Place to Discuss Potential Non-Honda Swaps

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-04-2003, 10:32 AM

OK well I know many ppl here will just be horribly shocked and scarred at the thought of putting anything other than a honda engine into a 3g accord, but I just love thinking of non-conventional and cool car projects to do to be different. I know you are thinking "it will never happen" and "anything other that a b-series swap is unrealistic or not worth it" but I want this thread to be for the real dreamers who don't care and want to try interesting swaps anyway. That said, I would like to investigate first the availability of a front-wheel drive manual transaxle that could be mated to a Mazda twin-rotor Wankel engine from an RX-7. I believe this would be a great choice for an interesting high-performance swap since the small size of the engines should mean plenty of under-hood space in our 3g's and the amazing power-to-weight ratios would make for a real sleeper. Any thoughts on this or other interesting swap ideas? Please post 'em here! Even if it's crazy! I won't shoot ya down!

**1989 DX R** · 03-04-2003, 11:53 AM

RWD into FWD means lots of custom. Even when you wanna mate it into a FWD transaxle...omg the headaches and fabrication for that.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-04-2003, 12:24 PM

Did Mazda ever make a FWD rotary-powered car? Also, it isn't neccesarily that complex, as I know of quite a number of swaps of longitudinally mounted engines going into transverse mount setups such as the popular swap of a small-block chevy V-8 into a transverse-mount Pontiac Fiero, for instance. I would like to investigate the details before dismissing it completely.

**Grant2k** · 03-04-2003, 01:52 PM

How about a Northstar V8? it probably wouldn't fit no matter what, but it would be cool. they have adapted northstars to RWD, but since it's already FWD, it would be cool to have one in a 3g, and fast.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-04-2003, 01:59 PM

It would definitely be cool. I was also thinking about the supercharged 3.8L V6 in the '97 and up Pontiac Grand Prix. They have 240HP stock and you can get them to 300 with a chip, smaller pulley on the SC, intake, and exhaust. That is if even a V-6 will fit.

**1989 DX R** · 03-04-2003, 02:32 PM

No, not fucking gay ass lazy automatic only American cars. Granted they might be fast or whatever...I just can't stand having to drive an auto when I could have a stick. Smacks of absolute laziness.

**dXsquared** · 03-04-2003, 02:44 PM

why not a good old V8 chev? rear wheel drive... it wouldnt take much... just get a narrowed rear end... and the rest is just basic fabrication... tranny tunnel, mount engine, rear end... its all very basic

Travis

**shepherd79** · 03-04-2003, 02:55 PM

i don't know about mazda, but i do know that russian car makers LADA made a FWD car with rotor engine. i think it was pushing like 160-180hp.
But they suck anyway, they break quick.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-04-2003, 02:57 PM

Hmmm.... Maybee... Oh and on the Pontiac I wasn't talking about using that tranny, I want a manual, too. I just thought of using the engine on another manual transaxle. GM stuff is usually pretty interchangeable, they use that same engine in NA form as the base V-6 for Camaros and Firebirds with a RWD setup. This makes me wonder if maybe it will fit with like the 5-speed from a Grand-Am GT or something. Also, the new Grand Prix's will have a manual tranny option finally as I understand.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-04-2003, 03:09 PM

Oh and speaking of manual trans Grand-Am GT's the 3.4L V-6's offered in them along with their own tranny's might make a good swap, too! They are pretty strong motors, quite torquey and I think close to 200hp in some version

**Grant2k** · 03-04-2003, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by 1989 DX R
No, not fucking gay ass lazy automatic only American cars. Granted they might be fast or whatever...I just can't stand having to drive an auto when I could have a stick. Smacks of absolute laziness.

a lot of automatics are just good transmissions. if you spend the time and money to build one right an auto is just as good or better than a manual. you can't say a 727 or a 700R4 is a girly trans for lazy people if its running 11 or 12 seconds on street tires. many can handle more horsepower than most manuals. and a lot of people convert them to a manual valvebody.

