Mnot wrote:
My guess, and it is only a guess. is that the layers alternate throughout the entire tube. This is where the torsional strength would come from. And I would also guess that it would cost too much to mass produce a shaft that is that tailored.
I like this answer! I hope your guess is true.
I am going to trust it. Moving on to cooling and exhaust.
Cooling, I am going to run the RX8 dual oil coolers, and as mentioned probably a dual core civic half rad, though I have also found a DNA 3 core rad for a 1966 mustang may fit I'll have to re measure. Should I put the oil coolers out front, or run them between the front subframe and the engine. The Rotary makes a lot of heat and cooling is a concern to me. From past Rotary cars I have had it is the exhaust gas temps that get stupid hot but if I can keep the whole engine cooler this will help for sure.
For my exhaust, my plan was a temporary fix to keep budget in mind so compromises are being done. The RX8 has a heavy stock header/manifold (something I haven't shared is this build has been planned for eventually swapping the renesis out for a K24/K20 as adaptors are made to bolt that to the RX8 drivetrain). It is not cast so it is weldable, I was going to cut it and turn the pipe 90 degrees and have it exit straight out. This won't have the cleanest flow, for the front rotor, but the rear rotor then gets a straight shot out. I have cut the factory manifold already and to my surprise Mazda has a dual layer manifold (no wonder it is so heavy!) This makes me welding it as planned much more difficult. The inner layer is not air tight to the outer layer and fits in there kinda loosely (my guess is this is done for emmisions as the secondary air pump would pump air to this outer layer that does not fully join the manifold till after the first o2 sensor). So I am hoping I can get the inner layer tacked all in place then fully weld the outer layer still. If this does not work, I will cut the manifold just outside the flange and make a full custom header. Plan A is free, plan B is just some header tube(I hope).