Your video series has really inspired me to take up a similar project. I can't think of a better value for money build right now, JDM cars are going for silly prices now and in the UK you can get RX8's for as little as £500. We better be hush hush before everyone catches on :^)
@@FindingSeconds Most are selling for £2500 and I'm sure they'll continue to increase. Have you ever considered adding a supercharger to your LS? I'm very tempted to add just a bit more spice to the formula
@@FindingSeconds I'm still working on the build....took a different path cause I'm hard headed. Using a small block Ford engine, while a tad bit smaller than the LS series its the oil pan and intake where the LS become smaller. Will be primarily a track day toy.
The sound is everything! We were in Punta Cana a couple of weeks ago but didn’t see anything exciting. Is there a better scene in Puerto Rico? Should we visit there next? :)
Only problem with ls1 swap is it throws the weigjt balance off, which is the defining point of the rx8 chasis. The lfx swap is the way to go. V6 perfect size
Well done on the video series! Lots of attention to details that answer a lot of questions and I am sure will be a big help to anyone trying to do this swap. Just out of curiosity what kind of mpg are you getting in the rx8 vs your miata? Just curious how a cars total weight affects fuel efficiency with v8 swaps. I realize that with race cars and v8 swaps this is not a high priority, just curious if you noticed any difference. Thanks
Thank you for the kind words David. I’m getting about 19mpg at the moment in the RX-8 with the LS3 (I’m having too much fun so that shouldn’t be a reflection on a normal expectation). Unfortunately I have no idea on the Miata. I log engine runtime there vs miles. Definitely more time spent there warming up/cooling down. When we hit the track W2W there’s no time to let things warm up :)
This kit had: Supplied with PnP axles with Porsche 930 inner CV, chrome-moly axle bars, and upgraded outer CVs. v8roadsters.com/product/8-8-differential-conversion/
I could use one of the trans mounts. I have a Volvo electric power steering pump I mounted in the trunk and ram ptfe to the front. Doing stainless and an on both lines looks clean but be careful reversing them. The low side doesn’t required ptfe so if you had one and the other one would look bigger even if they were both 6an let’s say. Nice work great car
@@FindingSeconds just got mine back on the road. Broke crappy welds from half hearted 8.8 swap that was done previously. Reinforced the subframe , made better mount to the subframe and welded it up.
@@FindingSeconds I put a 450 walby in the factory basket and used the regulator that built into the basket. When I ran it it measured 80psi instead of 60 psi
Hi im from australia and doing a barra swapped rx8 i dont know much about the electronic ppwer steering im just wondering when you changed the power steering rack do you remove the powersteering module
The only thing that was left in the engine bay was the firebox. I didn’t remove any module from the cabin. I’m not sure where the power steering controller is but I haven’t had any issues.
Just installed another 13b and oem tranny on a roller I bought. LS woulda been good but couldn’t spend what I spent on everything just for mounts and diff parts
@@FindingSeconds dont get me wrong, this will get me by for the next time this rotary build blows up… LS swap seems like reliable fun. Never again would I need to worry about a compression issue.
You know this swap might not be all its cracked up to be, I have seen multiple RX8s swapped with the LS engine for sale not long after they do this. I think it might kill the balance of the car.
If an iron block LS is used it will. The aluminum block (like this one), doesn’t effect things as much as you might think. I see a lot of the iron block swapped cars for sale.
nice video！ have you got any chance to corner balance the car? How does the weight balance change,and does it affect handling? IT would be so nice if you can post some comparison between the position of stock engine and swapped LS!
Once I have finished this build series I’ll get onto the corner balance. It does effect handling slightly as there is more weight out in front. The rotary is very compact and sits lower but the LS is slightly offset by the heavier transmission and differential. Once I corner balance I will try and find some stock rotary numbers and post them in a video.
hey im on my way to doing my swap i talked about last year. I have a 2008 rx8, t56 transmission and just getting engine and stuff sorted. I have the aluminum diff housing from the 93 - 99 tbird, not sure if its best to go with 28 or 31 spline (t2 torsen comes in both). one question i have is what diff ratio did you use for this build? thanks!
