Rotary in a 924 GTS replica?
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Ok, so I'm almost for sure going to get this 924, after I get the "S" back up and going again, I want to build a GTS replicar. To back up the looks, it will need a more powerful engine, which got me thinking. I was driving to the bank today and the thought hit me - what about a Mazda rotary?! Years ago my dad put a rotary in a Opel GT with pretty good results. I've heard of people getting 900hp+ out of a two rotor turbo engine. If they can do that, then surely you can get 400-600 while still maintaining some degree of reliability. It will be a dedicated race car, but it would be nice to be just barely street legal so I can take the occasional cruise. I'm sure it will require a 951 tranny to handle the extra power, but shouldn't to be to terribly hard. What do yall think, has anyone ever done this?
Last edited by sharky47; 08-08-2003 at 11:10 PM.
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Hi,
It's not an impossible idea, but I don't know if it's a good one. Keep the following in mind:
1) The output-shaft centerline on a rotary is rather high when compared to a standard recip. engine. This means the engine has to sit lower in the engine bay to line up with the transmission; great for Cg dynamics, but it means you have to fabricate a new crossmemeber and associated parts. Of course, this is not a problem because if you or your fabricator have the ability to fabricate an engine adaptor/bellhousing than the crossmember is no biggie![Wink](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
2) Rotary engines are severly lacking in torque. This works fine in lightweight cars, which the 924 is, but the 924 is not light enough for the rotary engine. You'll find yourself revving the engine up more than you should, and you'll eventually cause it to suffer from excessive heat (possibly). An RX-8 engine might do pretty well though.
I'd suggest the easier route of buying a 944T, 944S2, or even a 968 engine off of Ebay, along with the transaxle and torquetube if need be, and go for that... at least it's a relative bolt-in. If you just enjoy the thought of doing something different, and want the rotary, than go for it... but keep in mind that you have to take extra steps to make that rotary work, and live in your application.
Abdul
It's not an impossible idea, but I don't know if it's a good one. Keep the following in mind:
1) The output-shaft centerline on a rotary is rather high when compared to a standard recip. engine. This means the engine has to sit lower in the engine bay to line up with the transmission; great for Cg dynamics, but it means you have to fabricate a new crossmemeber and associated parts. Of course, this is not a problem because if you or your fabricator have the ability to fabricate an engine adaptor/bellhousing than the crossmember is no biggie
![Wink](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
2) Rotary engines are severly lacking in torque. This works fine in lightweight cars, which the 924 is, but the 924 is not light enough for the rotary engine. You'll find yourself revving the engine up more than you should, and you'll eventually cause it to suffer from excessive heat (possibly). An RX-8 engine might do pretty well though.
I'd suggest the easier route of buying a 944T, 944S2, or even a 968 engine off of Ebay, along with the transaxle and torquetube if need be, and go for that... at least it's a relative bolt-in. If you just enjoy the thought of doing something different, and want the rotary, than go for it... but keep in mind that you have to take extra steps to make that rotary work, and live in your application.
Abdul
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How bout a Allison 250B, or a Solar T-62, or maybe the good ole T-53. Can't even begin to imagine the gear reduction box!
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the turbo V6 idea could work.....buick 231s are a dime a dozen and can make some serious power. check out some grand national tuner websites/forums. i'm pretty sure the *** end of the motor is the same as all the other GM small blocks so you could get a clutch package from renegade. might not be 50/50 on the scales but would be relatively easy (well easier than the rotory), relatively cheap (definatly cheaper than going 3L), and a blast to drive.
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nah....if ....crap i cant remember his name....the lister w/ the lt1 motor in his track car.....can fit it in w/o punching out the hood. im sure a 231 would go in. im not saying routing the exhaust would be a nightmare though heheh
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It'd be a lot of work ..
cheetah - I almost bought a tr8 a bit back - with a nice modified 215, torquey and fun too drive, couldn't get past the looks though - I bet your tr7's a blast
cheetah - I almost bought a tr8 a bit back - with a nice modified 215, torquey and fun too drive, couldn't get past the looks though - I bet your tr7's a blast
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A streetable Two Rotor Turbo can produce a reliable ~300HP. You can produce much more than that, but the reliablity goes down and the cost goes up. And you will lose your idle.
I can't see any two rotor producing 900HP. Three Rotor Turbos are good for about 600HP But again, that is not very streetable.
I think it would be a very neat car, if you have the time and money. You would be joining a Porsche and a Fake Porsche together.
I can't see any two rotor producing 900HP. Three Rotor Turbos are good for about 600HP But again, that is not very streetable.
I think it would be a very neat car, if you have the time and money. You would be joining a Porsche and a Fake Porsche together.