The Renesis motors are so unreliable and there are so many RX8's with dead engines they are virtually worth nothing to buy or sell. Anyone who thinks an LS swap is a dumb idea, simply hasn't a clue. Purists would rather see an RX8 end up on scrap heap or torn apart for parts, than repowered with an LS engine. A real car enthusiast would actually understand and appreciate this point.....
not a clue? buy a dirt cheap ugly car and spend $15k 'fixing' it? who is the idiot? I've built tons of hotrods, doing a v8 mid-engine swap on a corvair, using the rx8 suspension in a triumph.
Having owned an Rx-8 myself, the rotary engine is awesome and I'd love to own another rotary, but the Renesis is really underwhelming and ultimately makes the Rx-8 lesser than what it could be. As someone who wants to drive the car everyday, an ls swap just plain makes sense across the board. Throw in an Ls2 - install bump steer kit so you can maintain its geometry, you'll get a massive increase in power AND fuel milage, parts will be cheap and easily accessible, and if you want to go full power you'll be able to keep up with, and sometimes surpass, the big dogs on the road. Not to mention the you'll get the equally godly noises of a V8. Rotary's and V8s both sound great so you lost nothing there either way. So it's hard for me to say, when arguing from the point of daily driving and Rx-8, that an Ls swap is blasphemous. I think it'll help keep the Rx-8 relevant and on the road!
The rotory engine is what makes the RX8 unique and the reason why so many people love it. Nobody buys an RX8 for the power. It's about the experience. Zoom Zoom
I couldn't agree more. The only reason a person decides to buy an rx8 is because he wants an rx8. This is the purest example of purchasing something with your heart, even if the brain says no. But as many have stated and i can confirm this, the handling of the car can be placed in a high position, even by today's standards.
@@llavero5 swapping the seals is not enough. Sidewalls would have been worn out as well and you can't drill them out like you could on a piston. Also there's no such thing as oversized rotors
The rotary engine is the heart of a Mazda RX car, he is the one who give the perfect masses and the great handing of the RX8. For me swap a big and heavy engine in the RX8 is just idiot.
The weight of an ls1 with a t56 is about 700 lbs while a rotary with trans is about 350 or so lbs. I would say power and weight ls is the way to go plus maintenance is a breeze and theres no need to rebuild the engine such rotates are just to maintenance intensive
Your Swap might have been this much but a swap kit is less then 1500 and I can get a 4.8-6.0 ls for 200 bucks complete with harness from a buncha places near me and a trans for another 500-700 so figure highend 2200 then figure man hours but I wouldn’t be into it for anywhere close to 10k including the car
I agree. I just got quoted $9000 just for a recon engine. I'm looking at a motorcycle engine swap build. They rev and a 1300 would produce more power than a rotisery.
Once you start really doing the math, all the little parts. Add up all the things you're gonna need to make the power steering work a drive shaft. Either a custom differential or At least reinforced mounts. There's no way it would cost less then 5k.
I usually defer to you on this subject but I'll tell you that the average price for an ls1/t56 is actually closer to 6 to 8 thousand. The ls1 is not the best option. An all aluminum LM7 5.3 will win the hp war with good 1000+ easy. The LS1 does not have the block strength to handle that much power reliably. Any way you slice it the ls is hands down better
Just bought an LS1 for $700. T56s are overrated but my brother bought one for 800. He sold his ls1/t56 combo for 4k with in my opinion is far too much. Plenty of ls3s here for 4-5k. L92s are cheaper still. And I live in the PNW where prices are stupid high
Like everyone has already stated, the Rotary is the reason there's an "RX" badge on our cars. I would be much more ok if people threw in 2JZ's rather than LS's because the 2JZ is still japanese heritage. However, to everyone doing swaps, I am of the opinion that they should remove the RX badge at LEAST, because that's not an RX anymore. Respect the RX badge.
I was going to post something, but everything I wanted to say has already been said by somebody else in the commentsection below. I'm with the majority on this one.
Hi Kristian, as a RX8 owner I would never swap a non rotary engine as it loses its DNA of the rotary soul. However if I do have the money I would get an engine built from Billet Rotary from Australia, made from aluminium and my god they look so sexy. Looks way better than the original cast iron casings. I am sure you have seen them already? If money wasn't an issue I would love to have a 13B REW built by them
If emission regulations weren't an issue, i'd rew swap this car the second i get the money. It's a good upgrade, very expensive, but if you're true to the rotary, one of my few good ones you can make :)
This guy is so wrong... the cheapest LS is the 4.8/5.3/6.0 LM7 LQ4 LQ9 which will handle way more than any LS1 power wise. You can usually pick one of these engines up for as little as $350.00
Some people buy an rx8 as an excuse to be meticulous and perfectionist. An excuse to regularly service and rebuild your car! That’s for me. Swapping in an engine that you can leave get dirty and old and not have to keep in immaculate condition just takes the fun out of owning an rx8.
The swap is such a bad idea. If you want an LS just buy a Corvette rather than swap the engine into the RX8. Better off just putting another rotary engine in your 8 if it blows. Good information in the video, you do your homework as usual.
Exactly, I find it so amusing that people would buy a blown rx8 for $1000 thinking it is cheap, and spend $15k to put in a LS, when they can buy a Corvette that is better and faster and certainly better looking! for same or less, and when sold it will be worth more. Who wants to buy someone elses clappedhacked rx8? Turbo a 13b and faster better
Thanks man! this pretty much answered my question on whether or not I should consider doing this kinda swap. My RX8 is currently in a peculiar position, and I'm amazed that I'm keeping her alive for all these months tbh. But I'd be willing to share at least 50% of that credit with you.