Hey @tylersmith7914, that's awesome! Can't wait to see how it turns out. I used a 31T spline on my torsion. Only because that is what the cobra diff had originally and matched the parts from V8R. I left the gears at 3.55. The car is light and I didn't see much benefit going to a 3.73 or 4.10. The LS3 has so much torque it will currently wheel spin in almost any gear :D
If you were to do it all again. Would you still use the v8 roadsters kit or go with something like the ls1 rx8 kit? I like that the ls1 rx8 kit allows you to still use the original steering rack (one less thing to source and swap, and don’t need to worry about PS fluid and leaks). Is there other significant advantages of the kit?
I’ve not had direct experience of the other one. I liked the V8R kit but anything you can do to reduce the amount of work or custom parts would be better. It would have been nice to retain the RX8 steering rack. I think one consideration is that with V8R you don’t need the RX8 ECU.
Thanks for the reply. The more I look into it the easiest setup looks to be the ls1rx8 kit. With a drop in engine and transmission from a 98-02 firebird. Then I’m thinking of doing the ronin speedworks conversion rear axles (allows for the 8.8 cv on the inside and manual rx8 cv on the outside). I would love to do a tr6060 rather than the T56 but the price of unit skyrockets the overall cost of the swap.
@@Dansyoung I can confirm that part on the tr6060 :) I have one in the Miata and it did change things significantly. Mind you if you can afford the upgrade it is well worth it.
Nope, all good with the starter. It's just a way to wire in the starter and the alternator. Each of them have to be directly connected to +12V. You can either run the wires in series like I have or in parallel. The starter is the thing that draws the most current on the car when cranking. This way you can run the largest wire to to the starter and then smaller wires from there. Just got used to doing this on race cars!
@FindingSeconds ....after I run mine for a bit, turn it off and then go to restart, it will slow crank for a bit almost like it doesn't want to start.....but then it cranks fast and fires right up. Acts like the battery is dead for a bit. That's why I asked. Any ideas?
If it does it every time, check your battery voltage just before starting it a second time. If that all checks out it is likely a ground or 12v connection somewhere. Just checking you have a ground strap for the engine to chassis? I think I may have a couple. I have another video on the channel that digs more into the electrical side of things.
@FindingSeconds ....just bought the car over the weekend. I plan on testing everything next weekend and reporting back. I have a feeling it's a ground but I wanted to ask your opinion in advance. I like your videos and appreciate the time it took for you to make them. Thank you!
There are details on the rx8club.com forum about how to reinforce/weld the pedal to stop it. If you don’t want to do that BHR sell a pedal already reinforced :) Search for Black Halo Racing Clutch in google and it should be the first link.
I’m not sure anyone does a full kit. Generally companies like V8Roadsters will sell you the parts you need but you have to source the engine etc separately.
Hey I've got an ls2 swap everything was working but my drive by wire is not working anymore I know it's not the throttle body though do you have Any ideas on the wiring for it and how did you get the stock rpm gauge to read? Please help
I haven’t looked for a while but don’t forget to check out RX8club.com classifieds and FB marketplace. There are also some FB RX8 groups worth looking through.
NC Miata 2006ish to 2015 depending where you are in the world. Do you need a rack? I still have one that needs new seals but otherwise is good. You’ll need to modify the pipes but it is yours for postage (or pick it up for free!)
@FindingSeconds I do still need one if it needs seals how do I get them jw I've tried finding them in groups however it seems like they are all scams bad spelling and what not if you still have one I'd be interested
Hey Russell, thanks for watching. I cover most of that in this video: LS Swap an RX-8 - Wiring, Fuel System, Clutch, Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and more! ruclips.net/video/kIP9q1yB6hU/видео.html If you have any further questions feel free to reach out :)
What vehicle did you get your LS3 from. And what year Camaro did you get your transmission from. I am looking to do the same swap and was wondering what would be the cheapest donor vehicles to use.
