I have a way to fix the soft NC rack/GM pump combination. The 03-07 Saturn Vue and 05-06 Chevy Equinox use an electronic power steering system that puts the assist motor on the column instead of on the rack like the RX-8 did from factory. I pulled one from a pick-n-pull for $30 and after a little bit of fab work and a $100 adapter kit for the columns electronics had a much better steering setup. Best part is you can adjust how much assist you want depending on the situation. Definitely worth looking into.
In my research I hve found out, there are several popular engine swaps enthusiasts choose, replacing the rotary engine (13B-MSP Renesis) with conventional piston engines for better reliability, more torque, and often more horsepower. Below are some common engine swap options for the Mazda RX-8: 1. LS V8 Engine Swap (Chevrolet) - Engines: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6, LS7, LSX (Various displacements) - Power Potential: 350-700+ HP - Why It's Popular: The LS engine family is one of the most common swaps for the RX-8 due to its compact size, availability, reliability, and massive aftermarket support. It provides a significant power boost and torque improvement over the rotary engine. 2. 2JZ-GTE (Toyota Supra Engine) - Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 - Power Potential: 300-1000+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The 2JZ engine is known for its incredible strength and ability to handle high horsepower builds. This engine can produce massive amounts of power, and the aftermarket support is extensive, making it a strong choice for an RX-8 swap. 3. K20/K24 (Honda) - Engines: K20A, K20Z, K24A (from Honda Civic Type R, Acura TSX, etc.) - Power Potential: 200-600+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The K-series engines are highly tunable, reliable, and can rev high like the rotary while offering much more torque. They are also lighter than the rotary, improving handling in the RX-8. 4. SR20DET (Nissan) - Engine: 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 - Power Potential: 250-500+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The SR20DET is a popular turbocharged four-cylinder engine known for its reliability and tunability. It’s smaller and lighter than some other options, making it a good fit for an RX-8. 5. RB26DETT (Nissan Skyline GT-R Engine) - Engine: 2.6L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 - Power Potential: 300-600+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The RB26 is a legendary engine from the Nissan GT-R line, known for high-revving capability and strong performance potential. It’s a rarer swap but offers great power with potential for more. 6. 1UZ-FE / 3UZ-FE (Toyota V8) - Engine: 4.0L/4.3L DOHC V8 - Power Potential: 250-500 HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The 1UZ-FE is a strong and reliable V8 from Toyota’s luxury line (used in cars like the Lexus LS400). It provides smooth power delivery, good reliability, and plenty of aftermarket support for turbocharging or supercharging. 7. BMW S54 (BMW M3 Engine) - Engine: 3.2L Inline-6 (from E46 M3) - Power Potential: 330-600+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The S54 is known for its high-revving nature, making it a natural fit for drivers who love the rotary's high-RPM characteristics. It’s also a robust engine with lots of aftermarket potential. 8. EJ25 (Subaru WRX/STI Engine) - Engine: 2.5L Turbocharged Boxer-4 - Power Potential: 300-500+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The EJ25 engine, particularly from the WRX STI, offers a unique driving experience due to its turbocharged boxer configuration. It’s lighter than most other swaps and can be tuned for strong performance. 9. 1JZ-GTE (Toyota) - Engine: 2.5L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 - Power Potential: 280-600+ HP (with mods) - Why It's Popular: The 1JZ-GTE is a smaller and slightly more affordable cousin to the 2JZ, still offering plenty of tuning potential while being a bit more compact, making it easier to fit in the RX-8. 10. Ford Coyote V8 - Engine: 5.0L V8 (from Ford Mustang) - Power Potential: 400-800+ HP - Why It's Popular: The Ford Coyote is a modern V8 that produces excellent power right out of the box. It’s reliable, has a high rev range, and offers plenty of tuning potential for even more power. Considerations for an Engine Swap: - Mounting and Fabrication: Different engine mounts, transmission adapters, and custom driveshafts may be required for non-rotary engines. - Transmission Compatibility: You'll need to ensure the transmission fits the new engine or swap in a new transmission. - ECU and Wiring: A new engine control unit (ECU) or a custom wiring harness may be necessary. - Cooling and Fuel Systems: Higher horsepower engines may require upgraded cooling and fuel delivery systems. - Weight Distribution: Larger or heavier engines like V8s may affect the handling and balance of the RX-8. Swapping a different engine into the RX-8 can completely transform the car’s performance, but it often requires substantial work and expertise. Depending on the goals (track, street, or show), one of these engine swaps could make the RX-8 faster, more reliable, or unique.
