Ro 80

[flat4alfa]

5. this type of motor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfQ315JoiF0

to keep it Meine Familieland und ich

[flat4alfa]

Or measure-up a 2500 flat-4 engine from a Gamma

[Asimo]

Or measure-up a 2500 flat-4 engine from a Gamma

Lancia Gamma engines have a reputation at least as bad as Ro80 engines. Both engines are lovely to drive however, for very different reasons. (I had both in the 80s, when they were dirt cheap)

[Joey spud]

 

One of these would fit easily from an1800cc Subaru pick up but its only 85 horse power.

A common upgrade for the pick ups is a 2.0 or 2.2 Legacy unit as a complete early MOT'd car only cost me £280.

[STUNO]

Somewhere from the mud filled depths of my mind I think that the rotor seal probs of the Wankel can be overcome by a rebuild with Mazda seals etc. Cannot verify this but someone may know the truth of it.

[tooSavvy]

Somewhere from the mud filled depths of my mind I think that the rotor seal probs of the Wankel can be overcome by a rebuild with Mazda seals etc. Cannot verify this but someone may know the truth of it.

 

...Hmm. Might be that Mazda were 'Ro80 crap', back in the day, and later development [ceramic comes to mind] at Mazda has made rx more reliable  ...... 

 

tooSavvy

[Wight Shite]

I currently own a Ro80 and have previously owned two others.

They all had different powerplants.

The first had the Mazda rotary from an RX4, the 13B.

The second had an engine and gearbox conversion to early Audi 100 1.8 power and fully auto gearbox.

My present one has NSU power.

I found the Mazda powered one thirstier than the NSU powered one.

After experiencing the rotary engine, the piston engine was horrible. Not because it was a bad conversion, just a total anti climax.

It's easy to dismiss the wankel engine's importance to the car because it is such a great car in so many other ways.

But in my humble opinion, if you can find the a way of getting it back to rotary power then go for it.

You won't regret it and won't be able to wipe the smile off your face.

[dollywobbler]

Somewhere from the mud filled depths of my mind I think that the rotor seal probs of the Wankel can be overcome by a rebuild with Mazda seals etc. Cannot verify this but someone may know the truth of it.

 

Apparently not, but ceramic rotor tips are now available (at vast cost) and improve matters no end. 

[garethj]

Might be worth a chat with RoTechniks to see if they've got a spare engine hanging around, and can advise on rebuild costs with better tip seals?

 

But I think your lowest cost will be Subaru flat 4, if it fits.

[Guest corsair]

What happened to this? Do you still have the Weber and inlet manifold from the V4? I bought Hurleys remaining stock of new short block V4's back about 15 years ago