LS3 originally was from LKQ. Not sure on what vehicle it came out of. T-56 was from a 98-02 Camaro. That year had the LS1 which is smaller displacement but still a good option.
The whole fun of having an RX8 is being able to run it up to 10,000 RPMs who's shifting at 4,000 RPM? You better off with a sequential twin turbo on the original rotary
Ooo, interesting. Do you have any links to a good TT setup for the RX8? All of the pages that came up on Google are very out of date and the links I found suggested diminishing returns after 7,000 rpm (on a turbo setup for the RX8). Would love to learn more, thanks!
@@FindingSeconds No you've got to piece it together yourself... I haven't found any kits... Everybody dogs the RX-8 but aftermarket is not turbocharging the car the same way as the rx7.. You just have to apply the turbos the same way the RX7s were applied... I know everybody wants a big single turbo but that's not what the original RX7 had... So people oftentimes compare apples to oranges... I'm actually going with a C2 Pro charger and maybe later twin charge with the turbo as well.... I'll use an inter chiller to cool things down..
Over all well. Comparing it to my old 01 C5 Z06: The track with isn’t as wide and interestingly according to the interwebs wheel base is longer. I’ve got slightly wider tires at the front (square setup) but the rears are marginally narrower. The weight is about the same. The biggest difference is in the ride height, roll center, weight distribution and center of gravity. Long story short, the Corvette probably handled a little better.
@@FindingSeconds Thanks. How would you say it handles next to a stock RX8 with a rotary in it? Is it true the LS weighs about the same as the renesis? The only difference as you say would be the center of gravity of the LS would be a little farther forward and a little higher than the renesis. Is that correct? Is it even possible to build a renesis to put out 350hp reasonably? On the RX7, probably so, but not sure on the renisis with its higher compression. Whats nice about the LS is its cheap, reliable, torquey, easy horsepower next to the rotary. But the swap is not easy either, and not sure how it affects handling.
Hey Connor, thanks for contributing. I’d love to get the discussion going for the community. It would be great to hear your thoughts if you could share them.
@@FindingSeconds I'm not going to pull the "oh its so heavy it ruins the handling" because aluminium LS engines exist. However, what you have here is rwd, manual, LS, in a good chassis.... a corvette. Youre removing what makes the rx8, rx7, rx3, cosmo, etc, unique. That high revving pistonless engine thats so fascinating. And you're just turning it into yet another v8. I'm all for builds but I'm also quite purist when it comes to rotaries so im conflicted.
@@KartsAgainstHumanity the rx8 has gotten so much hate over the years (because of the engine reliability) so I believe to a scale v8 swapping it could give it a chance in sports and reliability (local parts store's has a massive inventory for LS/GM in inventory) given the rx8 was meant to be a tuner car that's never met its full potential, even being discontinued. So I'm for the LS or even K swapping it for pure cheap fun with a some what iconic jdm (classic) the way prices are for a 240sx 300zx toyota supras 1jz or 2jz a 800$ rx build is almost ideal at this point with the massive option to swap multiple engines of many caliber(I still respect the purist part )
How to LS swap an RX8 or any car for that matter in ONE step. Buy a car with an LS. There! Done. Leave the well engineered cars alone. Edit: Also I blocked your account to make sure I don't get anymore blasphemy from the likes of you.
Appreciate the reply. I understand where you are coming from. Prior to swapping my first vehicle I likely had a similar view point. The issue comes with performance. You just can’t get the same level of performance at the same price point of a custom swap. I have had a few LS based production vehicles in the past (Z06 Corvette as an example). It had an LS6 and put less than 350HP to the rear wheels. The curb weight was over 3,000lbs and the tires on it were very expensive. Compare that to the 2550lb Miata (with a full roll cage) and LS2 that put 460HP to the rear wheels. The overall Miata build can cost less than the Corvette but had so much more performance on track. Oh and the tires were a lot cheaper :) The satisfaction of being able to merge two platforms like this is also second to none. If you are interested in these sort of things I would really recommend trying at some point. I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea and sorry that it was suggested to you.
