using an RX8

[Gaylon]

I have built my frame and it came out great. The problem is I bought an rx8 and the frame is too narrow to use seats and the tunnel has to be bigger. If I use the seats I have to make to frame taller, so it has been back to the shop to build another frame. The advantage of the rx is the engine steering,suspension are on a cradle and all that has to be done is mount the cradle to the frame, but it takes some changes in the design to do it. The same for the rear. All suspension , brakes, and posi track are in one pod. The car I bought had 115 miles on it, that is right 115 miles. The car was hit in the rear so every thing I need is in excellent cond. Today I finished mounting the rear pod. It has to be welded up but it is mounted and all parts are on and tacked together. The front pod is positioned but I need to finish building the frame around the pod and make the final parts that will make the frame. I am also using 1 1/4 14 gage boxed tubing for more strength. I will try to make a post or two as this progresses and get comments.

[wylliezx9r]

Sounds very interesting, have you got any pics ?

[spud69]

Hi Gaylon,

Good to see that you are going for the Rotary Engine build, it will certainly make for a fantastic car. At the end of 2010 i had started putting together my own Rx8 build but decided that, commercially, it was no the way forward for Saturn. At the time i had concluded that the easiest way for the Roadster was to use standard Sierra uprights and suspension and just use the engine, gearbox, diff and loom from the Rx8. It was coming together quite nicely to.

There's a link below to a thread i started with Saturn's own build:

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5208

Will be good to see yours as you go along. It's a big shame that the seats dont quite fit as they are great seats.

Andrew

[Gaylon]

Originally Posted by wylliezx9r

Sounds very interesting, have you got any pics ?

If I can find out how to post pictures I will try to post some as soon as I get the front frame mounted. I am going to try to make body from aluminum. I took some work shops some years ago. I hope I remember how. So far the car has been a hoot to build. I hope the electronics go together as will as the rest of the car.

[baz-r]

you will be needing a bigger fuel tank trust me and the oil for them rx8 motors is as expensive as liquid gold and thay need to burn some to stop tip ware so top ups are needed think of it like a 2stroke

[spud69]

Originally Posted by baz-r

you will be needing a bigger fuel tank trust me and the oil for them rx8 motors is as expensive as liquid gold and thay need to burn some to stop tip ware so top ups are needed think of it like a 2stroke

They are heavy on fuel Baz, when i had mine i used to have a company fuel card so wasn't bothered but when i had to pay for my own it was bloody hard on the pocket, 18 mpg (flogged), even at 6 year ago prices. When the engine is pushing a car of 600kg as opposed to 1300kg it should be lighter on fuel though.

I found mine to be very good on oil though, i think this was more of a problem with older Rx-7 engines. But you do certainly need to keep an eye on it just to be sure.

Will be fun though....Andrew

[baz-r]

unlike 4stroke engines roterys need to burn oil to alow them to work properly
and newer ones with cats need very spechal oils

i was having a moan at the mechanic when my mazda6 tdi was in for its first service about the cost of oil for it and he chuckled and pointed out how much rx8 oil was and how much thay used normaly and mentioned a lunched engine he had to chance last mounth as there was no topups done between services and it ran out in a year old rx8
it did shut me up LOL

[robo]

All valid points but how could you not like that rotary engine I have always had a soft spot for those going back to the RO80 nsu <sorry children for talking alien>.
I dont think mpg or oil consumption is a major downside on something that is used for pleasure miles only. Have they ever found a solution for rateing the capacity of these as it was always a debate as to how many sides of the rotor were counted. Norton built one years ago that did well in raceing and that was banned from its class over capacity issues. Then that mazda won lemans with what was supposed to be a 1300cc , again amid strong debate.

Bob

[baz-r]

dont get me wrong great engine but drinks fuel and oil