Not bad, there should be an easy 20hp with the tune. How many miles do you have on the engine since the rebuild? Might be the rings aren't fully worn in yet; fingers crossed it's something simple. It's too bad there aren't any off the shelf long tube headers that'll fit. I bought the LS1RX8 headers, but no luck on the fit with the V8R subframe. It was super close to, but the front primary on the passenger side hits the engine mount to subframe bar. The driver side will bolt on, but the steering shaft knuckle fouls the front primary. I'm in the process of hacking them up to fit. In my opinion, the borla shorties aren't much better than the cast iron manifolds. They are claimed to be 1 3/4, but that's only for the first 1/2" then they neck down to 1 5/8 into a ~2" collector. I ended up making 491whp with the LS7 in my RX8, but long tubes and a better tune should net 520-530whp. Great work, love watching your build!
Thanks Brian! About 1500 miles now but this is the first time properly up to redline. Fingers crossed indeed :) Agree completely about the long tube headers. Compared to the ones on the Miata the borla ones do look restrictive.
Hi Brian, seen your build on norotor and it's one of the best swapped RX8 I've seen. Did the bumpsteer kit fix the bump steer issue? How do you like the modified NC rack compared to original EPS?
@grahamphillips57 I got about halfway through reworking the ls1rx8 headers to fit, but decided not to use them. They weren't great quality to begin with, and it was going to take way more time and effort than it was worth. I ended up having a custom set of 2in headers and a new 3in exhaust made for me by an incredibly talented local fabricator. Ended up way better than what I would have been able to do.
@@brianstubblefield1477 where are you located roughly? I would certainly be interested in that option as well.. Not sure that I have anyone capable of doing that for me in my immediate area
Correct, it’s a 4WD dyno. When they run 2WD cars the front rollers still spin due to the connection. They have tested disconnecting the front rollers but it doesn’t change the power numbers by much if at all.
Best I had out of the rotary was 22.1mpg (US gallon) on the drive home from buying the car (1800 miles). With the LS3 it will do 19-20 around town :) I haven’t done any big road trips yet to do a fair comparison. Round town the RX-8 was 15.
@@FindingSeconds with the longtubes it still manages to make more torque, I have cutouts open which I think helps it make good power.. On 93 n dyno tune it'd definitely be a bit more.. Gonna put TrickFlow heads n cams on it, should make my P71 more fun.. Edit: Sorry, yes Ford Crown Vic..
I’d like to ask you a few questions about your swap, but I have no idea how to do so thru RUclips. My question lies with the fuel gauge…it seems you don’t have have the Mazda ECU but I see you fuel gauge still works. Can you confirm the signal from the sending unit in the fuel tank goes to micro computer in gauge cluster?
Hey Jeffry, I'll answer your question first and then tell you the best way to reach out :) The fuel gauge doesn't need the ECU. It's an independent signal that goes from the tank (there are two fuel level sensors as it's a saddle tank) directly to the cluster. Instagram/Facebook are always good. Links to my pages are in the video description.
if you need a straight line benchmark to hit, my new grocery getter would be a high bar to shoot for! it's a 4600 lb SUV, but the new S58 twin turbo straight six BMW slapped in there absolutely screams (11.3 stock in the quarter mile). and i may have already tuned mine 👀 i'm curious to see what numbers you get out of the 335i. those n54's have pretty good tuning headroom
@@FindingSeconds i agree! i wanted to goto heartland for test and tune yesterday but laziness won over. I'll be sad if the grocery getter runs the quarter faster than the R8 😂
@@FindingSeconds lambo skyrocketed in price so i made a business decision to trade it and pocket some cash. i noticed r8's hadn't changed much in price, so i found a mint 2nd gen v10 plus and made the trade. i got blue again. if only they still offered the gated manual 😢 drag racing is more like espresso. small but exciting dose of adrenaline. good for lazy people like me. i got pretty tired of doing brakes on the last r8 😂
It is not. It is a 4WD dyno :) Same one that was used in the 335xi video. The rear wheels are spinning the front wheels but the additional load is negligible and the dyno takes it into account.
I have a way to fix the soft NC rack/GM pump combination. The 03-07 Saturn Vue and 05-06 Chevy Equinox use an electronic power steering system that puts the assist motor on the column instead of on the rack like the RX-8 did from factory. I pulled one from a pick-n-pull for $30 and after a little bit of fab work and a $100 adapter kit for the columns electronics had a much better steering setup. Best part is you can adjust how much assist you want depending on the situation. Definitely worth looking into.
Great alternative for the build!
What adapter kit did you use?
wow i expected the channel to have more subs. Good stuff
Thanks! I’m sure it’s because I haven’t been feeding the alg :)
In my research I hve found out, there are several popular engine swaps enthusiasts choose, replacing the rotary engine (13B-MSP Renesis) with conventional piston engines for better reliability, more torque, and often more horsepower. Below are some common engine swap options for the Mazda RX-8:
1. LS V8 Engine Swap (Chevrolet)
- Engines: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6, LS7, LSX (Various displacements)
- Power Potential: 350-700+ HP
- Why It's Popular: The LS engine family is one of the most common swaps for the RX-8 due to its compact size, availability, reliability, and massive aftermarket support. It provides a significant power boost and torque improvement over the rotary engine.
