Any V8 Swappers here???
 

hi all, I am a new member, trying to gather some information on what it takes to put a small block ford (347) and a 5-(or 6)speed into an FD RX7. my biggest concerns are fitment, k-member, transmission location and mounting, fuel delivery, electronics compatability, and if I can run an 8.8" or 9" rear end in it without a problem. I'd also buy a rolling FD for the swap, as long as the body panels are there and nothing is bent, bashed in, or missing, what would they run? I'm sure its been done before so I'm not entering uncharted territory. the motor would be carb'd so fuel injection wouldn't be an issue.

I'm sure you'll have to weld some mounts. No biggie. Electronics will be a PITA. I've seen it done to an FB and FC... but never to an FD.

How much difference is there between the 3??

well im not a fan of v8 swaps at alll!!!! but it can and has been done before.. they sell mount kits for them, not sure about fd's though, but the hardest part would be fitment.. since its gunna be carbed then there are no wiring issues...

If it wasn't carbed out...what would be the wiring issues it would have??

Check your engine sizes, I'm not aware of many Carb'd V8's that could fit comfortably in an FD body. Too shallow I think. That's why it's mostly done with FC's since they are more conventionally shaped under the hood.
Good luck though, the rotary is the keystone of RX7's but if it is better to have a V8 than no motor in one of those beautifiul babies.
One of the best parts of a V8 swap into an rx is the large amount of low end torque you'll get. Burnout city! So be prepared to slap a mean differential onto the car and don't just dive into a new engine.

oh also go here:
http://www.torquecentral.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=3
lots of info on v8 swaps there

thanks for the info. I'm sure there are lots of after market and cowl hoods for these guys available right? hehe, personally I have never seen a cowl hood on an FD, I think it'd look bad ass cause FDs are one of the best looking cars around IMO. the 347 is physically the same size as a 302 (based off the 302 block), welding mounts shouldn't be a problem, but a pre-fabbed mount would save a lot of time and hassle for me. things like speedometers and other gauges based on sensors are what I'm concerned about as far as electronics go. are they standalone or are they controlled by the onboard computer? Also about rear ends, are there any companies that make direct bolt in 9" or 12 bolt rear ends for a RX7, and would a t-56 or tremec t-5 bolt in more or less? Do any of you have pictures of fords (or GM small block chevys) in FDs?

Most guages are controlled by vacuum hosing and wires. I don't believe the ECU is given that load of info to handle, although I do know that all of those solenoids can be wired to the ECU to control them directly. But not to show them on guages.

I've never seen or heard of an FD v8 swap sorry.

www.hinsonsupercars.com hasa bunch of LS1 swapping stuff, it doesn't look that hard, but I don't want to deal with an LS1s expenses and fuel injection in general :P, I'll post around on torque central

there is a guy in east texas who drops GM and ford motors into rx7s. talked to him at a race once, he has a drag car FD with a 383 stroker motor and "NOS" he claimed he was making big power, was running an Rx7 trany, though he did get eliminated in the first round by an Rx7 with just a 13B, mid 9 sec pas if i remember.
if your gona go through all that trouble why not go with a 3 rotor 20B?