How heavy is the lightest LS engine compared to the stock rotary? If the added weight of the LS changes the handling characteristics of the well balanced RX, why not just get a used Corvette with the LS already there? I'd be more interested in electrifying an RX-8 because (presumably) you could optimize the weight balance. It sure is nice seeing an RX-8 on the road as opposed to rotting in someones driveway with a for sale sign.
Im not a GM fan. But almost any engine is more reliable than the rotary. But I couldn't complain with an NA V8 that provides more power AND better gas milage compared to a rotary. A VQ swap in an RX8 would be interesting to see too
Personally I would have done a REW-swap if I had enough knowledge and money to do so. That way you won't disturb the weight distribution and handling, while getting decent power. And of course you get to keep that beautiful rotary sound and powerband 😍
350z is a v6 not v8 and for me personally i prefer the look of the 8 ive had mine for a while and im considering a swap but possibly keep it rotary theirs a lot of options and i can make it mine.
Would be awesome the only thing that I don't like about it is it takes away all the awesome Handling characteristics of the RX8 And 50/50 weight split... Awesome video BROTHER have a great weekend and the better day!!!!!
That's true. You sacrifice handling for power. For a drag race car is perfect, which i presume is the reason most of them get the ls swap. Thank you so much bro! Have a nice weekend yourself too!!!! :D
You break the weight split the second you sit down in the drivers seat. The LS1 fully dressed with transmission bolted on and battery relocated to the trunk is 143 lbs heavier than the fully dressed 13B with transmission bolted on (with the battery in the factory box). I'd put the difference close to 120 lbs more in the front, due to the fact that the trans will be more toward the center of the car. You're also going to inevitably gain weight in the rear by swapping the diff out for a Ford 8.8 to handle the power (you can run stock, but good luck not ripping the rear end out of it). All told, you're really only moving the needle to maybe 55/45 front to rear. And with the coilovers and other suspension upgrades (hey, if the cars gonna be down a while and you have the money for this swap, why not?), you can likely corner balance the whole thing to keep the handling extremely close to stock. Not that I have the cash to DO this, but if I did have the money to burn, I'd probably jump for an LS swap once the renesis dies. You'd have the handling AND the power this car deserves. Post isn't meant to bust your balls or anything, because I do love the uniqueness of the rotary engine, but reliable, more efficient horsepower is more alluring than being unique to me lol
@@andrewhopson8578 any insight on 2jz swaps? I heard they are heavier than ls but it seems i would prefer it more since the sound suites the look of the rx8 better
3-4k is not the price unless you want nearly a brand new engine, junkyards 5.3 will cost 200$ and if you want to rebuild it you can do so for 500~$ Those prices are not ok lol. Swap is doable for 3-4k all together if you do it yourself and don’t order everything from a kit
I have a love hate relationship with my Rx8. Having had the engine replaced with the stock model, set me back $$$ I prefer the rotary. I don't like the sound of the swap. Driven by Madness could you do a video on the Rx-8 going electric? I saw a few UA-cam videos of people trying to turn it into an electric car which I find attractive too. So it's either for me the car with the rotary engine or an electric car sound which sounds like a jet taking off. Look up the Audi E-Tron. That type of electric engine sound.
Mate, making a rotary car electric is literally the dumbest thing you can do automotivewise. The rotary is famous for being compact and lightweight. That is the reason RX's are superior in corners and handling. And you are now suggesting something that is literally 3x as heavy as an LS swap, which is already a fucking stupid idea to begin with. Pardon my French. Sometimes I get emotional.
@@tommythebiker3081 It wont be anything like an rx car and you know it. More like a glorified Nissan Leaf... Which, btw, weighs in at 1500kg and has the same action radius as my toothbrush (and is about as exciting to drive).
Rotaries sound obnoxious, burn oil as a design feature... lmao and have horrendous reliability needing a proper rotary tech to properly rebuild. Stop with the fan boying because of Fast and Furious and Need For Speed making the beautiful cars seem amazing to own when they're more just fun to look at and don't break down in a video game.
There's nothing better than stock. Here in Russia guys prefer a L4 turbocharged swap. SR20*ET, 4G63T, 3S-GTE (bad idea) or even a Vaz 16v engine. For weigh ratios of the car it is much better than putting an anvil LS1-2-... onto the front of the relatively light coupe. But rotor is always better for a rotery car.
@@lynnmckenney1987 No that's fair and everyone is entitled to do whatever they fancy with their cars. I just don't get why change one of the most defining and unique characteristics of a car. Unless it's the looks that matter mostly which is fair.