@@FindingSeconds Sorry but if you need to swap to make power then you’re not a good builder or tuner. You need more time under the hood and less time on forums if you think you need a V8 to make “good” power. Total destruction of handling characteristics, braking performance, drivability and sound. I’ve swapped close to 20 vehicles in the last 10 years and never once has a V8 in a non V8 car been a thought, even as a joke. K swapped Hondas, Miata’s, mini pickups and full caged track cars all doing sub-12s without turbo, 5.0 Coyote swapped DeTomaso Pantera, turbo 2J in my Lexus, V6 S/C Riviera swap into a Fiero, rotary RX7 and RX8 because that’s all that belongs in there. Hell I’ve even helped out on doing a K24 build for a Bronco II for better fuel economy, drivability, power, reliability AND the engine is lighter than the boat anchor 2.9 that came with it. Anyone who MUST use an LS or any V8 in a non V8 to “make power” is a real disappointment of a builder.
That’s awesome! Feel free to post links or how to find your builds. It will be great for anyone watching to get a balanced view and alternatives. Sorry that you continued to get notifications from the channel :(
Im planning my own swap and your vids are a lifesaver in preplanning. Before i stumbled on this all i had was a pdf from my kit
Let me know if you need any other info!
@@FindingSeconds did you get a custom drive shaft made? I was thinking of just doing a slip yoke for cost
Really cool....so weird to hear an RX-8 sound like a muscle car...hahahaha
I miss the screaming of the rotary but yes, yes it does!
Your video series has really inspired me to take up a similar project. I can't think of a better value for money build right now, JDM cars are going for silly prices now and in the UK you can get RX8's for as little as £500. We better be hush hush before everyone catches on :^)
That was the same over here until a couple of years ago, so I think you are right! Now, RX-8s even with low compression sell for more than you think!
@@FindingSeconds Most are selling for £2500 and I'm sure they'll continue to increase. Have you ever considered adding a supercharger to your LS? I'm very tempted to add just a bit more spice to the formula
Always thinking about the next step :)
Ha, i modified a 36mm nut just like you did so i could disassemble the NC steering rack and convert to full manual steering.
Glad it’s not just me who couldn’t find a tool :) How’s the rack in full manual steering mode? Track application?
@@FindingSeconds I'm still working on the build....took a different path cause I'm hard headed. Using a small block Ford engine, while a tad bit smaller than the LS series its the oil pan and intake where the LS become smaller. Will be primarily a track day toy.
That’s fantastic!
I had a Ford 302 swapped car back in the day. They have a very distinctive sound :)
Antagonizing every Puerto Rican with every rev!😎
The sound is everything! We were in Punta Cana a couple of weeks ago but didn’t see anything exciting. Is there a better scene in Puerto Rico? Should we visit there next? :)
Only problem with ls1 swap is it throws the weigjt balance off, which is the defining point of the rx8 chasis. The lfx swap is the way to go. V6 perfect size
It for sure changes the balance. I've heard of a few lfx swaps now, are you doing one? Would love to learn about your experience.
@@FindingSeconds I’ve thoroughly looked into lfx swap and once my compression goes bad in my current rx8, ill br doing the swap.
Let us know how you get on. Would love to follow your build.
Amazing video! Keep up the content!
Thank you
When I grow up I want to be like Adam!❤
I live to be like you sir! I need you to start your own channel!
