blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 thinking about potentially doing a midget racer and using a wankel rotary engine in it. any ideas on this combo? or has anybody built this yet?
Junkman Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I don't think there is a sanctioning body that would allow it. But that shouldn't keep anyone away from building a model. This would be a suitable engine, no?
blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 thats awesome. straight 12? or is that some mammoth wankel? im not sure of the size but there is a kit at my local hobby lobby that has a wankel in it, its 1/25 like the midget racer but i think it still might be a little large. im gunna see if i cant buy one in the near future and find out.
blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 it a tamiya rx-7, suprised me to see it at hobby lobby but cool that it is.
CorvairJim Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I recently saw a Crosley-powered quarter midget at a car show, and I know of a couple of Mazda Wankel-powered Austin Healey Sprites, so if you can imagine it, go for it! Sure, it might not be legal for racing, technically speaking, but why let that stop you? And then you could stuff the RX-7 full of a turbocharged Chevy small block and have TWO unusual models!
Joe Handley Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Don't see why not, I seem to remember a Caterham being run in Sport Compact Car's version of the Ultimate Street Car Compition that had a very healthy (and emissions wise, insanely filthy) Turbo Rotory out of a third gen RX7.
cruz Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I love rotary engines, put this one in a Vega a few years ago..... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki
blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 thats one clean vega. im thinking i might have to run the carbs just out side the hood, dont know how the belt drive would fit, may have to mod that a bit.
moparmagiclives Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I don't think there is a sanctioning body that would allow it. But that shouldn't keep anyone away from building a model. This would be a suitable engine, no? That's awesome !!!! Didn't gm build a vette proto type with three rotors ? They are amazing little engines.
blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) i like them, there is nothing to them, very easy to work on, pretty straight forward to tear down and rebuild. best designed engine ever in my opinion but i still think you cant beat a good ol' american made big block iron monster. Edited August 28, 2012 by blueoval92
Draggon Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I think its a great idea. Wonder if the rules in the 60's-70's that made the VW formidable would apply to a Rotary?
cobraman Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Wasn't the Mazda RX the only rotary car available ? They killed that one too , didn't they ?
moparmagiclives Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Wasn't the Mazda RX the only rotary car available ? They killed that one too , didn't they ? RX no, Mazda, I think so. If they could get it to meet emisions better I think it would still be around. Apex seal technology wasnt there back then, wasnt real good the second time around either
blueoval92 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 they where used for a while when they made the rx8 in 03, there is also talk about a new improved version of the motor.
Joe Handley Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I thought the rotories were actually pretty inefficent as well as pretty dirty and had enough reliability issues that GM decided that it wasn't worth the effort.
Harry P. Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I thought the rotories were actually pretty inefficent as well as pretty dirty and had enough reliability issues that GM decided that it wasn't worth the effort. Yes, yes and yes.
Scott Colmer Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) Yes- The aero corvette show car did have a wankle at one time. The log engine in this thread looks to be a bunch of plates stacked together as a joke. There is even an extra end plate slipped in near the back. My high school car had a Mazda RX-3 drive line. A little porting and a Holley made it scoot. They probably would never last for 200k, but if you have ever been in a strong running bridgeported wankle, you would know why they are so popular. The idle is something else. And pull at 8 grand is pretty impressive. Hosted on Fotki Oh - I found these in my parts box. I have no idea where they came from. They look to be 4 rotors. Hosted on Fotki Scott Edited August 29, 2012 by Scott Colmer
jas1957 Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Back in the day midgets ran all kinds of different engines, outboard boat , whatever. A 2 or 3 rotor wankle is a pretty small engine, I say go for it.
C.C.RACER Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 That would be very cool build, Go for it and I have seen some odd engines in race cars. As far as finding a motor I have a 73 Vega mpc kit that came with a 3-4 rotor like in the above post from Scott. Its chrome plated. Hope this helps
blueoval92 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 i will be looking around for a kit to use for the engine before long. want to get my 61 galaxie styline done and finish up my 49 merc. will try to fit in it sometime after those. if anybody has a list of some kits with that engine please let me know so that i can keep an eye out for them.
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