@@sztriki that's a fair point. I know I'd LOVE to have an rx8, my only worry is ,unfortunately, the motor. I'm not super familiar with them, but I can pick one up with a blown/damaged engine for $1200-1800. For the price of an engine rebuild (here at least), I could get a 4.8l or 5.3l v8 that's not *too* much heavier, slap it in with a swap kit and have a reliable *not trying to knock the rotary here* dd and fun drift day/autox car that I will never really have to worry about. Would I love to daily a rotary without ever having to worry about a rebuild? 100%. But...my 02 chevy has 284,000 miles on the original motor and its had....let's just say a "rough" life before I picked it up. I'd want to put an ls into any "fun" car I get, just for peace of mind, especially if I'm going to really rip on it. Then again, I'm in KY where LS motors are literally a dime a dozen, so my opinion is probably specific to my location. I 100% get keeping the car whole and enjoying it as it's meant to be enjoyed. But, if I did that, I would probably end up boosting it, and wouldn't that *kind of* be the same thing? The ls swap would just allow me to get the power of a boosted renesis without a turbo and the peace of mind that the ls will probably last longer than I own the car. Either way, these are amazing cars and I hope more people start picking them up and getting them going again
nice video very helpfull can u tell me rotary engine is too lighter then v8 is it good option or not. because i saw many of rx8 owner swap different v8's but weight distribution of car isnt ok and 2nd thing is what should be do to again working all features like tracktion control speedo meter, etc etc every thing of like stock
If you really have to swap away from a Rotary, I'd say the Toyota 1UZ would be an excellent alternative. If it's light enough to be swapped into Altezzas and AE86s without ruining their handling while keeping some the benefits of an LS, I'd go for it if you really care about that aspect as well as the 0-60 time and reliability. Alternatively, you can just go with an F20C and make it seem like the car never changed. Your call.
@@Icemann336 Very agreeable. I stumbled on this video cause I was thinking if I can't find someone to rebuild & port my rotary then what kind of swaps are out there & a few guys have done the 1UZFE & I wouldn't want to put something American in there 😅 maybe a ford since mazda has teamed up with them in the past 😅
I would rather swap in a 13b-REW or a 26b. I know the reliability of the LS engine is higher, but if you put an RX-8 with an LS is not a RX-8, remember, RX means Rotary Experimental, not LS V8.
But the LS swap costs more , i had to change the engine in my rx8 as i bought a second had car and it gave up after 300 miles. I bourght a new engine from Mazda which was £3200 ,had it ported and the supercharger kit was from Australia and worked out about £6000 . The car is where (imo) mazda should have put it, the power is right for the chassis,i have changed a few other bit but they only came to another £1500 .
Buy a kit car or a corvette. What’s the point otherwise? Please explain. All of the rx series are rotary cars. That’s the essence of them. I’m not gate keeping. If you want to ls swap go for it, I just question why?
We need hursepurrs. I like the idea of Dorito rolling down the road as much as anyone else, but a v8 truck engine will eat the Dorito like it's an owl snatching a mole out of a field in the night.
By explaining details of a sub-culture in the rx8 scene? I think it's interesting to know how a ls swap in carried out, it opens doors for debates and widens your view of the rx8 in general.
@@Drivenbymadness its the magic of the dorito that makes it special with its weight distribution rev hapy engine, it may lack power but thats what other chassis are ment for its great to see people loving the car n giving them new life but personally it hurts to see a rotary engine being pulled out and replaced with anything other than black magic doritos, which is y i prepped my miata for an ls swapp rather than my rx8
Lol the cheapest ls swap you can get is $3500 for the ls1/t56 combo ??? Man idk where your getting your information from but I can get a iron block 5.3 ls all day long for around 800 bucks and a t56 for around 1200. Thats 2k for that combination and that iron block 5.3 will handle a hell of alot more boost than a stock aluminum block ls1.
Exactly you can do the swap urself for 5k with everything maybe 10k in shop i don't know where you getting those high figures from he say 18k for the swap lol 😆
I can tell you right now that it don't cost no $10,000 to swap this motor nor end $18,000(Maybe for the people paying premium prices for parts they can get much less). Because I did it 6 years ago when my rotory tore to pieces. You don't HAVE to get the LS1, you can get the 5.3L motor and trans for like $1500, a turbo kit(NOT FROM EBAY) for around $2,500. Jump on summit for an intake, MAF for like $180 send it for a turbo tune for $50... In the end, if you know what you are doing you can swap for a turnkey for around $5,500-$7,000. A local shop where I used to live did the whole swap for $4,600. Secondly, that ls swap just got it's ass handed to him on the track by a integra. Probably spend $2,000 lol
So we just gonna pretend the lq doesnt exist lmao!? Those numbers he was throwing out made my damn head hurt being those are damn near fresh crate motor cost lol!
..didn't really cover much about if it was worth it or not, you just quoted some facts and random prices, what about the balance of the car from the extra weight, or how much of a pain it would be to change plugs in a bay that tight...?
Guaranteed the car handles like garbage no matter what you throw at it Mazda engineers have the car perfectly balanced if you really want the power port out your irons and by a turbo
Hardly, most swaps that dont go iron block stay near prefect to oem and insome cases better than oem balancing. Suspension geometry is corrected to oem as well soooo yeah.
For all of you bitching about it messing up the geometry of the car and the weight balance. if you do your research there have been people that put these cars on scales the car is still damn near perfect if you use an aluminum block motor.
Exactly I don't know were he get these figures from you can do the whole swap with all the accessories motor mount kit everything for under 5k if you do it yourself in shop maybe 11k
have fun with your 5 degree body roll, just to visualize it for you people who aren't thinking about the big picture. Not only are you throwing off the weight distribution of the car by putting a significantly heavier engine in the front but you are also raising more of that weight higher from the wheel base. example : if you v8 swap a miata the body roll goes from 1.5 to 5 degrees so unless you re do the entire suspension and know how to tune it, have fun getting laughed at or causing danger to yourself and others at the track.
All I know is...I really want an rx8, but my 02 Chevy with 284,000 miles really makes me consider ls swapping it so it can be a "fun" car and a decent daily. Not that theres anything WRONG with the rx8's engine, but...the ls has 100% proven its reliability to me time and time again. Plus, I can find an rx8 with a blown motor for $1200-1800, a junkyard 5.3 for $800 and a trans for around that much as well.