Nice work.👍
Thanks 👍
Well done on the video series! Lots of attention to details that answer a lot of questions and I am sure will be a big help to anyone trying to do this swap. Just out of curiosity what kind of mpg are you getting in the rx8 vs your miata? Just curious how a cars total weight affects fuel efficiency with v8 swaps. I realize that with race cars and v8 swaps this is not a high priority, just curious if you noticed any difference. Thanks
Thank you for the kind words David. I’m getting about 19mpg at the moment in the RX-8 with the LS3 (I’m having too much fun so that shouldn’t be a reflection on a normal expectation).
Unfortunately I have no idea on the Miata. I log engine runtime there vs miles. Definitely more time spent there warming up/cooling down. When we hit the track W2W there’s no time to let things warm up :)
Must be one insane kick in the scooter.....😉
I have a dyno video coming up so you’ll get to see just how much kick it can produce :)
whta axles you have use with 8.8 diff?i own a t bird(28 spinline) and im trying to find axles
This kit had: Supplied with PnP axles with Porsche 930 inner CV, chrome-moly axle bars, and upgraded outer CVs.
v8roadsters.com/product/8-8-differential-conversion/
I could use one of the trans mounts. I have a Volvo electric power steering pump I mounted in the trunk and ram ptfe to the front. Doing stainless and an on both lines looks clean but be careful reversing them. The low side doesn’t required ptfe so if you had one and the other one would look bigger even if they were both 6an let’s say. Nice work great car
Thanks! I’m going to end up redoing the fuel setup at some point :)
@@FindingSeconds just got mine back on the road. Broke crappy welds from half hearted 8.8 swap that was done previously. Reinforced the subframe , made better mount to the subframe and welded it up.
@@FindingSeconds I put a 450 walby in the factory basket and used the regulator that built into the basket. When I ran it it measured 80psi instead of 60 psi
Hi im from australia and doing a barra swapped rx8 i dont know much about the electronic ppwer steering im just wondering when you changed the power steering rack do you remove the powersteering module
The only thing that was left in the engine bay was the firebox. I didn’t remove any module from the cabin. I’m not sure where the power steering controller is but I haven’t had any issues.
DAMN...that sounds so good 😊
It is awesome :)
Just installed another 13b and oem tranny on a roller I bought. LS woulda been good but couldn’t spend what I spent on everything just for mounts and diff parts
I hear that! The torque and acceleration is addictive though :) I miss the sound of the rotary and the refinement of the OEM platform.
@@FindingSeconds dont get me wrong, this will get me by for the next time this rotary build blows up… LS swap seems like reliable fun. Never again would I need to worry about a compression issue.
You know this swap might not be all its cracked up to be, I have seen multiple RX8s swapped with the LS engine for sale not long after they do this. I think it might kill the balance of the car.
If an iron block LS is used it will. The aluminum block (like this one), doesn’t effect things as much as you might think. I see a lot of the iron block swapped cars for sale.
nice video！ have you got any chance to corner balance the car? How does the weight balance change,and does it affect handling? IT would be so nice if you can post some comparison between the position of stock engine and swapped LS!
Once I have finished this build series I’ll get onto the corner balance. It does effect handling slightly as there is more weight out in front. The rotary is very compact and sits lower but the LS is slightly offset by the heavier transmission and differential. Once I corner balance I will try and find some stock rotary numbers and post them in a video.
hey im on my way to doing my swap i talked about last year. I have a 2008 rx8, t56 transmission and just getting engine and stuff sorted. I have the aluminum diff housing from the 93 - 99 tbird, not sure if its best to go with 28 or 31 spline (t2 torsen comes in both). one question i have is what diff ratio did you use for this build? thanks!
Hey @tylersmith7914, that's awesome! Can't wait to see how it turns out. I used a 31T spline on my torsion. Only because that is what the cobra diff had originally and matched the parts from V8R. I left the gears at 3.55. The car is light and I didn't see much benefit going to a 3.73 or 4.10. The LS3 has so much torque it will currently wheel spin in almost any gear :D
Zip ties to compress the coil springs? You don't fear death, do you?
