- Wankel
Rotary Engine: A History - Conceived in the 1930s, simplified
and successfully tested in the 1950s, the darling of the automotive
industry in the early 1970s, then all but abandoned before
resurging for a brilliant run as a high-performance powerplant
for Mazda, the Wankel rotary engine has long been an object
of fascination and more than a little mystery. A remarkably
simple design (yet understood by few), it boasts compact size,
light weight and nearly vibration-free operation. In the 1960s,
German engineer Felix Wankel's invention was beginning to
look like a revolution in the making. Though still in need
of refinement, it held much promise as a smooth and powerful
engine that could fit in smaller spaces than piston engines
of similar output. Auto makers lined up for licensing rights
to build their own Wankels, and for a time analysts predicted
that much of the industry would convert to rotary power. This
complete and well-illustrated account traces the full history
of the engine and its use in various cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles
and other applications. It clearly explains the working of
the engine and the technical challenges it presented-the difficulty
of designing effective and durable seals, early emissions
troubles, high fuel consumption, and others. The work done
by several companies to overcome these problems is described
in detail, as are the economic and political troubles that
nearly killed the rotary in the 1970s, and the prospects for
future rotary-powered vehicles.
- RX-7:
Mazda's Rotary Sportscar - The definitive history of the
successful and amazingly long-lived
RX-7 from launch in 1978 to the millennium and beyond.
Mazda's boldness in using Felix Wankel's engine design--and
solving the associated problems--imbued the RX-7 with huge
driver appeal, so much so that close to half a million cars
had been sold by 1986 ... Colour throughout.
- Mazda
RX-7 Performance Handbook - Mazda_s RX-7 has established
a reputation as an affordable, high-performance sports car.
This book guides you through the history of the model from
the X605 project car up to the current RX-7, covering technical
changes and progression in technology through the years. Extract
maximum performance from your RX-7 with detailed chapters
on suspension and chassis, brakes, engine, drivetrain, body,
and interior. Restoration and modification plans for high-performance
street, road racing, and autocrossing are also included.
- Mazda
MX-5 Miata: The Book of the World's Favourite Sportscar
- Now in its second decade of production, Mazda's superb convertible
roadster has become by far the world's best-selling sports
car. Here, in definitive detail, is the full story of the
MX-5 Miata (known as the Eunos Roadster in Japan) from inception
in the early 1980s to the current third generation models.
Researched in Japan, this book includes exclusive interviews
with key people in the MX-5 story. Coverage includes development,
launch details, the model’s evolution in all the major
markets, motorsport, specials, and much, much more. The book
also features a foreword by Takao Kijima, MX-5 Miata's Chief
Engineer.
- Street
Rotary HP1549: How to Build Maximum Horsepower & Reliability
into Mazda's 12a, 13b & Renesis Engines - The
ultimate performance guide to the rotary engines built by
Mazda from 1978 to the present. Includes: Engine history and
identification • Rotary engine fundamentals •
Component selection and modifications • Housings and
porting • Rotors, seals, and internals • Intake
and fuel systems • Exhaust Systems • Engine management
and ignition • Oil and lubrication systems • Forced
induction • Nitrous, water and alcohol injection
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