2. 2JZ-GTE (Toyota Supra Engine)
- Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo Inline-6
- Power Potential: 300-1000+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The 2JZ engine is known for its incredible strength and ability to handle high horsepower builds. This engine can produce massive amounts of power, and the aftermarket support is extensive, making it a strong choice for an RX-8 swap.
3. K20/K24 (Honda)
- Engines: K20A, K20Z, K24A (from Honda Civic Type R, Acura TSX, etc.)
- Power Potential: 200-600+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The K-series engines are highly tunable, reliable, and can rev high like the rotary while offering much more torque. They are also lighter than the rotary, improving handling in the RX-8.
4. SR20DET (Nissan)
- Engine: 2.0L Turbo Inline-4
- Power Potential: 250-500+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The SR20DET is a popular turbocharged four-cylinder engine known for its reliability and tunability. It’s smaller and lighter than some other options, making it a good fit for an RX-8.
5. RB26DETT (Nissan Skyline GT-R Engine)
- Engine: 2.6L Twin-Turbo Inline-6
- Power Potential: 300-600+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The RB26 is a legendary engine from the Nissan GT-R line, known for high-revving capability and strong performance potential. It’s a rarer swap but offers great power with potential for more.
6. 1UZ-FE / 3UZ-FE (Toyota V8)
- Engine: 4.0L/4.3L DOHC V8
- Power Potential: 250-500 HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The 1UZ-FE is a strong and reliable V8 from Toyota’s luxury line (used in cars like the Lexus LS400). It provides smooth power delivery, good reliability, and plenty of aftermarket support for turbocharging or supercharging.
7. BMW S54 (BMW M3 Engine)
- Engine: 3.2L Inline-6 (from E46 M3)
- Power Potential: 330-600+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The S54 is known for its high-revving nature, making it a natural fit for drivers who love the rotary's high-RPM characteristics. It’s also a robust engine with lots of aftermarket potential.
8. EJ25 (Subaru WRX/STI Engine)
- Engine: 2.5L Turbocharged Boxer-4
- Power Potential: 300-500+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The EJ25 engine, particularly from the WRX STI, offers a unique driving experience due to its turbocharged boxer configuration. It’s lighter than most other swaps and can be tuned for strong performance.
9. 1JZ-GTE (Toyota)
- Engine: 2.5L Twin-Turbo Inline-6
- Power Potential: 280-600+ HP (with mods)
- Why It's Popular: The 1JZ-GTE is a smaller and slightly more affordable cousin to the 2JZ, still offering plenty of tuning potential while being a bit more compact, making it easier to fit in the RX-8.
10. Ford Coyote V8
- Engine: 5.0L V8 (from Ford Mustang)
- Power Potential: 400-800+ HP
- Why It's Popular: The Ford Coyote is a modern V8 that produces excellent power right out of the box. It’s reliable, has a high rev range, and offers plenty of tuning potential for even more power.
Considerations for an Engine Swap:
- Mounting and Fabrication: Different engine mounts, transmission adapters, and custom driveshafts may be required for non-rotary engines.
- Transmission Compatibility: You'll need to ensure the transmission fits the new engine or swap in a new transmission.
- ECU and Wiring: A new engine control unit (ECU) or a custom wiring harness may be necessary.
- Cooling and Fuel Systems: Higher horsepower engines may require upgraded cooling and fuel delivery systems.
- Weight Distribution: Larger or heavier engines like V8s may affect the handling and balance of the RX-8.
Swapping a different engine into the RX-8 can completely transform the car’s performance, but it often requires substantial work and expertise. Depending on the goals (track, street, or show), one of these engine swaps could make the RX-8 faster, more reliable, or unique.
There are some other odd ball LS engines too. This engine started out as an L96 but had LS3 heads installed (about the only difference)
@@FindingSeconds Very true
Not bad, there should be an easy 20hp with the tune. How many miles do you have on the engine since the rebuild? Might be the rings aren't fully worn in yet; fingers crossed it's something simple.
It's too bad there aren't any off the shelf long tube headers that'll fit. I bought the LS1RX8 headers, but no luck on the fit with the V8R subframe. It was super close to, but the front primary on the passenger side hits the engine mount to subframe bar. The driver side will bolt on, but the steering shaft knuckle fouls the front primary. I'm in the process of hacking them up to fit. In my opinion, the borla shorties aren't much better than the cast iron manifolds. They are claimed to be 1 3/4, but that's only for the first 1/2" then they neck down to 1 5/8 into a ~2" collector. I ended up making 491whp with the LS7 in my RX8, but long tubes and a better tune should net 520-530whp.
