you can read the article about the two competing if you want at granny'smotorsports-
7-23-04...V-8 powered RX-7s in Grassroots Motorsports Magazine...
...The August 2004 issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine features quite a few V-8 powered RX-7s that entered their $2004 Challenge event in Florida. The premise of the event is to build the best handling, best appearing, and quickest car possible for a total budget of $2004., including the price of the car and all components. You will be surprised at the wide variety of entrants and how creative they are. Of a total of 76 cars that participated, a total of 9 RX-7s took part in the event, 5 V-8 powered and 4 rotary powered...
...In the drag race portion, all the V-8 RX-7s finished ahead of the rotary powered cars. No surprise here. The quickest V-8 RX-7 recorded a 12.636 ET, the quickest rotary's ET was a 14.323.
...What WILL suprise a lot of sports car people is the results of the autocross competition. The quickest RX-7, a V-8, finished nearly 4 seconds ahead of the quickest rotary version. Among the 9 RX-7s present in the autocross, V-8 power captured 4 of the top 5 spots. Don't listen to those who tell you that a big V-8 will ruin your handling!!!

there it is! are you thinking i won't be able to? a stock 350 could easily smoke a rotary at the drags. i just want to make this a all around car. i want a manual and a engine that revs high. this is what i am used to from previous cars. i am not trying to compete with anyone but as far as that goes once done there will be few street cars that can touch it. i just wanted to know what setup you guys would recommend. yes the rotarys are lighter but with a 160 HP who cares! they can play on the skid pad all day. suspension parts are already made for the v8 conversions so i will be able to handle pretty decent.