**cruznz** · 03-05-2003, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by DXHATCHBACK
why not a good old V8 chev? rear wheel drive... it wouldnt take much... just get a narrowed rear end... and the rest is just basic fabrication... tranny tunnel, mount engine, rear end... its all very basic

Travis

yeh,...that sounds good,...but with a 340 chrysler for me please..

......:smokin:

**Grant2k** · 03-05-2003, 07:44 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6254

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-05-2003, 08:28 AM

Well the giant hood scoop and those wheels make it a bit too obvious for my own taste, but very nicely done! I don't particularly want to give up my FWD, though. I like the way FWD cars handle. I own a RWD oldsmobile with a V-8 and it is quite treacherous in icy or wet weather. Powersliding is fun too.

**OldSchoolSwap** · 03-06-2003, 05:46 AM

My friend slapped a Rotary turbo motor into his 1990's Izuzu Truck. That shit takes mustangs like pancakes

verry impressive! It did com rear wheel drive if not mistaken, so modding it was a bit of a mission but not as bad.

Also saw an unreal swap at a local car show/race track. a Ford Focus with a humongus V8 engine swap.

The shit just wanted to rip out of the fenders.

**Grant2k** · 03-06-2003, 07:00 AM

Originally posted by OldSchoolSwap
My friend slapped a Rotary turbo motor into his 1990's Izuzu Truck. That shit takes mustangs like pancakes verry impressive! It did com rear wheel drive if not mistaken, so modding it was a bit of a mission but not as bad.

Also saw an unreal swap at a local car show/race track. a Ford Focus with a humongus V8 engine swap. The shit just wanted to rip out of the fenders.

that focus V8 conversion kit won Best Engineering or something at SEMA. it's been out since the summer. they are working on a new one that will be CARB certified. http://www.kugelkomponents.com/

**Scorpion88LX** · 03-06-2003, 07:07 AM

i was thinking of doing a nissan sr20det rwd swap in one of my parts cars.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-06-2003, 09:02 AM

Wow that would be a neat project, too Scorpion! I like the ideas! It is a pretty big motor, though. I'd like to swap one of those into my mom's maxima. And OSS, do you know what years of 'stangs your friend could beat with that thing? not cobras, right? Cause that would be just insanely impressive! I mean, even V-8 GT's are bad enough! With a truck! HELL YEEEAAAH! I need to put one in my 3g now for sure. It'll be like, "more than you can afford, pal. Ferarri." (smoke 'em) :lol :lol :lol

**OldSchoolSwap** · 03-06-2003, 10:16 AM

I don't know dude! I know he's boosting like a million pounds. Those freaking motors can take some major PSI abuse man!

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-06-2003, 10:38 AM

Coool. I think those engines have decent aftermarket support, too. Now I need to find out what type of FWD manual tranny I can hook up to it that will make it through that kind of torture for more than a few days.

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-06-2003, 04:52 PM

I wonder if a 5-spd FWD BMW tranny could be made to work? I think they are supposed to be pretty durable, right?

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-07-2003, 09:24 AM

Anyone priced RX-7 engines from rebuilders or junkyards? Can you give a ballpark estimate?

**Grant2k** · 03-07-2003, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by KaMiKaZeE
I wonder if a 5-spd FWD BMW tranny could be made to work? I think they are supposed to be pretty durable, right?

i don't know anything about BMWs, but what front wheel drive cars do they make that you could use the transaxle out of?

**KaMiKaZeE** · 03-07-2003, 11:57 AM

Hmm... I checked BMW's site and I see your point. There are no FWD beamers. I thought the newer 3 series were, but nope. So thats out!

Well OK so who makes a beast of a FWD tranny? Mitsu maybe from a FWD 3000gt 5-spd? Or how about a Maxima? Ooooh or maybe an Alpha-Romeo (if I could find one).