Middle ground? In terms of heritage. Me? I'd go quad cam Ford. Ol' crashed Stangs are appearing over here. Smarter than the Chevy LS? Umm.. probably not but at least it has lineage.
@Spiral Architect In japan nobody does that and if you've seen someone swap engine not from the family you'll be expected to have a taste of being ran over
How is it better? the chassis will not rotate anymore when its front heavy ! the rotary makes it a front mid engined car so to someone who cares about more than straight line performance it is not worth it ! swap in an REW instead and get the best of both worlds!
Really lol the ls1? Is the cheapest negative get a 5.3 and go look u just spent 250 over 3500 and if u want a 5.7 bored the 5.3 out since they have the same stroke
The Renesis motors are so unreliable and there are so many RX8's with dead engines they are virtually worth nothing to buy or sell. Anyone who thinks an LS swap is a dumb idea, simply hasn't a clue. Purists would rather see an RX8 end up on scrap heap or torn apart for parts, than repowered with an LS engine. A real car enthusiast would actually understand and appreciate this point.....
I 100% agree with you!
not a clue? buy a dirt cheap ugly car and spend $15k 'fixing' it? who is the idiot? I've built tons of hotrods, doing a v8 mid-engine swap on a corvair, using the rx8 suspension in a triumph.
Murray Madness so much irony in your comment 😂😂😂😂
Indeed, I admire all swaps. Especially my neighbors 13b 1989 Camaro.
Ïjjújjii
Having owned an Rx-8 myself, the rotary engine is awesome and I'd love to own another rotary, but the Renesis is really underwhelming and ultimately makes the Rx-8 lesser than what it could be. As someone who wants to drive the car everyday, an ls swap just plain makes sense across the board.
Throw in an Ls2 - install bump steer kit so you can maintain its geometry, you'll get a massive increase in power AND fuel milage, parts will be cheap and easily accessible, and if you want to go full power you'll be able to keep up with, and sometimes surpass, the big dogs on the road. Not to mention the you'll get the equally godly noises of a V8. Rotary's and V8s both sound great so you lost nothing there either way.
So it's hard for me to say, when arguing from the point of daily driving and Rx-8, that an Ls swap is blasphemous. I think it'll help keep the Rx-8 relevant and on the road!
The cost sucks all of the purpose out of doing that though
3 or 4 rotor engines though 😏😏
The rotory engine is what makes the RX8 unique and the reason why so many people love it. Nobody buys an RX8 for the power. It's about the experience. Zoom Zoom
I couldn't agree more. The only reason a person decides to buy an rx8 is because he wants an rx8. This is the purest example of purchasing something with your heart, even if the brain says no. But as many have stated and i can confirm this, the handling of the car can be placed in a high position, even by today's standards.
They buy it broken down mostly.
Compare to the older rotary engine rx8 junk won't last I change so dam many at the dealer
RX8 has a good chassis not a good motor.
It’s about the experience of being broke down
8 to 10grand, that's about the cost of 2 rotary rebuilds ain't it?
a set of seals and gaskets is less than 750 dollars from an aftermarket vendor and still not near 1k from mazda.
@@CorruptInfinityOfficial Facts
3-4 I would say.
@@CorruptInfinityOfficial The seals are cheaper than 750$, around 300$, the problem is the cost of the work
@@llavero5 swapping the seals is not enough. Sidewalls would have been worn out as well and you can't drill them out like you could on a piston. Also there's no such thing as oversized rotors
I got a rx8 to learn rotary, dont know bout yall but im sticking to it no matter how many rebuilds or new engines i go threw
This is the only correct answer. You earned 3 cookies!
@@Flyingdutchy33 Make that 4
@@Drivenbymadness let's go for 5
lol we'll see..
I spend 95% of my life over the road being a trucker, i had mine over a year now and just put 1000 miles on it my last hometime, so ya i will
The rotary engine is the heart of a Mazda RX car, he is the one who give the perfect masses and the great handing of the RX8. For me swap a big and heavy engine in the RX8 is just idiot.
The weight of an ls1 with a t56 is about 700 lbs while a rotary with trans is about 350 or so lbs. I would say power and weight ls is the way to go plus maintenance is a breeze and theres no need to rebuild the engine such rotates are just to maintenance intensive
@@peterkroeker753 For god's sake, please never buy a rotary car.
Flyingdutchy33
I want to buy one and 6.0 ls swap just to piss off people like you. Chevy power!!😂🤣🤘🇺🇸
@@jamesearlcash7725 gm is trash. End of story.
Your Swap might have been this much but a swap kit is less then 1500 and I can get a 4.8-6.0 ls for 200 bucks complete with harness from a buncha places near me and a trans for another 500-700 so figure highend 2200 then figure man hours but I wouldn’t be into it for anywhere close to 10k including the car
I agree. I just got quoted $9000 just for a recon engine. I'm looking at a motorcycle engine swap build. They rev and a 1300 would produce more power than a rotisery.
Once you start really doing the math, all the little parts. Add up all the things you're gonna need to make the power steering work a drive shaft.