There was a very scientific approach to working out how many zip ties were required and how to distribute :) Plus a couple of failed attempts :)
If you were to do it all again. Would you still use the v8 roadsters kit or go with something like the ls1 rx8 kit? I like that the ls1 rx8 kit allows you to still use the original steering rack (one less thing to source and swap, and don’t need to worry about PS fluid and leaks). Is there other significant advantages of the kit?
I’ve not had direct experience of the other one. I liked the V8R kit but anything you can do to reduce the amount of work or custom parts would be better. It would have been nice to retain the RX8 steering rack. I think one consideration is that with V8R you don’t need the RX8 ECU.
Thanks for the reply. The more I look into it the easiest setup looks to be the ls1rx8 kit. With a drop in engine and transmission from a 98-02 firebird. Then I’m thinking of doing the ronin speedworks conversion rear axles (allows for the 8.8 cv on the inside and manual rx8 cv on the outside). I would love to do a tr6060 rather than the T56 but the price of unit skyrockets the overall cost of the swap.
@@Dansyoung I can confirm that part on the tr6060 :) I have one in the Miata and it did change things significantly. Mind you if you can afford the upgrade it is well worth it.
very utile video keep the serie !!
Thanks, will do!
Whats the deal with the alternator lead to the starter? Complications with the starter??
Nope, all good with the starter. It's just a way to wire in the starter and the alternator. Each of them have to be directly connected to +12V. You can either run the wires in series like I have or in parallel. The starter is the thing that draws the most current on the car when cranking. This way you can run the largest wire to to the starter and then smaller wires from there. Just got used to doing this on race cars!
@FindingSeconds ....after I run mine for a bit, turn it off and then go to restart, it will slow crank for a bit almost like it doesn't want to start.....but then it cranks fast and fires right up. Acts like the battery is dead for a bit. That's why I asked. Any ideas?
If it does it every time, check your battery voltage just before starting it a second time. If that all checks out it is likely a ground or 12v connection somewhere. Just checking you have a ground strap for the engine to chassis? I think I may have a couple. I have another video on the channel that digs more into the electrical side of things.
Is it a new OEM starter? A defunct starter will also behave as you are describing once heat soaked.
@FindingSeconds ....just bought the car over the weekend. I plan on testing everything next weekend and reporting back. I have a feeling it's a ground but I wanted to ask your opinion in advance. I like your videos and appreciate the time it took for you to make them. Thank you!
Good info, I want to do a swap in the future, but I don't want to change the differential or the rear axle, is this possible?
Yes :) It would require a custom drive shaft. There might be kits out there for that. For sure there are swaps out in the wild with the RX-8 diff.
That clutch squeak is a deal breaker.
How do you get around that annoying sound?
There are details on the rx8club.com forum about how to reinforce/weld the pedal to stop it. If you don’t want to do that BHR sell a pedal already reinforced :) Search for Black Halo Racing Clutch in google and it should be the first link.
Hi! I was wondering if you could tell me how expensive it's a conversion kit(engine and all included)
I’m not sure anyone does a full kit. Generally companies like V8Roadsters will sell you the parts you need but you have to source the engine etc separately.
how difficult is maintenance like oil changes, spark plugs, alternator etc.?
Rear plugs are the only slight pain but nothing bad. Oil changes and an alternator swap are a piece of cake :D
Hey I've got an ls2 swap everything was working but my drive by wire is not working anymore I know it's not the throttle body though do you have Any ideas on the wiring for it and how did you get the stock rpm gauge to read? Please help
Check out this other video which covers some of that: ruclips.net/video/kIP9q1yB6hU/видео.html
found a ls at a junkyard for 250 all i need now is a rx8
I haven’t looked for a while but don’t forget to check out RX8club.com classifieds and FB marketplace. There are also some FB RX8 groups worth looking through.
