Bruce Turrentine built up this low power RX8 engine for Tracy.
Bruce cut away some unneeded cast iron above the lower intake
ports on the low power version of the RX8 engine to save weight. 

Bruce and Tracy are of the opinion the low power version
of the RX8 engine is best for aircraft use. I disagree.
I think they are being fooled by the current practice of piston
engine intake manifold and port design. Piston engines have poppet 
valves. Poppet valves are the main impediment to high volumetric 
efficiency. There fore it is necessary to keep the velocity up
in the intake runners to maximize the VE on piston engines. 
For evidence check out the latest Chrysler Hemi engine. Chrysler
went to all the trouble of canting the valves so the lip of
the valve would move away from the cylinder wall when open.
This also required moving the cam shaft up higher in the block.

Time will tell whether small diameter high velocity intakes are 
necessary in a rotary. History indicates otherwise. Every time
Mazda has increased the port area the rotary generates more
power in the RPM ranges we use. The ultimate is the peripheral
intake port Leman engine with 120 HP per rotor at the benchmark 
6000 RPM point. IMHO I would like to see these P-Port intakes combined
with RX8 side exhaust ports.

Surprisingly the
the 3rd gen oil filer mount can be made to fit the RX8 engine.
A few mods are required with a die grinder. Advantage is
a lowered stock oil filter can be used. One less place for
the external oil filter hose plumbing to fail and crash the airplane. 

Bruce also cut away some unneeded material on the RX8 front
cover that was used for the stock AC compressor. This gave a nice spot
for a side mounted alternator.

Paul Lamar
 
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