RX-8 LSx Swap Kit

[mike1324a]

What is the status on the RX-8 Swap Kit?

[lackskill]

I'd like to know this as well.  I haven't started shopping for a donor yet, so nothing is really out of the question.

[Hinson Motorsports]

The car is back from header production. I will try to post some more pictures on our website shortly. We built SS 1 7/8" long tube headers and a y-pipe to connect to the factory exhaust.

Most of the electronics have been completed. All of the stock gauges will operate normally. We're building a cooling system for it now, and we'll be ready to drive once it is completed.

Our general plan is do some testing with the parts and offer the parts after we're happy with the performance. My best estimate will be a 3-4 weeks before we're ready to make sales.

[BAD-LSX-7]

cool this should bring more people to norotors 

[finiata]

Most of the electronics have been completed. All of the stock gauges will operate normally. We're building a cooling system for it now, and we'll be ready to drive once it is completed.

Great to see this coming together! I spoke with you a few months back about my NC miata swap, have you figured out the can bus interface? Is there a part I can order? I'm pretty sure the RX8 & MX5 systems are similar if not the same. You can call me if you'd like, Mike 252-883-4833

[Pete.McP]

Can you give us a bit more info on the kit?  Is it a modified OEM subframe?  F-body pan?  Will it need bumpsteer correction?

Great to see this coming together! I spoke with you a few months back about my NC miata swap, have you figured out the can bus interface? Is there a part I can order? I'm pretty sure the RX8 & MX5 systems are similar if not the same. You can call me if you'd like, Mike 252-883-4833

Mike, one thing you can do, that other people have had success with already, is to keep the OEM Mazda ECU and the crank position, vehicle speed, coolant and oil pressure sensors.  The Mazda ECU doesn't know that its taking info from a V8 rather than the OEM engine. 

[mattster03]

^ Yes. I would like to know some of the same details.  How about T56 shifter location?

[finiata]

Can you give us a bit more info on the kit?  Is it a modified OEM subframe?  F-body pan?  Will it need bumpsteer correction?

Great to see this coming together! I spoke with you a few months back about my NC miata swap, have you figured out the can bus interface? Is there a part I can order? I'm pretty sure the RX8 & MX5 systems are similar if not the same. You can call me if you'd like, Mike 252-883-4833

Mike, one thing you can do, that other people have had success with already, is to keep the OEM Mazda ECU and the crank position, vehicle speed, coolant and oil pressure sensors.  The Mazda ECU doesn't know that its taking info from a V8 rather than the OEM engine.

I'm all ears, speedo works independently via wheel sensors, from what I've gleened you need the cam sensor also or you're fubared. What do you know? Where can I read what you've read? If its just the crank to make the tach work then the only other problem is the fuel gauge.

[Pete.McP]

I read it in a thread on LS1tech.  The guy who posted didn't go into any further details.  I figure you would need the cam position sensor for a Miata LS1 swap as well.  Fuel gauge should be untouched unless you're swapping to an F-body pump and level sensor.  And I see no need to to that. 


I thought I read it in another tread, but this might be it.  No other real info here on the gauges. 
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1124420-mazda-rx-8-ls-1-swap.html 

[Hinson Motorsports]

We have been working on the electronics. The car is running great, and we have plenty of miles on the conversion. We expect to complete the factory gauge installation shortly.

[mike1324a]

How is the overall handling post swap? The closer to stock the better.

[Hinson Motorsports]

Mike - It drives fine, but we haven't install a sway bar yet. We'll give you more detailed feedback once it is installed.

[twokrx7]

Brian,

Kyle in Houston here, still rocking your FD conversion parts, curious about the cost for the Rx8 conversion parts.  Is there some target range for the swap parts?  Looking for a complete kit minus donor drive train, and by the way what donor drivetrain/trans/ECU/model/yr are you guys looking to build the kit around?

I hear the Rx8 rear is a 4.3, assume we can swap in a 3.9 from an auto FD, can you confirm?

[Hinson Motorsports]

Brian,

Kyle in Houston here, still rocking your FD conversion parts, curious about the cost for the Rx8 conversion parts.  Is there some target range for the swap parts?  Looking for a complete kit minus donor drive train, and by the way what donor drivetrain/trans/ECU/model/yr are you guys looking to build the kit around?

I hear the Rx8 rear is a 4.3, assume we can swap in a 3.9 from an auto FD, can you confirm?

  We haven't found the time to finalize pricing yet, but it should be affordable for the parts required. The headers will be required, and they are already in stock. We are working out a problem on the wiring, but once that is done, we probably will not push forward with it much more until our texas mile project is completed.

[inspector gadget]

Subscribed for more info.... There's nothing more that I would love than to have a ls1 rx8