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1970 VW Squareback 1600 to RX7 rotary conversion.

08-05-00. My somewhat controversial project begins. VW purists push your back button now! Rotary haters, keep it to yourself. I don't know what is going to happen, but after driving an Rx7 just once, I've always thought the marriage of a small rotary engine and an old volkswagen could give new meaning to "Farfegnugen." So Bookmark this page if you want to see the outcome! Just to prove I'm not the only one whos does this kind of thing, check out Kennedy Engineering. They offer an explanation of why somebody might yank an aircooled motor and replace it with a bulky water pumper. Also check out WRCE for a some rotary and conversion info.

I find a used 12a rotary motor at a Vegas junkyard Then I go pick up the transplant patient.

08-06-00: I yank the troubled 1600 out, and compare the two engines side by side Next, I stick little 4 barrel rotary motor under the v-dub just to see what it's gonna look like.
08-07-00: The engine still needs to come up about 6 or 7 inches, and I'm beginning to think I can get the radiator, ac condenser, and oil cooler to neatly tuck in the rear of the car. Originally, I planned to pipe a bunch of stuff up into the spare tire area, but that could get messy, and I will avoid that if possible. By raising the floor in the back of the car 8 or 9 inches, I should get everything back there comfortably. But I haven't cut into anything yet. I'm planning this as I go, so there is a lot open to change and adjustment, except my decision to go rotary. I want a stock engine that will push me along with the horseys of a pumped vw, and be able to run ac while I'm cruising. The higher rpm bands are also good for my vw, because only having a four speed trans leaves a VW with a high cruising rpm, or a big jump between gears. These rotarys seem to have a nice wide powerband.

09-05-00: It hurt, but I did it. I cut the car. Cutting the floor away, being care full not to cut too much structure out, gives me the room I need for the AC and Heat exchange equipment, and to relocate the battery into the engine compartment, getting it out from under the back seat, a crazy place for a battery. The adapter from KEP is a nice piece, and well worth the money. It comes with the modified flywheel, all the nuts and bolts, plenty of very helpful and experienced words of wisdom about engine conversions. Now that the engine is all bolted in I can begin designing the cross-member, that will support the engine and replace some of the structure that I cut out. There will also be a cross-member added between the rear wheel wells for added strength to the uni-body. The new floor, about 7 inches higher than the old floor, will utilize the original engine access panel, and will also have bolt in sections so I can access all the hard to reach places if that becomes necessary. I had an old radiator floating around for a Chevy pickup, and it will serve as the model so I can build the shrouding and duct work needed to hang it. I'm driving in Las Vegas, and I would like a good cooling system for my sensitive to overheating rotary engine. Here is me in the planning stages of things, or just in deep thought . The KEP adapter

Ok, don't laugh. My homemade flywheel puller The Mazda flywheel was ON THERE!! I used pretty close to the full 4ton capacity of this bottle jack, and still had to tap the flywheel a few times with a hammer before it finally popped. Yes, I was a-scared.

A picture of the engine when bolted up and raised to it's intended location After the floor is cut out, and radiator is in place Future challenges I have to overcome include, the exhaust system, restructuring the floor and bracing the uni-body, and installing the AC system. I need to build radiator shrouding, and mounting, and find a good spot for the oil cooler and ac condenser. I should be able to get the condenser in front of the front beam, under the gas tank, which will give me some ram air flow after som creative duct work is put into place. The exhaust system is going to be fun.
Some landscape design ideas for all you fellow rednecks ;-)

10-31-00 Yup! You got that right. I barely have time to work on my VWx7 much less update this page ;-) It's mostly good for me right now with not enough time to sweat the little stuff. VWx7 news: The cross-member has been fabricated, installed, and is supporting the engine bolted to it. The new sub-floor has been welded up, by Chris' Welding . He specializes in small aluminum and magnesium welding projects, such as saving cracked ATV engine cases. I have some exhaust parts from RacingBeat , but still need a muffler and a catalytic converter. Mazda Trix has them, but I'm broke. I also have some air conditioning parts from Danhard to install. Well, I'm keeping it short cause I'm going trick or treating now, see ya. The most recent pic as of 10-31-00.

02-13-01. Nope, haven't given up! I . The holiday season was busy but fun, and I didn't really get resettled till mid January. I got tired of getting beat up on gas, traded my big truck in on an economical Honda Accord, and was getting ready to go to work on this project again, but my plans were changed. I've spent the last couple weeks dealing with insurance companies, doctors, lawyers and therapists. My back is still a little too wrecked to do much, but I'm looking forward to getting back to normal. I will give anyone that wants one my seatbelt testimony, it saved my life, and I walked away from this thing with only a couple minor cuts, and a rash on my waist where the seatbelt held me in. You can check the wreckage out , of course I had my camera with me to take pictures. Before the wreck, and after the last time I updated, I have managed a few minutes here and there on the car. I built the speaker box, got the A/C system all ducted in , and have the new floor of the car in place, but not quite finished. I am pleased with the amount of wind that circulates through the car with the A/C system blower, but of course I haven't been able to warm the engine up for heat or turn the A/C on. I plan on having the stereo running soon, and when the dust settles from my wreck, I'll be able to get going on the rest. I hope. The back pain issue is kind of scary, but I feel like I am recovering.

VW project, page two.
VW project, page three.
VW project, page four.

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donduck2000 since 06/05/00