1. Q. How does your kit differ from the Hinson kit?
A. My kit is Bolt-on (NO WELDING AT ALL) however there are some holes that will need to be drilled/opened up.
Along with being designed to be less costly to accomplished by re-using as much factory parts as possible and developing simple designs for less man hours to build. LASTLY PROVING TO HOLD UP
2. Q. What am I going to need that isn't in your kit?
A. You will need:
• Battery relocation kit to install in your trunk.
• Coolant hoses from engine to radiator, heater hoses from engine to heater core outlets.
• Cooling Fans
• Custom A/C lines.
• some 14 ga wire to rewire a few things.
•Exhaust
Recommended Parts
• Coilovers
•upgraded pads and rotors minimum
•stainless brake lines
***W\\ Drive by cable you will also need a throttle pedal I used a 88-91 rx7 pedal.***
3. Q. What major obstacles can I expect?
A.
• Cutting the front battery brace & ABS mounting brackets off.
• Opening up two holes with 1/2" bit
• Drilling 4 holes through the side of the frame for transmission support.
• Opening up the clutch master cylinder hole some.
***Can be done using a file.***
• Opening up the shifter hole for the shifter to fall into.
*** as it falls 2" short of the center of the hole***
• Installing the engine & transmission together is very difficult. Best to do the engine then the transmission.
• Easiest way is using a two post lift to drop the car onto the subframe with engine and transmission together.
4. Q.
What radiator should I use?
A. You can use the factory radiator.
Along with modifying the factory radiator hoses to fit.
7. Q.The oil coolers on the RX8, are they used or removed?
A. they can be used for oil coolers for the LS but if your not running the car on the track it isn't needed
Q: Will swapping an LS1 V8 in my Mazda RX8 ruin the handling of the car?
A: No, there are bump steer kits available to keep the geometry of the Mazda RX8 suspension.
https://www.ls1rx8.com/store/p10/Bumpsteer_Kit.html
Q: What kind of gas mileage can I expect to get after swapping the LS1 V8 in my RX8?
A: Because of the double overdrive of the T56 transmission from an F-body Camaro, I have been getting as much as 26mpg on the highway and some city.
Q: Is swapping an LS1 V8 in my Mazda RX8 very difficult?
A: Swapping the LS1 engine in the RX8 doesn't require an expert with my kit that I offer; however, you will have to drill a few holes and metal rivets, but that is nothing to be afraid of. I have had People with very little automotive experience complete the swap as i do have a good size group to help with technical issues that can arise.
Q: Will my RX8 be reliable using an LS1 engine?
A: The LS series engine is one of the most reliable engines on the road. It is the most swapped engine at this time because of its great potential and reliability.
Q: What engines will work with your kit.
A:Any LS Series Engine Can Be Used however there are changes that have to be done to all the drivetrains exept the 98-02 Camaro SS Or Trans Am. So In the end That is the setup you must have.
On the LS9,LSA,LS3,LS7s i am not aware of the changes necessary as i haunt gotten my hands on any to test fit.
A: No, there are bump steer kits available to keep the geometry of the Mazda RX8 suspension.
https://www.ls1rx8.com/store/p10/Bumpsteer_Kit.html
Q: What kind of gas mileage can I expect to get after swapping the LS1 V8 in my RX8?
A: Because of the double overdrive of the T56 transmission from an F-body Camaro, I have been getting as much as 26mpg on the highway and some city.
Q: Is swapping an LS1 V8 in my Mazda RX8 very difficult?
A: Swapping the LS1 engine in the RX8 doesn't require an expert with my kit that I offer; however, you will have to drill a few holes and metal rivets, but that is nothing to be afraid of. I have had People with very little automotive experience complete the swap as i do have a good size group to help with technical issues that can arise.
Q: Will my RX8 be reliable using an LS1 engine?
A: The LS series engine is one of the most reliable engines on the road. It is the most swapped engine at this time because of its great potential and reliability.
Q: What engines will work with your kit.
A:Any LS Series Engine Can Be Used however there are changes that have to be done to all the drivetrains exept the 98-02 Camaro SS Or Trans Am. So In the end That is the setup you must have.
On the LS9,LSA,LS3,LS7s i am not aware of the changes necessary as i haunt gotten my hands on any to test fit.
Can I Use a Truck 6.0/5.3/4.8?...
The truck engines can be had pretty cheap, but they will not fit the RX-8's engine bay without some pretty big changes...
...the truck intake is too tall (need LS1 or LS6 intake, injectors, fuel rail, and different injector plugs)
...the truck oil pan is too deep (you need a Camaro LS1 pan/pick-up tube/tray)
...the truck alternator will hit the hood (You'll need a GTO Alternator Bracket,drill and tap a hole for the gto alt bracket)
...the truck upper rad hose interferes the LS1/2/6 throttle body (need a GTO waterpump)
...truck ignition works great, but won't work with Corvette engine covers
...truck exhaust manifolds will not fit the RX-8 chassis
FOR MORE INFORMATION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOU CAN GET THIS DOWNLOAD
https://www.ls1rx8.com/store/p37/10_Things_you_should_know_before_purchasing_anything_for_your_LS_swap_%28DIGITAL_DOWNLOAD%29.html
...Realistic Expectations...Effects On Maintenance & Reliability...