Either a custom differential or At least reinforced mounts. There's no way it would cost less then 5k.
that turbo setup is sick, love how clean those snailbois look just hanging off the side of the intercooler
Power to displacement ratio says don't put the ls in there
Where did you get that astronomic prices from. I can build that shid max 3k
Some shit website that sponsored this dumb video probably
Can you tell me how you would cut down cost? Also would you pay for labor or do all the work yourself, im absolutely virginal when it comes to cars.
tell me where to pick up a cheaper ls1
I usually defer to you on this subject but I'll tell you that the average price for an ls1/t56 is actually closer to 6 to 8 thousand. The ls1 is not the best option. An all aluminum LM7 5.3 will win the hp war with good 1000+ easy. The LS1 does not have the block strength to handle that much power reliably. Any way you slice it the ls is hands down better
Just bought an LS1 for $700. T56s are overrated but my brother bought one for 800. He sold his ls1/t56 combo for 4k with in my opinion is far too much. Plenty of ls3s here for 4-5k. L92s are cheaper still. And I live in the PNW where prices are stupid high
Lm7 is a iron block
@@richmyers416 right lol. That guys comment was full of ignorance
After watching this I'm going to LS swap my immaculate 1998 SVII RX-7
Not 🤘
If u put LS SWAP on RX-7, U HAVE NO SOUL
Aorus Retired agreed, I most certainly would not ever do it!
😂
@@aorusretired7954 its called being unique bro!
I would do it personally
@@thymane2169 In japan you'll definitely catch no eyes whatsoever no matter how hard you try
Like everyone has already stated, the Rotary is the reason there's an "RX" badge on our cars. I would be much more ok if people threw in 2JZ's rather than LS's because the 2JZ is still japanese heritage. However, to everyone doing swaps, I am of the opinion that they should remove the RX badge at LEAST, because that's not an RX anymore. Respect the RX badge.
I was going to post something, but everything I wanted to say has already been said by somebody else in the commentsection below. I'm with the majority on this one.
Hi Kristian, as a RX8 owner I would never swap a non rotary engine as it loses its DNA of the rotary soul. However if I do have the money I would get an engine built from Billet Rotary from Australia, made from aluminium and my god they look so sexy. Looks way better than the original cast iron casings. I am sure you have seen them already? If money wasn't an issue I would love to have a 13B REW built by them
If emission regulations weren't an issue, i'd rew swap this car the second i get the money. It's a good upgrade, very expensive, but if you're true to the rotary, one of my few good ones you can make :)
This guy is so wrong... the cheapest LS is the 4.8/5.3/6.0 LM7 LQ4 LQ9 which will handle way more than any LS1 power wise. You can usually pick one of these engines up for as little as $350.00
Carl Larkin all day!!
For that money and lose the “MAZDA” engine you might just get a different car with more power.. that same way you won’t be driving a Mazda
How bout a RX8 3 rotor swap video? I'm interested to see what that would cost. Another interesting swap would be drivetrain swap to AWD.
Uuuu interesting proposition, will add it to the list, thanks!
Some people buy an rx8 as an excuse to be meticulous and perfectionist. An excuse to regularly service and rebuild your car! That’s for me. Swapping in an engine that you can leave get dirty and old and not have to keep in immaculate condition just takes the fun out of owning an rx8.
That's why I got my rx8.. is the passion of keeping it going.. then I have my truck that's beaten abused and neglected and still running 350k later
The swap is such a bad idea. If you want an LS just buy a Corvette rather than swap the engine into the RX8. Better off just putting another rotary engine in your 8 if it blows. Good information in the video, you do your homework as usual.
Exactly, I find it so amusing that people would buy a blown rx8 for $1000 thinking it is cheap, and spend $15k to put in a LS, when they can buy a Corvette that is better and faster and certainly better looking! for same or less, and when sold it will be worth more. Who wants to buy someone elses clappedhacked rx8? Turbo a 13b and faster better
Some people just wanna do dumb shit 😁 I know I kinda want to. But I could do the work myself
where do you buy rotary engine now?
Thanks man! this pretty much answered my question on whether or not I should consider doing this kinda swap. My RX8 is currently in a peculiar position, and I'm amazed that I'm keeping her alive for all these months tbh. But I'd be willing to share at least 50% of that credit with you.
Dont be afraid.... his price listing is way too expensive. It can be done cheaper and easier. Just use a 5.3 LM engine and a T5 trans.
LS swapping an RX7 makes little sense, but an RX8 does because of it's unique suicide doors
Why do only suicide doors justify an LS1 swap? 😂😂😂
@@AimForTheBushes908 LOL
How heavy is the lightest LS engine compared to the stock rotary? If the added weight of the LS changes the handling characteristics of the well balanced RX, why not just get a used Corvette with the LS already there? I'd be more interested in electrifying an RX-8 because (presumably) you could optimize the weight balance. It sure is nice seeing an RX-8 on the road as opposed to rotting in someones driveway with a for sale sign.
409lbs that is without ECU or wiring harness Wankel is almost weights almost twice less 210lbs that is just the block that is without anything else
if you want to swap your RX8 engine please stay with rotary. swap it with an 13B REW from an RX7 FD or swap it with an 20B from an mazda cosmo
May I ask can you still pass the emissions? And will the stock rear subframe of a 04 rx8 able to handle the torque of ls motors?
yes and yes.
Im not a GM fan. But almost any engine is more reliable than the rotary.
But I couldn't complain with an NA V8 that provides more power AND better gas milage compared to a rotary.
A VQ swap in an RX8 would be interesting to see too
If I weren't living in CA, I'd do this in a heart beat and make it a daily driver.
Personally I would have done a REW-swap if I had enough knowledge and money to do so. That way you won't disturb the weight distribution and handling, while getting decent power. And of course you get to keep that beautiful rotary sound and powerband 😍
This.
What kind of straight male preferred a rotary sound over a cammed V8 sound lol😅
why bother, just by a 350/370Z cheaper option
or literally _any_ other car.
350z is a v6 not v8 and for me personally i prefer the look of the 8 ive had mine for a while and im considering a swap but possibly keep it rotary theirs a lot of options and i can make it mine.
