YouTube Honda Tuners First to Build a Turbo-K20 Mazda RX-8
Featuring a fully built engine, upgraded suspension, and sticky rubber, this swap reminds us why we love the versatility of the K-series!
We are firm believers that the Honda K-series is one of the best engines ever built. As such, we also agree that almost any vehicle can be made better by throwing a K-series in it.
The dynamic duo known as Aki and Trappy, founders of Keep Gunnin Youtube channel, also feel this way. Thus, they took it one step further and managed a task nobody has really thought to undertake: K-swapping a Mazda RX8. As if that wasn’t unconventional enough, they boosted it as well.
What exactly is Keep Gunnin anyway and what do they do? Well, they aren’t your average shop. They actually really aren’t a shop at all. Their small 500 square foot garage based out of Yonkers, New York isn’t open to public and they don’t do sales.
They don’t even do maintenance or repairs. Instead, they have been documenting building Hondas directly out of this tight space for several years now via their YouTube channel. Thanks to the help of their loyal fanbase they have managed to be quite successful.
Building the ‘RX-K’
A recent Motor Trend article highlighted their latest creation, an unusual choice, a Mazda RX-8 dubbed “RX-K”. The Gunnin garage has specialized in Hondas since their inception, so the rotary-powered sports coupe was definitely a left-field choice.
Look back through their videos on their YouTube channel for the past couple years, you’ll see nothing but Hondas. So when asked why the Mazda, Aki would respond,
“We just wanted to do something different. Still, Honda powered, but something that wasn’t whored out. There were some K-swaps done on the RX-8 before, but none that were turbo as far as we knew—that was Trappy’s idea.”
So how did that lead to this now 1980s Malboro-livery inspired K20 mega build? Well, the process wasn’t that simple. It never is when you are the first to do something in a respective field.
However, the Gunnin garage is not unfamiliar with being pioneers and have the pedigree to back it up. Aki has significant achievements in drag racing, including being the first to break the 9 second barrier in the 1/4 mile with an all-motor K-series.
Masters of the K-series always go for the firsts
Its safe to say if anybody is going to manage a wild K-swap, it’s going to be them. A wild swap it was, as packaging the massive turbo required some logistical cutting away at the firewall for clearance.
Thankfully not every aspect needed to be bespoke, as Collins Performance Technologies had already made a K-to-RX-8 conversion kit. Included is key components such as engine mounts, a billet flywheel, and a transmission adapter.
According to Aki the most difficult aspect of the swap was the electronics. He stated, “integrating the complex CAN-BUS system with the K setup was pretty tough.”
However, this would not hamper the potential of the fully built engine, which was about to be cranked up to 11 thanks to the assistance of a massive 6262 Precision Turbo turbo.
Tuning on the dyno was handled by shop friend and Honda tuner extraordinaire, Jamie Marsh. Marsh also holds a standing top five all-motor quarter-mile record with a built EG hatch.
He was able to pull some serious, but reliable power out of the platform- 572 HP and 409 ft/lbs of torque. After seeing the violent backfires from the boost on the dyno, we are convinced the RX-8 is better than it came from the factory.
While this build may be stunning to look at, it actually gets better for the viewers. The Gunner Bros are actually giving away this RX-K in a raffle- a common occurrence on their Instagram and YouTube.
Even second place will offer a serious prize: a 2000 EM1 Civic Si that the team also recently just finished as a project. Whoever is lucky enough to win the grand prize will have the courtesy of having the RX-K being delivered in person by the Gunnin team.
Not too many people would go to that length for their community. We love weird passion projects like this and are glad that Aki and Trappy are keeping the K-series interesting. Good luck to the contestants!
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