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rotary in miget

midgetboy

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what do you guys think about putting a rotary in a midget and for thoses who have about how much did it cost you for the whole thing when it was done
 
welcome aboard!
i dont have a rotary midget, but i did Google it for ya.

mark
 
It's been done, that I know. I found some site a long time ago which had a good write up about it and seemed to have some intresting information. I did find some guy on cardomain.com that had a couple pictures.

This is a signifcant project which is going to require an entire engine, tranny, drive shaft, axel, suspension, brakes, cooling....probably more bits that I can't think of. None of the RX7 parts are going to fit by default either. How good of a metal worker are you? Win and welding competions lately? That would be very helpful in this adventure.

Ben
 
Grassroots Motorsports had an article about one in the December 2005 issue. My friend has a rotary in a B and its fantastic.
David
 
Rob,

I think that yellow one was the one I saw. Now that's a car with some SERIOUS modifcations to it, but dang does it look good. I might have a little too much to drink some night, buy one of those cheap RX engines and throw it into the storage unit until I have time to learn how to build an engine (think 5 years). Throw in an axel and it's a good start to a drive train.

Ben
 
i had a gold 85 RX-7 for a while...it was very fast, a blast to drive and would make a sizzling midget for sure! ; )
put it in a Bugeye to really get some attention..haha...zzimmmy
 
You're thinking of the guy featured in GRM or Classic Motorsports awhile back. He was at the Hershey Vintage Hillclimb back in May/June, and I was talking to him awhile. He said he was going to offer some kits at the Carlisle import show, but I didn't attend to find out. It's a pretty nicely done setup, but he started with a wreck and a roller. If you've got an even moderately decent car to start, I wouldn't do it. He had to really hack it up. No heater anymore, either! The entire heater box and ducts had to go to make the engine fit. Also, I never checked times, but even with a 13b, it's really not that much faster than a full race (with fiberglass fenders and hood) 1275 road racer. He had a fiberglass front end. It was painted in a similar paint scheme as mine (bright yellow with white stripes) but his stripes were wider and down the middle (mine're in my line of sight). A 13b, stock, makes 146 hp. That's only about 35hp more than a fully done 1275 without the originality.
 
I got dyno sheet in my files for a 1275 that put out the same numbers 146 hp, but it is no where near streetable.
 
Rotary engines put out decent HP for their weight/size if they are in good condition. However, you have to be willing to drive in a higher rpm range to get that power. But they are very smooth (if the buzzing doesn't drive you crazy). Also, there is a lot of heat that flows out the header and front half of the exhaust system, so you'll need heavier walled pipe.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does the rotary really have the power for it weight? i drove an old mazda pickup truck that was rotary and it was a dog.

[/ QUOTE ]

when did mazda make a rotary PU?

As for power, the 12As are pretty anemic by modern standards, but the 13Bs are pretty peppy, especially the 13B turbos!
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Rotary_Pickup

I think there was a while in Mazda's career when they envisioned an entirely rotary line-up. The energy crisis and emission laws crushed those dreams.

The latest version of the Mazda/Wankel seems to have addressed alot of the economy and emission problems that have dogged the engine's career. I really wish more auto makers would invest in rotaty r-n-d because it is an absolutely brilliant design.
 
I test drove an RX-8. Brilliant car! Not the most sylish, but the most fun 2+2 sport coupe I've ever driven.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I test drove an RX-8. Brilliant car! Not the most sylish, but the most fun 2+2 sport coupe I've ever driven.

[/ QUOTE ]does the rx-8 have a rotary?
 
That engine appears to be a winner, in terms of power output and size. However, the longevity of the engine is yet to be determined (although I haven't heard anything bad so far ...). However, a friend who drives one in B Stock (autocross) says they still burn a lot of oil. That apparently hasn't changed.
 
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