@@alexgerling3686 Better looks plus backseats when you absolutely need them. Literally the only thing keeping me from getting an rx8 is the motor lol.
Mazdas are great looking cars that are rarer to see
Where you able to use 15 inch rims on the back ? If so how you did it.😅
Would be awesome the only thing that I don't like about it is it takes away all the awesome Handling characteristics of the RX8 And 50/50 weight split...
Awesome video BROTHER have a great weekend and the better day!!!!!
That's true. You sacrifice handling for power. For a drag race car is perfect, which i presume is the reason most of them get the ls swap. Thank you so much bro! Have a nice weekend yourself too!!!! :D
You break the weight split the second you sit down in the drivers seat. The LS1 fully dressed with transmission bolted on and battery relocated to the trunk is 143 lbs heavier than the fully dressed 13B with transmission bolted on (with the battery in the factory box). I'd put the difference close to 120 lbs more in the front, due to the fact that the trans will be more toward the center of the car. You're also going to inevitably gain weight in the rear by swapping the diff out for a Ford 8.8 to handle the power (you can run stock, but good luck not ripping the rear end out of it). All told, you're really only moving the needle to maybe 55/45 front to rear. And with the coilovers and other suspension upgrades (hey, if the cars gonna be down a while and you have the money for this swap, why not?), you can likely corner balance the whole thing to keep the handling extremely close to stock.
Not that I have the cash to DO this, but if I did have the money to burn, I'd probably jump for an LS swap once the renesis dies. You'd have the handling AND the power this car deserves.
Post isn't meant to bust your balls or anything, because I do love the uniqueness of the rotary engine, but reliable, more efficient horsepower is more alluring than being unique to me lol
@@andrewhopson8578 any insight on 2jz swaps? I heard they are heavier than ls but it seems i would prefer it more since the sound suites the look of the rx8 better
Is the 3-4k price going off a brand new block? Or completly rebuilding it from a junkyard motor?
3-4k is not the price unless you want nearly a brand new engine, junkyards 5.3 will cost 200$ and if you want to rebuild it you can do so for 500~$ Those prices are not ok lol. Swap is doable for 3-4k all together if you do it yourself and don’t order everything from a kit
I have a love hate relationship with my Rx8. Having had the engine replaced with the stock model, set me back $$$ I prefer the rotary. I don't like the sound of the swap. Driven by Madness could you do a video on the Rx-8 going electric? I saw a few UA-cam videos of people trying to turn it into an electric car which I find attractive too. So it's either for me the car with the rotary engine or an electric car sound which sounds like a jet taking off. Look up the Audi E-Tron. That type of electric engine sound.
Mate, making a rotary car electric is literally the dumbest thing you can do automotivewise. The rotary is famous for being compact and lightweight. That is the reason RX's are superior in corners and handling. And you are now suggesting something that is literally 3x as heavy as an LS swap, which is already a fucking stupid idea to begin with. Pardon my French. Sometimes I get emotional.
@@Flyingdutchy33 as a matter of fact, Mazda is currently working on a wankel+electric combo.
@@tommythebiker3081 It wont be anything like an rx car and you know it. More like a glorified Nissan Leaf... Which, btw, weighs in at 1500kg and has the same action radius as my toothbrush (and is about as exciting to drive).
@@Flyingdutchy33 not so sure about it, I heard that they're gonna use the electric motor as a "KERS-like" system.
@@tommythebiker3081 How is that even possible?
Do they make an adapter plate for the factory 6 speed?
where do i get my hands on the engine tho?
Shoutout to TREX performance. Proffesional quality work at reasonable prices. Highly recommend to keep that rotary running
It is worth the LS swap for the RX7 & the RX8 because the rotary engines in these vehicles have to be warmed up before turning off
Rotaries sound obnoxious, burn oil as a design feature... lmao and have horrendous reliability needing a proper rotary tech to properly rebuild. Stop with the fan boying because of Fast and Furious and Need For Speed making the beautiful cars seem amazing to own when they're more just fun to look at and don't break down in a video game.
There's nothing better than stock.
Here in Russia guys prefer a L4 turbocharged swap. SR20*ET, 4G63T, 3S-GTE (bad idea) or even a Vaz 16v engine.
For weigh ratios of the car it is much better than putting an anvil LS1-2-... onto the front of the relatively light coupe.
But rotor is always better for a rotery car.
LS swapping an Rx8 is like painting a DeLorean and modifying its doors. Sure there are reasons behind it but it defeats the purpose of the car.
I thought the purpose of a "fun" car was to enjoy it? As long as the owner likes and enjoys it, why does it matter?
@@lynnmckenney1987 No that's fair and everyone is entitled to do whatever they fancy with their cars. I just don't get why change one of the most defining and unique characteristics of a car. Unless it's the looks that matter mostly which is fair.
@@sztriki that's a fair point. I know I'd LOVE to have an rx8, my only worry is ,unfortunately, the motor.
I'm not super familiar with them, but I can pick one up with a blown/damaged engine for $1200-1800.
For the price of an engine rebuild (here at least), I could get a 4.8l or 5.3l v8 that's not *too* much heavier, slap it in with a swap kit and have a reliable *not trying to knock the rotary here* dd and fun drift day/autox car that I will never really have to worry about.
Would I love to daily a rotary without ever having to worry about a rebuild? 100%.
But...my 02 chevy has 284,000 miles on the original motor and its had....let's just say a "rough" life before I picked it up.