What year miata do i gotta get the power steering rack out of
NC Miata 2006ish to 2015 depending where you are in the world. Do you need a rack? I still have one that needs new seals but otherwise is good. You’ll need to modify the pipes but it is yours for postage (or pick it up for free!)
@FindingSeconds I do still need one if it needs seals how do I get them jw I've tried finding them in groups however it seems like they are all scams bad spelling and what not if you still have one I'd be interested
Uggh, sorry. YT tends to only notify about the first reply. Email me at findingseconds@gmail.com. Just pay for shipping and it’s yours :)
Hey I'm doing a ls swap for my Mazda rx8 I'd like to know what engine harness you used for your Mazda to get all the gages working
Hey Russell, thanks for watching.
I cover most of that in this video: LS Swap an RX-8 - Wiring, Fuel System, Clutch, Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and more!
ruclips.net/video/kIP9q1yB6hU/видео.html
If you have any further questions feel free to reach out :)
@@FindingSeconds thank you I saw that right after I asked was it worth the swap
What vehicle did you get your LS3 from. And what year Camaro did you get your transmission from. I am looking to do the same swap and was wondering what would be the cheapest donor vehicles to use.
LS3 originally was from LKQ. Not sure on what vehicle it came out of. T-56 was from a 98-02 Camaro. That year had the LS1 which is smaller displacement but still a good option.
Thank you for all this information it has been very helpful with build. Where did you source your 8.8 differential from?
Furthermore, do you still have the Steering Rack with the blown seal. I would be interested in it. I cannot figure out how to send a private message.
@@ladislavstastny8163 I do yes! Find and add me on Instagram is easiest to message me. Or Facebook :)
Squeaky clutch pedal. Have you reinforced the clutch pedal assembly?
Thanks Wilson! Yeah it’s on my todo list :)
Was there any cure for the bump steer issue?
Not yet. Seems like as the suspension settles the issue is reduced.
The whole fun of having an RX8 is being able to run it up to 10,000 RPMs who's shifting at 4,000 RPM? You better off with a sequential twin turbo on the original rotary
Ooo, interesting. Do you have any links to a good TT setup for the RX8? All of the pages that came up on Google are very out of date and the links I found suggested diminishing returns after 7,000 rpm (on a turbo setup for the RX8). Would love to learn more, thanks!
@@FindingSeconds No you've got to piece it together yourself... I haven't found any kits... Everybody dogs the RX-8 but aftermarket is not turbocharging the car the same way as the rx7.. You just have to apply the turbos the same way the RX7s were applied... I know everybody wants a big single turbo but that's not what the original RX7 had... So people oftentimes compare apples to oranges... I'm actually going with a C2 Pro charger and maybe later twin charge with the turbo as well.... I'll use an inter chiller to cool things down..
Love it, are you posting your build anywhere? I would love to follow along.
How does it handle next to a corvette?
Over all well. Comparing it to my old 01 C5 Z06: The track with isn’t as wide and interestingly according to the interwebs wheel base is longer. I’ve got slightly wider tires at the front (square setup) but the rears are marginally narrower. The weight is about the same. The biggest difference is in the ride height, roll center, weight distribution and center of gravity.
Long story short, the Corvette probably handled a little better.
@@FindingSeconds Thanks. How would you say it handles next to a stock RX8 with a rotary in it? Is it true the LS weighs about the same as the renesis? The only difference as you say would be the center of gravity of the LS would be a little farther forward and a little higher than the renesis. Is that correct? Is it even possible to build a renesis to put out 350hp reasonably? On the RX7, probably so, but not sure on the renisis with its higher compression. Whats nice about the LS is its cheap, reliable, torquey, easy horsepower next to the rotary. But the swap is not easy either, and not sure how it affects handling.
No the handling isn’t quite as good as it is heavier (even with the aluminum block). However the power and the torque make up for everything :)
Could I do this with 50k
I would hope it wouldn’t cost you $50k!
