RXtacy's small detached rotary haven

[RXtacy]

RX;
After looking at the picture again, it was an optical illusion. The front wall of the pit looked like it was horizontal and covering the opening. I thought you had made some removable covers so the jacks wouldn't accidentally fall in the opening. Sorry for the confusion.

Gotcha. It's not a bad idea that would be pretty simple to implement. Aluminum plate, with aluminum angle welded to the underside to catch the edges of the pits and "lock it in" to the hole is probably how I would tackle it. Maybe in the future.

 

[tgerold]

RX - Awesome garage. I've been lurking in the shadows and watching all of the threads with in-floor scissor lifts getting ideas. A couple quick questions for you, as I'm planning on installing an in-floor as well:

- Any regrets on going with 2 individual pits vs. one large pit and making a cover/stand for the center aisle in between the 2 lifts? Debating this now for future servicing of the lifts if they fail and having a central drain vs. 2 drains..

- Did you have to extend the lift electrical/hydraulic lines for your control box install? Greg smith equipment lists the max distance underground to be 59", and is too short for my planned control box location.

- On your blasting cabinet, is your air compressor powerful enough to give you meaningful time blasting? I am trying to pick an air compressor, and having one be portable would be handy (the trade off is smaller tank and 120v power).

- On your FD - so is it terrible, horrible blasphemy for me to want to buy a nice one, drive it until the wankel blows all its seals, then swap an ls1 in? Am I destined for eternal punishment?

Thanks!

 

[RXtacy]

RX - Awesome garage. I've been lurking in the shadows and watching all of the threads with in-floor scissor lifts getting ideas. A couple quick questions for you, as I'm planning on installing an in-floor as well:

- Any regrets on going with 2 individual pits vs. one large pit and making a cover/stand for the center aisle in between the 2 lifts? Debating this now for future servicing of the lifts if they fail and having a central drain vs. 2 drains..

- Did you have to extend the lift electrical/hydraulic lines for your control box install? Greg smith equipment lists the max distance underground to be 59", and is too short for my planned control box location.

- On your blasting cabinet, is your air compressor powerful enough to give you meaningful time blasting? I am trying to pick an air compressor, and having one be portable would be handy (the trade off is smaller tank and 120v power).

- On your FD - so is it terrible, horrible blasphemy for me to want to buy a nice one, drive it until the wankel blows all its seals, then swap an ls1 in? Am I destined for eternal punishment?

Thanks!

Thanks. No regrets so far. Personally I think it looks much cleaner when you install in two individual pits. If a hydraulic cylinder were to fail in the down position I would most likely be able to get a strap under it and lift the platform up. If that didn't work for whatever reason I could easily tack on a lifting eye and lift the platform to access the cylinder.

There are only air and hydraulic lines going into the pits no electrical fyi. I got 5 meter hydraulic lines. The supplied air line was shorter and not long enough so I had to get additional push lock tubing (no big deal just a nuisance). One note that I didn't realize going in is there is no power wire supplied. You have to make a power wire for the control cabinet. If Greg Smith won't make longer lines for you a hydraulic shop should be able to.

The compressor is what I would consider bare minimum. Yes I can blast with it, but once the tank is empty it has to run constantly to keep up which gets annoying. I do get a decent amount of blast time with it, but I will be looking to upgrade to an oiled possibly V style compressor at some point.

You are destined to the deepest pits of hell!

I've been involved with several V8 swaps in various capacities. These were all professional quality builds, not shade tree. In all honesty I'm not a big fan of the end result. Even when you shoe horn the LS as far back as possible the CG is still higher than the rotary. No matter what people will tell you it throws off the handling of the FD. Not drastically, but you loose some of the nimbleness that makes the car great imho. A friend of mine who went the LS route sold it almost immediately after completion because of the changed driving dynamics. For me personally, if I wanted an LS I'd just buy a C6 Z06 and be done with it.

At the end of the day it's your car and I respect your right to do whatever you want with it. Would taking a clean example of an FD and swapping it make me sad though? Yes, yes it would but if that's what makes you happy then go for it

 

[tgerold]

Thanks. No regrets so far. Personally I think it looks much cleaner when you install in two individual pits. If a hydraulic cylinder were to fail in the down position I would most likely be able to get a strap under it and lift the platform up. If that didn't work for whatever reason I could easily tack on a lifting eye and lift the platform to access the cylinder.

There are only air and hydraulic lines going into the pits no electrical fyi. I got 5 meter hydraulic lines. The supplied air line was shorter and not long enough so I had to get additional push lock tubing (no big deal just a nuisance). One note that I didn't realize going in is there is no power wire supplied. You have to make a power wire for the control cabinet. If Greg Smith won't make longer lines for you a hydraulic shop should be able to.

The compressor is what I would consider bare minimum. Yes I can blast with it, but once the tank is empty it has to run constantly to keep up which gets annoying. I do get a decent amount of blast time with it, but I will be looking to upgrade to an oiled possibly V style compressor at some point.

You are destined to the deepest pits of hell!

I've been involved with several V8 swaps in various capacities. These were all professional quality builds, not shade tree. In all honesty I'm not a big fan of the end result. Even when you shoe horn the LS as far back as possible the CG is still higher than the rotary. No matter what people will tell you it throws off the handling of the FD. Not drastically, but you loose some of the nimbleness that makes the car great imho. A friend of mine who went the LS route sold it almost immediately after completion because of the changed driving dynamics. For me personally, if I wanted an LS I'd just buy a C6 Z06 and be done with it.

At the end of the day it's your car and I respect your right to do whatever you want with it. Would taking a clean example of an FD and swapping it make me sad though? Yes, yes it would but if that's what makes you happy then go for it

Thanks for the quick feedback.

That is the thing that's kept me from seriously looking for an FD - when you swap an LS, you essentially get a better looking Corvette. I like the idea of an rx8 with an LS because of the back seats for little ones, but still.. I'm all good with my g8 right now, and it's replacement will likely be a 6mt SS. Good ole full size v8 sedan with magnetic ride control and a stick to move around [emoji2]

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to watching your progress with sheetrock (cause I know it will be awesome). Cheers!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

 

[RXtacy]

Thanks for the quick feedback.

That is the thing that's kept me from seriously looking for an FD - when you swap an LS, you essentially get a better looking Corvette. I like the idea of an rx8 with an LS because of the back seats for little ones, but still.. I'm all good with my g8 right now, and it's replacement will likely be a 6mt SS. Good ole full size v8 sedan with magnetic ride control and a stick to move around [emoji2]

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to watching your progress with sheetrock (cause I know it will be awesome). Cheers!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

I agree that an RX-8 with an LS would be excellent and I would have no qualms about such a swap. If there was an easy solution for the CAN communication with the factory dash I may have done it to mine already.

Funny you mention that. My office mate just took delivery of his '17 SS. White with a manual. Sounds great with the cutouts and looks better in person than in pictures. With a nice suspension drop, good wheels, and blacking out the chrome I think it'll look sweet!

Thanks, I checked out your thread. Great piece of property you have there, and looks like the house/shop is going to be awesome! Congrats, I'll be following along.