I'd want to put an ls into any "fun" car I get, just for peace of mind, especially if I'm going to really rip on it. Then again, I'm in KY where LS motors are literally a dime a dozen, so my opinion is probably specific to my location.
I 100% get keeping the car whole and enjoying it as it's meant to be enjoyed. But, if I did that, I would probably end up boosting it, and wouldn't that *kind of* be the same thing?
The ls swap would just allow me to get the power of a boosted renesis without a turbo and the peace of mind that the ls will probably last longer than I own the car.
Either way, these are amazing cars and I hope more people start picking them up and getting them going again
nice video very helpfull can u tell me rotary engine is too lighter then v8 is it good option or not. because i saw many of rx8 owner swap different v8's but weight distribution of car isnt ok and 2nd thing is what should be do to again working all features like tracktion control speedo meter, etc etc every thing of like stock
If you're willing to sacrifice a bit of handling for more power, then its worth it.
And the loss of 50/50 weight distribution? And the fact you can make a 20b do the same HP for cost without the loss of weight distribution?
Yeah then that shit will break in the next 5 mins
If you really have to swap away from a Rotary, I'd say the Toyota 1UZ would be an excellent alternative. If it's light enough to be swapped into Altezzas and AE86s without ruining their handling while keeping some the benefits of an LS, I'd go for it if you really care about that aspect as well as the 0-60 time and reliability.
Alternatively, you can just go with an F20C and make it seem like the car never changed. Your call.
Keep it JDM I see.
@@13bfc
I also considered the car's character when mentioning these engines. Wouldn't wanna ruin the rev happy nature of it, would ya?
@@Icemann336 Very agreeable. I stumbled on this video cause I was thinking if I can't find someone to rebuild & port my rotary then what kind of swaps are out there & a few guys have done the 1UZFE & I wouldn't want to put something American in there 😅 maybe a ford since mazda has teamed up with them in the past 😅
What is the black car at 2:10 ?
Should i K, Jz or LS swap in the future?
I didn't expect such video on this channel :D I like it ;)
Thanks man :D
how strong is the RX8 rear end? can it hold up to LS power on drag slicks?
Do the swap and find out. Should hold up to 500hp
Bro you make great videos keep it up
Thanks bro!
At 280 rwhp you may as well just get an LS1 car and add Boltons/tune to get 300 rwhp
I would rather swap in a 13b-REW or a 26b. I know the reliability of the LS engine is higher, but if you put an RX-8 with an LS is not a RX-8, remember, RX means Rotary Experimental, not LS V8.
rotary is trash ur just mad because its true
Why would you do that ?? $10,000 would get you a rebuilt ported and super charged 13b giving around 400whp
Right?
Only a real passionate can spend $10.000 to swap the RX-8 rotary engine...
But the LS swap costs more , i had to change the engine in my rx8 as i bought a second had car and it gave up after 300 miles.
I bourght a new engine from Mazda which was £3200 ,had it ported and the supercharger kit was from Australia and worked out about £6000 .
The car is where (imo) mazda should have put it, the power is right for the chassis,i have changed a few other bit but they only came to another £1500 .
Reliability.
Because the ls is cheap to get that plus won't blow up in 5k miles
Why not use a lq4 or lq9 the vortec engines in Chevy trucks
Buy a kit car or a corvette. What’s the point otherwise? Please explain. All of the rx series are rotary cars. That’s the essence of them. I’m not gate keeping. If you want to ls swap go for it, I just question why?
We need hursepurrs. I like the idea of Dorito rolling down the road as much as anyone else, but a v8 truck engine will eat the Dorito like it's an owl snatching a mole out of a field in the night.
I am looking to put a LS 6.0 on my R3
If you have 10k , just swap for rx7 turbo . If you want pistons engine my dream engine swap for rx8 is f20c from s2000
Could you do a 2jz video with same format
Yes, it's coming :)
Why would you hurt us like this man?
By explaining details of a sub-culture in the rx8 scene? I think it's interesting to know how a ls swap in carried out, it opens doors for debates and widens your view of the rx8 in general.
@@Drivenbymadness its the magic of the dorito that makes it special with its weight distribution rev hapy engine, it may lack power but thats what other chassis are ment for its great to see people loving the car n giving them new life but personally it hurts to see a rotary engine being pulled out and replaced with anything other than black magic doritos, which is y i prepped my miata for an ls swapp rather than my rx8
Lol the cheapest ls swap you can get is $3500 for the ls1/t56 combo ??? Man idk where your getting your information from but I can get a iron block 5.3 ls all day long for around 800 bucks and a t56 for around 1200. Thats 2k for that combination and that iron block 5.3 will handle a hell of alot more boost than a stock aluminum block ls1.
Exactly you can do the swap urself for 5k with everything maybe 10k in shop i don't know where you getting those high figures from he say 18k for the swap lol 😆
can you do a video on how much it would cost to convert a rx7 engine into an rx8 and also the cost of 3 rotor your engine
Good idea, sure, i'll add it to the list :)
Your way high on your swap price 🤣🤣🤣
I thought it was wayyyy cheaper
Lmfao no kidding rite !!! I was thinking the same thing !!!
