RX8 LS SWAP - Cheaper than a Corvette? FULL COST and PARTS LIST!

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" Luke 14:28
How much did it cost me to build an LS1 Swapped Mazda Rx8 with an AR5 5-speed transmission?
Full build PARTS LIST spreadsheet is linked in the video for your use and DOWNLOAD to help with your swap/build!
Follow the Instagram for the in-between!
@cadekb
00:00 - Intro
02:24 - Shell
04:04 - Chassis
09:43 - AR5 Transmission
12:21 - Driveshaft/Exhaust
14:34 - 5.7L LS1 Engine Swap
21:58 - LS Rx8 Driving/Sounds/Noises

[@Psyrecx]

*I got my 2009 RX-8 for $2,200, in August.*
Shop thought it had a blown motor...
They just flooded it. Drives perfectly fine since.

[@Rob-vv5yn]

You deserve a lot more likes awesome job

[@noahengland483]

i was expecting it to be a lot more tbh, that’s an amazing price brotha. keep the videos coming! happy new year!

[@bio7377]

Yo my dude just wanted to let you know in case you weren't aware but the audio needs editing for this as when your talking the audio is set to only come through the left headphone. Im doing a 2JZ swap in my 8 but i love the ls swap dude it looks so clean!

[@nathanpattillo]

So awesome. Thanks for doing all of this work and recording what you did. My 16 year old son and I are doing this now with an 06’ and putting in an LQ4 6.0. It’s a giant amount of work but will be worth it. I like that you put in an AR5 transmission too. Thanks again for the project inspiration.

[@johannsson8559]

Cheaper than i thought and if you do a no fluff swap it looks like it could cost sub 10k
I’ll definitely do this swap someday, thanks for the cost breakdown

[@iancrudden295]

Nice post bro, building one of these soon with the old 4.8 out of my truck.

[@chestrockwell8328]

Buddy of mine bought an 07' C6 several months ago, decent deal... he paid 22k, so you're just over half what he paid. Since buying we have installed many new performance parts, engine, suspension, cooling, brakes, wheel/tires to make it Track Day capable.

[@michaeld4879]

Amazing build.

[@nzzl1]

Less than 13k is such a crazy good deal for something so unique

[@blaine142]

Real nice video Cade. I gotta laugh at the $0.83 cents for a coke tossed in there real quick 😂

[@scotty305]

It looks and sounds good! What size tires do you have on it? How does it feel compared to a stock-ish RX8 or a stock-ish Corvette?

[@chadwilbur5364]

Im curious to know how it handles corners. I had an 01 ss camaro and i really hated how big it was and felt to drive. I love the compactness of the rx8 but with the ls1 does it feel heavy?

[@Mondaymotoring]

I love my LSRX8.

[@jvest6515]

Rx8's are getting big. People realizing how good the chassis are. I'ma do a similar swap here in a few months

[@chadwilbur5364]

Btw thanks to you im doing the ls swap so far ive got the car and an ar5. Is it too late to back out? Lol

[@marinaportocaribe]

Hi what about the cluster? tach n temp signals? didnt see if you cover that in the video

[@EXIT263]

The ar5 5 speed manual transmission on ebay says that that transmission is out of a solstice and not a colorado does that still sounds right ? Its for my 04 rx8 project?

[@knation92]

Mine should be around 6k total for the swap. You spent quite a bit more on the car and engine than I did though

[@tricdya]

Does it have AC?

[@peterg6638]

Looks awesome. How does it handle around the turns now with the heavier motor?

[@billylongdick3192]

The ls is probably the same weight as the rotary

[@Dansyoung]

I’m accumulating the parts for a LS3/T56 magnum f swap (Canadian pricing)…. Transmission was $5000, QuickTime bell housing $1000, sikky shifter $600, clutch approx $2000, ls3 crate engine $10,000, I want to get a Haltech nexus R3 and that’s like $4500 🤣

[@Dansyoung]

Keisler automation 8.8 swap and axles, new rear gear set, bearings, used rear diff etc about $5k, ls1rx8 swap kit $3000, long tube headers $1000…. 💰💰💰

[@71solid61]

Hey can I use the rx8 transmission for my swap 5.3v8

[@Ginsengx]

Rx8 trans wont hold the power.

[@dovydaskaminskas4227]

@@Ginsengx you meant torque?

[@rc28ify]

No it wont hold the power/torque for very long

[@aketza7395]

Here in spain the cheapest ls1 that I found was 8k, without wiring harness or any other component... :( I widh I could buy one of those cheap ones

[@brettheyer2421]

Really?

[@brotha_nunce]

How come u didn’t use a Cd009 trans?

[@BTC_Cassidy]

Is that the recommended trans?

[@dovydaskaminskas4227]

Did the weight of that engine messed up its handling?

[@ulisesavila2879]

It will, but not that much specially when not many people are sensitive to it and when people install new shocks.

[@AnarchistPsycho]

I love this project but please fix the audio. It's only in my left ear. Thank you.

[@Silvia_Jay_S14]

I want one but I want to keep it Rotary.cause Mazda will keep making parts for it.

[@infamousbkp]

Half the price of a c5, insane

[@BTC_Cassidy]

Half the price?

[@RyuSukuna]

13k is a mf steal 😂

[@zhivoygeniyampera1213]

Kurt Cobain