Great work, love watching your build!
Thanks Brian! About 1500 miles now but this is the first time properly up to redline. Fingers crossed indeed :)
Agree completely about the long tube headers. Compared to the ones on the Miata the borla ones do look restrictive.
Hi Brian, seen your build on norotor and it's one of the best swapped RX8 I've seen. Did the bumpsteer kit fix the bump steer issue? How do you like the modified NC rack compared to original EPS?
Did you ever get the longtubes fitted?
@grahamphillips57 I got about halfway through reworking the ls1rx8 headers to fit, but decided not to use them. They weren't great quality to begin with, and it was going to take way more time and effort than it was worth. I ended up having a custom set of 2in headers and a new 3in exhaust made for me by an incredibly talented local fabricator. Ended up way better than what I would have been able to do.
@@brianstubblefield1477 where are you located roughly? I would certainly be interested in that option as well.. Not sure that I have anyone capable of doing that for me in my immediate area
maybe a dumb question but why are the front wheels spinning? This isn't AWD right? cross connected Dyno?
Correct, it’s a 4WD dyno. When they run 2WD cars the front rollers still spin due to the connection. They have tested disconnecting the front rollers but it doesn’t change the power numbers by much if at all.
I wonder what it did to the fuel economy? I saw it’s probably better than rotary still
Best I had out of the rotary was 22.1mpg (US gallon) on the drive home from buying the car (1800 miles). With the LS3 it will do 19-20 around town :) I haven’t done any big road trips yet to do a fair comparison. Round town the RX-8 was 15.
4.6L 2v here, don't mind me, I did 240rwhp on the dyno, stock with longtubes n Marty tune on 87 octane..
Ford? I had one of those in my 04 Mustang GT. Fun engine! Tons of torque :) Unfortunately mine didn’t make that at the wheels!
@@FindingSeconds with the longtubes it still manages to make more torque, I have cutouts open which I think helps it make good power.. On 93 n dyno tune it'd definitely be a bit more.. Gonna put TrickFlow heads n cams on it, should make my P71 more fun.. Edit: Sorry, yes Ford Crown Vic..
Fantastic :) Love to see how it turns out
@@FindingSeconds Will try to hit you up when it's done bro..
I’d like to ask you a few questions about your swap, but I have no idea how to do so thru RUclips. My question lies with the fuel gauge…it seems you don’t have have the Mazda ECU but I see you fuel gauge still works. Can you confirm the signal from the sending unit in the fuel tank goes to micro computer in gauge cluster?
Hey Jeffry, I'll answer your question first and then tell you the best way to reach out :)
The fuel gauge doesn't need the ECU. It's an independent signal that goes from the tank (there are two fuel level sensors as it's a saddle tank) directly to the cluster.
Instagram/Facebook are always good. Links to my pages are in the video description.
Why is this thing on a all-wheel drive dyno is it all wheel drive?
It’s not but they are able to take that into consideration. I want to use the same dyno for all of the cars :)
if you need a straight line benchmark to hit, my new grocery getter would be a high bar to shoot for! it's a 4600 lb SUV, but the new S58 twin turbo straight six BMW slapped in there absolutely screams (11.3 stock in the quarter mile). and i may have already tuned mine 👀
i'm curious to see what numbers you get out of the 335i. those n54's have pretty good tuning headroom
Wow :) Cars/SUVs these days are amazing! I used to think I missed the golden era of cars but I think we are living it right now!!
@@FindingSeconds i agree! i wanted to goto heartland for test and tune yesterday but laziness won over. I'll be sad if the grocery getter runs the quarter faster than the R8 😂
The drag strip is one form of racing I have yet to try yet :) Super tempting with the RS5. Which R8?
@@FindingSeconds lambo skyrocketed in price so i made a business decision to trade it and pocket some cash. i noticed r8's hadn't changed much in price, so i found a mint 2nd gen v10 plus and made the trade. i got blue again. if only they still offered the gated manual 😢
drag racing is more like espresso. small but exciting dose of adrenaline. good for lazy people like me. i got pretty tired of doing brakes on the last r8 😂
Is that thing AWD?
It is not. It is a 4WD dyno :) Same one that was used in the 335xi video. The rear wheels are spinning the front wheels but the additional load is negligible and the dyno takes it into account.
Is this car for sale?
Not actively but like they say, everything can always be bought :)
But muh rotary!
I know :(
@@FindingSeconds Nah fuck rotaries.
willing to sell the rx8? lol ;)
I live by the motto that everything is for sale if the price is right :D