You do it yourself will set you back 10k just right arouns there and take it to mechanic it will cost twice more
How many different motors can be swapped into a Mazda rx8
I can tell you right now that it don't cost no $10,000 to swap this motor nor end $18,000(Maybe for the people paying premium prices for parts they can get much less). Because I did it 6 years ago when my rotory tore to pieces. You don't HAVE to get the LS1, you can get the 5.3L motor and trans for like $1500, a turbo kit(NOT FROM EBAY) for around $2,500. Jump on summit for an intake, MAF for like $180 send it for a turbo tune for $50... In the end, if you know what you are doing you can swap for a turnkey for around $5,500-$7,000. A local shop where I used to live did the whole swap for $4,600. Secondly, that ls swap just got it's ass handed to him on the track by a integra. Probably spend $2,000 lol
So we just gonna pretend the lq doesnt exist lmao!? Those numbers he was throwing out made my damn head hurt being those are damn near fresh crate motor cost lol!
Triple_0_gee for fucking real man... lq4 go for 300-500 all day. 5k for LS is just bananas.
..didn't really cover much about if it was worth it or not, you just quoted some facts and random prices, what about the balance of the car from the extra weight, or how much of a pain it would be to change plugs in a bay that tight...?
What are the best year RX8's to LS swap? does it matter?
04 and 05 are usually the dead ones suffering from compression loss or hot start issues
And now you got one off balance car that can’t corner.
_"... well yeah, but such and such power and something something torque!!"_
Guaranteed the car handles like garbage no matter what you throw at it Mazda engineers have the car perfectly balanced if you really want the power port out your irons and by a turbo
Hardly, most swaps that dont go iron block stay near prefect to oem and insome cases better than oem balancing. Suspension geometry is corrected to oem as well soooo yeah.
You should do how to change power steering rack
If i'll have issues i'll do the video, Otherwise i won't mess with it as it is a very demanding job, and my current one is in a good shape
That black teggy pulled on thatMasada 😂😂
The cheapest LS base engine you can get is a 4.8 or 5.3 for a couple hundred dollars that's ECM and harness I bet this swap can be done for $3,000
Who can install this for me
LS Swapper could give a run of it money from 98 Supra with a V12 swapped from Toyota Century
For all of you bitching about it messing up the geometry of the car and the weight balance. if you do your research there have been people that put these cars on scales the car is still damn near perfect if you use an aluminum block motor.
Um.....cheapest LS.....4.8 or 5.3 truck motor.....300-500 dollars
Exactly I don't know were he get these figures from you can do the whole swap with all the accessories motor mount kit everything for under 5k if you do it yourself in shop maybe 11k
have fun with your 5 degree body roll, just to visualize it for you people who aren't thinking about the big picture. Not only are you throwing off the weight distribution of the car by putting a significantly heavier engine in the front but you are also raising more of that weight higher from the wheel base. example : if you v8 swap a miata the body roll goes from 1.5 to 5 degrees so unless you re do the entire suspension and know how to tune it, have fun getting laughed at or causing danger to yourself and others at the track.
All I know is...I really want an rx8, but my 02 Chevy with 284,000 miles really makes me consider ls swapping it so it can be a "fun" car and a decent daily.
Not that theres anything WRONG with the rx8's engine, but...the ls has 100% proven its reliability to me time and time again.
Plus, I can find an rx8 with a blown motor for $1200-1800, a junkyard 5.3 for $800 and a trans for around that much as well.
Have fun going around corners
The rotary engine is unique is not an engine that is everywhere.
That's true :)
The only people who hates v8 swap in imports are fanboys. Don't be a fan boys, any real car motor head will love v8s. And I'm a Honda guy.
why the fuck would you buy a rotary car to get rid of the rotary? also if you have money to ls swap, you have money to rew swap or more ...
Middle ground? In terms of heritage. Me? I'd go quad cam Ford. Ol' crashed Stangs are appearing over here. Smarter than the Chevy LS? Umm.. probably not but at least it has lineage.
koncno en slovenc ku ma kanal s temo o avtih
ful uredi video 👏 👌
Blasphemy.
Repent 😂
@Spiral Architect In japan nobody does that and if you've seen someone swap engine not from the family you'll be expected to have a taste of being ran over
How is it better? the chassis will not rotate anymore when its front heavy ! the rotary makes it a front mid engined car so to someone who cares about more than straight line performance it is not worth it ! swap in an REW instead and get the best of both worlds!
Might need to even add a fuel pump to that list tho
Why not just buy a C5? I fail to see the point in this swap.
Love it thanks bro
You're welcome 😉
Such heresy...
Those prices are crazy bs lmao 3500 if u do it your self even less if u aré crafty
dang that got expensive really fast. might as well buy a brand new car.
cheapest ls engine you can get. 3000- 5000$? more like 200$!
Matthew Kidby depends where you live
@@thymane2169 he might be talking about a brand new motor compared to just ripping one out of another car
*rob dahm wants to know your location
😂😂😂
Really lol the ls1? Is the cheapest negative get a 5.3 and go look u just spent 250 over 3500 and if u want a 5.7 bored the 5.3 out since they have the same stroke
I am sorry but my 8 is around 12l/100km .
I have a FD with LS7 TT way better then 13b
280rwhp from a stock LS Camaro. That's a low number, most run around 300rwhp
If it were me, I'd swap an SR20DET into it.
Good thing it isn't you then
@@Flyingdutchy33 If it blew then that's what I'd do
That's actually the engine that better fits the rx8 as a swap alternative.
@@Drivenbymadness thank you.
Really $18,000, crazy!
This is why you k20/k24 swap it for a quarter of the price lol
I could not care less about rotary snobs hating on LS swap while their junk ass engine is in parts at the shop
10k for just rhe kit??? God damn.
Apparently that estimate is way off
But has anyone thought of 13B swapping a Camaro? 😂
lmao rob dahm is close with a rotary swapped corvette haha and its a 2J mustang and Chevelle roaming around the world somewhere