Hey all! My name is dan and I'm currently in the process of gathering parts for my project. This will be my first swap and I have ALOT to learn and gather before I dive in. Planning is key to me. I'm a newbie but am trying to learn and tackle this alone.

On to the project. I have a 2004 mazda rx8 with an automatic trans. I got the car a little over a month or so ago with no motor for an xbox one s all digital and 300 boot. It has 113k on it and is basically gutted. Came with corbeau racing seats, old and new harness, and a bunch of miscellaneous parts from the rotary that was in it.

I plan on finding a junkyard lm7 5.3 or similar engine and backing it with a 4l60e trans. Problem is, I've always been into hondas and don't really know anything about the LS or GM in general.

I've got the motor and trans mounts I want in mind and will order soon as I get the engine. Getting the motor in the bay will be fairly easy but I have to relocate my rack and pinion and sway bar which multiple companies have brackets for. So literally all I need are headers of choice and to wire up the 5.3 and trans. I plan on using the stock rx8 diff which has a ratio of 4.44 or similar and a custom driveshaft.

A few questions I have are......
1. Can I literally just take a truck 5.3, 2wd 4l60e, harness, and ecu and swap it all over and expect it to work?
2. Do I have to use the truck fuse box? Can I repin the rx8 fuse box?
3. Can anyone point me towards some info about the VATS system? I heard that VATS wont allow my engine to run until tuned.
4. Can anyone link anything showing how the 4l60e works and is installed? I don't know anything about linkage or any of the sensors or harness it has.
5. What are the best tools and/or tips or parts you guys know of that'd be of use to me here?
6. How might one decide on a torque converter?
7. Anyone have any builds that are similar here?
8. Any obstacles I may run into?


Here she is.

Shes rough but i got her cheap, low miles, and has clean title!

Lots of room for activities!!!!

Main reason i wanna go 4l60 over t56 (other than budget) is it was already an auto car. Id love to use the paddle shift somehow with the 4l60 but idk how thatd work.

Cant wait to get this thing goin!!!

 

Welcome to LS1Tech! I’d suggest you re-post this over in our Conversions And Hybrids section. You’ll get plenty of help over there, from folks who have been there and done that. Not a lot of traffic here in the Intro section.