piston engine, then carry on about how unreliable the rotary is are usually not willing to learn how to build and maintain a happy rotary powered car.

The engine in my FC came from the factory rated at 255 HP I had it tuned to 550 and 10 years later it is still running strong. I drilled into the buyer proper care and maintenance, he seems to be listening to me.

The biggest reason I want to build the 20B Cobra is because I know it will be blasphemy. The reaction to it will be akin to a Rotorhead seeing a LSx swapped RX-7.


I really do not care about RX8's getting V-8's, it does bother me when I see FD's with it because they are very rare cars.

[onewhippedpuppy]

One other thought that crossed my mind, in an era where a 914/928/951/996 is $20k+ and a Carrera is $50k, stuff like an RX-7, RX-8, or an abundance of other unique and fun cheap cars make a lot of sense. I love Porsches and will remain active here and a PCA member (unless Panorama goes to hell again), but I may not have another Porsche again for a while. It's just hard to justify from a fun per dollar spent perspective.

[RANDY P]

Again?!

Wow- I thought someone bumped an old thread. Congrats. I know I like that car since it just instantly trggered the "google and look for sale" by seeing the pic.

rjp

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

One other thought that crossed my mind, in an era where a 914/928/951/996 is $20k+ and a Carrera is $50k...

The 82 Targa I bought five months ago is still on the trailer. I am really working through the spreadsheets and may flip it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

The 82 Targa I bought five months ago is still on the trailer. I am really working through the spreadsheets and may flip it.

More of a project than initially estimated?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

More of a project than initially estimated?

Not really - I think once I get started I'll get into it. There is just so much going on at VX that finding the time is going to be difficult.

All good

[onewhippedpuppy]

Well, after one year it's for sale, which will shock absolutely nobody. Actually really don't want to sell this one, but it's an extra car that I just don't need at the moment. Contrary to popular belief it was 100% dead reliable, these are fantastic cars.

https://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/d/wichita-2009-mazda-rx-8-r3-rare-low/6937356119.html

[Tobra]

Wait, you kept a car an entire year?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Scary huh?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Scary huh?

Targa out the door yesterday.

Delivered to PA to a fairly non-descriptive place, Inside the garage was goodness,; Porsche goodness that made me sweat.

You'll do fine on the car you have listed.