...If you already own a RX-8, then you already know about the rotary’s maintenance requirements, have probably heard stories about dealer service departments that lack proper training on rotary engines, and chances are, your beautiful RX-8 is probably on it’s 2nd or 3rd engine by now.
The Chevy engines, on the other hand, is perhaps the most common engines on the planet. Most any person with automotive experience has worked on one, and a large factory trained network of technicians exist from coast to coast. The modern Chevy engine routinely goes 100k between tune-ups, and replacement parts are among the cheapest and most common.
Effects On Performance...
...As you might suspect, the switch to an LS1 powerplant has an effect on performance too. The additional low-end torque makes the RX-8 very easy to drive, and is available throughout the RPM range. No longer will you have to excessively slip the clutch at a stop light to keep from killing the engine. No longer do you have to downshift, wait for your RPMs to come up (or boost to build) to pass a car. No longer will you live in constant fear of the dreaded carbon lock. With the LS1, your power is always available.
If and when it comes time for an upgrade, things can really get interesting. Simple $100. modifications can result in 15-20hp increases, while spending a mere $2500. can get you up to around 500hp level. We are seeing low 12 second 1/4mi times from stock smog legal engines.
Another consideration is fuel economy. If you've ever driven a rotary car for more than a few miles, you quickly realized that they do not get very good fuel mileage. The best is usually around 16mpg. Simply switching to an LS1/T56 will jump that to around 25mpg. That's with a "pass smog in California" LS1 that has nearly 400hp in an ultra reliable completely stock configuration, installed a car that is likely to be lighter than when it was rotary powered. It's pretty hard to see a downside here...
Skills Required...
...If you have a good grasp of things mechanical, do all your own automotive maintenance, have a good selection of tools and know how to use them, you are probably qualified to perform this swap.
The truck engines can be had pretty cheap, but they will not fit the RX-8's engine bay without some pretty big changes...
...the truck intake is too tall (need LS1 or LS6 intake, injectors, fuel rail, and different injector plugs)
...the truck oil pan is too deep (you need a Camaro LS1 pan/pick-up tube/tray)
...the truck alternator will hit the hood (You'll need a GTO Alternator Bracket,drill and tap a hole for the gto alt bracket)
...the truck upper rad hose interferes the LS1/2/6 throttle body (need a GTO waterpump)
...truck ignition works great, but won't work with Corvette engine covers
...truck exhaust manifolds will not fit the RX-8 chassis
FOR MORE INFORMATION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOU CAN GET THIS DOWNLOAD
https://www.ls1rx8.com/store/p37/10_Things_you_should_know_before_purchasing_anything_for_your_LS_swap_%28DIGITAL_DOWNLOAD%29.html
...Realistic Expectations...Effects On Maintenance & Reliability...
...If you already own a RX-8, then you already know about the rotary’s maintenance requirements, have probably heard stories about dealer service departments that lack proper training on rotary engines, and chances are, your beautiful RX-8 is probably on it’s 2nd or 3rd engine by now.
The Chevy engines, on the other hand, is perhaps the most common engines on the planet. Most any person with automotive experience has worked on one, and a large factory trained network of technicians exist from coast to coast. The modern Chevy engine routinely goes 100k between tune-ups, and replacement parts are among the cheapest and most common.
Effects On Performance...
...As you might suspect, the switch to an LS1 powerplant has an effect on performance too. The additional low-end torque makes the RX-8 very easy to drive, and is available throughout the RPM range. No longer will you have to excessively slip the clutch at a stop light to keep from killing the engine. No longer do you have to downshift, wait for your RPMs to come up (or boost to build) to pass a car. No longer will you live in constant fear of the dreaded carbon lock. With the LS1, your power is always available.
If and when it comes time for an upgrade, things can really get interesting. Simple $100. modifications can result in 15-20hp increases, while spending a mere $2500. can get you up to around 500hp level. We are seeing low 12 second 1/4mi times from stock smog legal engines.
Another consideration is fuel economy. If you've ever driven a rotary car for more than a few miles, you quickly realized that they do not get very good fuel mileage. The best is usually around 16mpg. Simply switching to an LS1/T56 will jump that to around 25mpg. That's with a "pass smog in California" LS1 that has nearly 400hp in an ultra reliable completely stock configuration, installed a car that is likely to be lighter than when it was rotary powered. It's pretty hard to see a downside here...
Skills Required...
...If you have a good grasp of things mechanical, do all your own automotive maintenance, have a good selection of tools and know how to use them, you are probably qualified to perform this swap.