cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

for the record, the race car that won lemans had 720hp and actually weighed almost 1900lbs but the original prototype that was built weighed just over 1500. To race in the class it did, it had to weigh a certain amt and have a certain amt of displacement. Most engines it was racing against had about 3.5L in its class. the mazda had a 2.6

cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

absolutely true. it can be overcome to a certain extent but, not much r&d for different size rotors and configurations either. Could make then wider, use more spark plugs, or could make them much smaller and use more rotors. First would cost more in plugs and keeping the side cool, second would sacrifice torque due to smaller rotors but, at speed, would significantly increase tq and hp. there are good and bad in different configs just like with pistons. not much tried with rotary though.

spikederailed (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

A combustion cycle happens in a rotary engine every revolution of the eccentric shaft per rotor, unlike a piston engine with take 2 crank revs. The ammount of gasses is only relative to displacement. What measured is parts per million pollutants. Rotary engines have a hard time passing smog because of thin long combustion chambers that make it hard to burn all compressed air/fuel, hence the use of multiple spark plugs.

cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

even with commercial engines, the hp/L is unrivaled NA. there are so many engine configureations that have yet to be tried with the rotary due to money and time. Everyone gave up due to not understanding how much potential there was. there is much to be learned with the rotary engine. So much so that it will most likely never be tapped as it could have been.

cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

As far as internals go, there is only 2 mods you can make. nothing to forge or anything like that. the secret with rotaries is intake and timing to a point. good balancing is necessary on any engine but at high rpms like the rotary, you can find a little more power. The only reason they dont make 3 rotors for commercial use and 4 rotors too is due to cost. 4 especially. as far as power potential, the rotaries have yet to be tapped to true potential.

clifford850r (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

your talking about a race ready engine though, not one they took out of a stock RX8. All of the engines in that competition were made to last like that, and take on serious power.

cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

Keep in mind that rotaries were banned from lemans because of an unfair advantage. If not for the fuel restrictions that existed at the time, the mazda 4 rotor would have embarassed audi, jag, and many others. Also, they tore the engine down after the race and said it would go another 24hrs no problem. with 720 hp@8k rpms and 1500lbs, the mazda was unbeatable. With the fuel restrictions lifted, no contest now but, rules were changed so mazda could no longer run.

cliffkemp (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

4 rotor does run 900hp on stock internals. Actually there is nothing to upgrade on the engine unless you lighten the rotors but, you are only going to take .2 lbs off the 8s rotors as they are about the lightest you can get. The lemans race car had 720hp at 8k but was tested to over 900 at 10k but was limited cause of rules for fuel use. Mazda kept the car at 8.5k for this reason. Car raced 24hours.

clifford850r (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

Stock so far. Darwin intake soon. the turbos are crap to change because you have to do a partial engin pull to change them. At least a lift and tilt because they are so close to the wheel wells.

ItsEMoneybaby (January 1, 1970 at 8:59 am)

I was looking at getting a B5 when i realized i wouldnt be able to drop the LS in my rx7 as planned. A friend of mine had one. Seemed to have alot of problems though. Especially with the turbos going out, even when he babied it. Have you added the K04s? I believe he also bought recycling valves off a RS and put them on and bought an upgraded fuel system. Will you be doing that also?i forgot the lil system of code for upgraded s4s, that would have made this alot easier haha, sorry