If you are, or know, an FD Mazda RX-7 owner, you also know there are two types of owners. One will ferociously defend the Wankel rotary engine and its free-revving nature. The other will tell you how badly it needs an LS engine.
There’s really nothing wrong with either viewpoint. Keeping a car to its original specs houses a purity around it. But, some are pursuing more grunt, and that grunt is found in an LS engine swap. Not only does the engine provide more low-end torque in the RX-7, but reliability increases too.
That’s why Drive has lined up a comparison for the ages by bringing together both ends of the spectrum. One, a red 1993 Mazda RX-7 with the original rotary engine setup, but swapped to a single-turbo unit. The second, a white 1994 Mazda RX-7 with an LS2 V8 swap.
Our host, Matt Farah, drives each of the offerings back to back to see what is gained, and what is lost, by swapping in an LS engine. We could detail the results, but the video is worth the watch. Let’s just say in the end, it comes down to driver preference as to what you’re looking for out of the iconic Japanese sport car.
Of course, if you feel so compelled, let us know what you think in the comments down below. Is an LS swap here sacrilegious? Or, does it make the RX-7 the car is should be?
Comments
The LS engine makes everything better.
Help? My son who has past, has a1994 Mazda RX-7 that he converted to a LS and everyone was in awe. It would run and was actually faster than a new vet. He was always doing little modifications. Now I’m the owner. It’s been sitting in a garage for 10 yes. He bought a Yankee LS 4000 converter for it but never installed it. Can someone advise me on this. If I have it installed, will it no longer be a pleasure ride and become a racing machine only?