Thread: Hi, does anyone know of any Mazda Rotary engined Hot Rods??

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Well, you also have to look at the visual stuff. Would you rather have someone ohhhh and ahhhhh over a V-8 covered in chrome accessories or a rotory?

Of course, one way to look at it is that in a light car like a "T" track car, that rotory will move it down the road as good as a flathead. But it's hard to be nastalgic over "HMMMMMMM".

Originally Posted by Swifster

It's hard to be nastalgic over "HMMMMMMM".

Sorry to drag this up again but i 'saw' (heard) this video and thought of your Hmmmmm comment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfHqp...related&search

Originally posted by drg84
Swiftster, I hate to argue with you(again), but the rotory has issues. As for as simplicity goes, the rotory is truely for lightweight cars. But their by no means bulletproof. Seems to me that the points on the rotors like to grind off causing poor compression and smoking. As such, their almost useless by 100K. Otherwise, mazda would be Still putting them in its entire product line. As for the wankel powered hot-rods, wouldnt it work to place a rotory in something like a spirit, a mustang, a escort or something else lightweight? Just to be different

The tips of the rotors have seals. You have to overhaul the engine to replace the seals. This isn't any worse than putting rings in a V-8. Mazda couldn't put rotories in all their cars because the fuel mileage is horrible. Remember, we are in the age of corporate fuel economy. It's a lot easier to sell 25,000 RX-8's with poor mileage when you can offset this with 600,000 6's, 3's and Miatas. The best endourace test I can think of is 24 hours of hard racing. It passed that test. I don't think these engines are any worse than any other engine design.

I agree, putting a rotory in a lightweight car would be different and significantly cut weight compared to a V-8. The AMC Pacer was another car that was originally designed for a rotory. The only problem is that we don't get 3 rotor Cosmo engines. We get two rotor engines with less than 200 HP. While porting the rotors can make significantly more power, it still won't hold up to an LS1 Camaro or a blown 4.6L Mustang. Check out the pictures of the Spitfire I included earlier. It's a nice car, but it only weighs 1500 Lbs.

Originally posted by Swifster
Well, you also have to look at the visual stuff
and It's hard to be nostalgic over "HMMMMMMM".

I must admit, the rotary engine is a strange looking thing but with a freeflowing exhaust they sound fantastic, judge for yourself...

Click here for Norton 588cc Rotary mp3

Originally posted by Swifster
The only problem is that we don't get 3 rotor Cosmo engines.

Abel Ibarra and Flaco Racing, California managed to get hold of one. They have done a 6.79 sec standing start ¼ mile with it at 204mph, not bad for a triple rotor 1962cc (120ci) engine.
6.79 Seconds at 204 mph !!!
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2004.../A_Ibarra.html
**Link added by edit AFTER Road Agents posting below**
They reckon its good for a 6.20 and then they will think about building a 160ci four rotor to get into the 5 second bracket!

i'll admit I have thought about it, and i like the idea because you never see anything like that

There's a guy on Volksrods.com that has a 2 lobe roatry in his hot rod beetle. The install isn't the cleanest thing in the world, but by all accounts it screams! Haven't heard anything about it recently, been wondering myself what he's doing with it.

Something I had been hoping for but the EPA shot it down was the original version of the RX8 to hit US shores. The J-spec version is a dream to drive & the power will make ya pucker up! Loads of power from a rotary engine, cleaner burning, more efficinet, it's a great engine! But thanks to the weenies in DC, our US enviro-freindly version is weak.

A rotary would be good in something light & small like a t-bucket. Could be scary fun as well. I remeber driving my dads RX-7 (once & only once) that things was an awesome lil car. He took me out once & we goot rubber in 5 out of 6 gears & we're doin over 120 before we got 6th.
Drop that RX7 drive train in a T & see whatya get, somethin scary fast I'll bet.

WHY????????????

Originally posted by Road Agent
That isn't what it says on their website:
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2003.../A_Ibarra.html

Ah! yes, youre talking about the 7.44 @176. That was done with their old RX7 bodied car using a two rotor 1308cc (80ci) engine. An amazing time for such a small engine.
It looks like they may have gone even quicker now, its been changed to 7.12 at 178 mph.

The 6.79 @204 was in the RX8 bodied car with a three rotor 120ci engine.
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2004.../A_Ibarra.html

Thanks VWstreetrodder, i shall have a look for that

oh my god! LOL... ive just spotted the rice burner threads in the drag racing section. If id seen them first i wouldnt have dared start this thread

Found one It has been done in Australia...

http://www.rotorheads.com/photos/cru...2/gallery5.htm

I'm with him "Except" for the front suspension, of course it's his car.
he has one and i don't.

Hey can someone photoshop the rod out of the picture so we can see the gal?.lol

That would be a "shiela" in down-under lingo.

For what it is worth, I spent a lot of time and a lot of money bringing a 1973 MG Midget from a hulk with a tree growing in it to a 98% restoration. During that progression over about five years I considered replacing the little OHV 4cyl with a rotary engine for the light weight and high rpm potential. I got drawn in to the "Collector Value" of the 1973 model because it was a metal bumper model with rounded rear wheel wells and really looked good, but the expense of maintenance and a number of foibles finally caused me to sell what was a "beautiful headache". So all things considered, you might have an easier time finding a Midget in the UK than in the US and then use that as the body and chassis for what would be a very hot street car. Driving a Midget for five years will enable you to write a scholarly text on "Springs I have seen under large trucks". Most chopped and channeled US early Fords are actually "high" compared to a midget! I have shown this picture before but it shows how low the Midgets are and they are very light so that would be an excellent body for a small rotary engine/motor. The picture was taken quite a few years ago at the Shirley Plantation (Virginia) British Car Day which is an annual event in early Autuum and is a sort of Eastern Concourse for British Cars and there are some really beautiful cars there which I suspect seldom venture outside of a garage except for this event. Many of the British cars have polished Burl wooden dashes which are seldom matched in US rods.

Don Shillady
Retired SCientist/teen rodder