Camaro Not Cam"E"ro 🤣🤣🤣
As in AR
Not sure it would sound right if I pronounced it like that :)
You ruined it by putting a 18th century push rod garage engine inher. You would have been better of with a 3 rotor always go rotary.
If only that were that easy!
@@FindingSeconds it is easy you order a 3 rotor and a gigantic turbo and pow you have a 1500hp monster.
Step 1: Don't.
Hey Connor, thanks for contributing. I’d love to get the discussion going for the community. It would be great to hear your thoughts if you could share them.
@@FindingSeconds I'm not going to pull the "oh its so heavy it ruins the handling" because aluminium LS engines exist. However, what you have here is rwd, manual, LS, in a good chassis.... a corvette. Youre removing what makes the rx8, rx7, rx3, cosmo, etc, unique. That high revving pistonless engine thats so fascinating. And you're just turning it into yet another v8. I'm all for builds but I'm also quite purist when it comes to rotaries so im conflicted.
@@KartsAgainstHumanity the rx8 has gotten so much hate over the years (because of the engine reliability) so I believe to a scale v8 swapping it could give it a chance in sports and reliability (local parts store's has a massive inventory for LS/GM in inventory) given the rx8 was meant to be a tuner car that's never met its full potential, even being discontinued.
So I'm for the LS or even K swapping it for pure cheap fun with a some what iconic jdm (classic) the way prices are for a 240sx 300zx toyota supras 1jz or 2jz a 800$ rx build is almost ideal at this point with the massive option to swap multiple engines of many caliber(I still respect the purist part )
@@KartsAgainstHumanitycringe
@@tabryisyou are cringe
Don’t do this…
Can you help the community understand why? I think it would be fantastic to hear the other side to this story. Thanks!
How to LS swap an RX8 or any car for that matter in ONE step.
Buy a car with an LS. There! Done.
Leave the well engineered cars alone.
Edit: Also I blocked your account to make sure I don't get anymore blasphemy from the likes of you.
Appreciate the reply. I understand where you are coming from. Prior to swapping my first vehicle I likely had a similar view point. The issue comes with performance. You just can’t get the same level of performance at the same price point of a custom swap.
I have had a few LS based production vehicles in the past (Z06 Corvette as an example). It had an LS6 and put less than 350HP to the rear wheels. The curb weight was over 3,000lbs and the tires on it were very expensive. Compare that to the 2550lb Miata (with a full roll cage) and LS2 that put 460HP to the rear wheels. The overall Miata build can cost less than the Corvette but had so much more performance on track. Oh and the tires were a lot cheaper :)
The satisfaction of being able to merge two platforms like this is also second to none. If you are interested in these sort of things I would really recommend trying at some point.
I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea and sorry that it was suggested to you.
@@FindingSeconds Sorry but if you need to swap to make power then you’re not a good builder or tuner. You need more time under the hood and less time on forums if you think you need a V8 to make “good” power. Total destruction of handling characteristics, braking performance, drivability and sound. I’ve swapped close to 20 vehicles in the last 10 years and never once has a V8 in a non V8 car been a thought, even as a joke. K swapped Hondas, Miata’s, mini pickups and full caged track cars all doing sub-12s without turbo, 5.0 Coyote swapped DeTomaso Pantera, turbo 2J in my Lexus, V6 S/C Riviera swap into a Fiero, rotary RX7 and RX8 because that’s all that belongs in there. Hell I’ve even helped out on doing a K24 build for a Bronco II for better fuel economy, drivability, power, reliability AND the engine is lighter than the boat anchor 2.9 that came with it.
Anyone who MUST use an LS or any V8 in a non V8 to “make power” is a real disappointment of a builder.
That’s awesome! Feel free to post links or how to find your builds. It will be great for anyone watching to get a balanced view and alternatives.
Sorry that you continued to get notifications from the channel :(
@@CaramelColored you dont make the rules move along, people can swap whatever they like, the world needs less negative people like you