Notices
924/931/944/951/968 Forum Porsche 924, 924S, 931, 944, 944S, 944S2, 951, and 968 discussion, how-to guides, and technical help. (1976-1995)
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rotary in a 924 GTS replica?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-08-2003 | 06:09 PM
  #1  
sharky47's Avatar
sharky47
Thread Starter
Set to Full-Auto
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,032
Likes: 126
From: Fema region 6
Lightbulb Rotary in a 924 GTS replica?

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.
Old 08-08-2003 | 08:50 PM
  #2  
sharky47's Avatar
sharky47
Thread Starter
Set to Full-Auto
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,032
Likes: 126
From: Fema region 6
Default

Ideas anyone?
Old 08-08-2003 | 09:02 PM
  #3  
tifosiman's Avatar
tifosiman
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,208
Likes: 16
From: The Heart of it All
Default

Ewww.

Tifo
Old 08-08-2003 | 09:32 PM
  #4  
abduln's Avatar
abduln
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Palo Alto, CA
Default It's not so easy

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

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
Old 08-08-2003 | 09:56 PM
  #5  
SoCal Driver's Avatar
SoCal Driver
Race Car
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa, California
Default

Get a shaft drive turbine out of a military helicopter.
Old 08-08-2003 | 10:01 PM
  #6  
sharky47's Avatar
sharky47
Thread Starter
Set to Full-Auto
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,032
Likes: 126
From: Fema region 6
Default

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!
Old 08-08-2003 | 10:23 PM
  #7  
SoCal Driver's Avatar
SoCal Driver
Race Car
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa, California
Default

I think a turbo V-6 is a close second.
Old 08-08-2003 | 10:29 PM
  #8  
icat's Avatar
icat
Race Car
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,848
Likes: 0
From: Katy, TX - Texas Greaseslingers West
Default

How about a Kubota 3 cylinder Diesel. Runs forever, great gas mileage, and I think it will out run the stock 924 engine (just kidding).
Old 08-08-2003 | 11:12 PM
  #9  
sharky47's Avatar
sharky47
Thread Starter
Set to Full-Auto
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,032
Likes: 126
From: Fema region 6
Default

Maybe not out run, but out torque - definitely!
Old 08-09-2003 | 12:34 AM
  #10  
cheetah chrome's Avatar
cheetah chrome
Addict
Rennlist Member

 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
From: Florida...the wang of America
Default

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.
Old 08-09-2003 | 12:41 AM
  #11  
xsboost90's Avatar
xsboost90
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,223
Likes: 7
From: Burlington ky
Default

im seeing a shoe horn for that one..
Old 08-09-2003 | 12:46 AM
  #12  
cheetah chrome's Avatar
cheetah chrome
Addict
Rennlist Member

 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
From: Florida...the wang of America
Default

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
Old 08-09-2003 | 01:10 AM
  #13  
Red 944's Avatar
Red 944
Addict
Rennlist Member

 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Default

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
Old 08-09-2003 | 01:20 AM
  #14  
W88951's Avatar
W88951
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Default

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.
Old 08-09-2003 | 04:07 AM
  #15  
944S2NUT's Avatar
944S2NUT
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Default

a 951 tranny is not going to handle 600hp. You would need a certain Getarg tranny or something


Quick Reply: Rotary in a 924 GTS replica?



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 12:34 AM.