RX8Club.com - Newbie's Guide to Modding the RX-8

RX8Club.com (https://www.rx8club.com/)

- New Member Forum (https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/)

- - Newbie's Guide to Modding the RX-8 (https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/newbies-guide-modding-rx-8-a-233937/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morx811 (Post 4361436)

I bought a 2011 rx8 sport - black mica...I love the car , was looking to put an intake on it...but after reading this...is it just a waste?

Yes.

Depends on your goal with the intake. If you want it for power, then yes, a waste. Other reasons are viable though.

I bought an AEM because i hate the "Plastic Engine" look and i removed all my covers ect

Plus i love the noise mated with my header back system, sounds like a jet fighter.

So i paid $300 for engine bay aesthetics, not even mad bro

Shuffled some post content down. Power modifications now spread the first THREE posts. Added a description of what the COBB AccessPORT is, as well as some engine swap basic information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIWWP (Post 4275584)

POWER MODIFICATIONS (continued)

COBB AccessPORT, or any other kind of flashing device for tuning
(will void the warranty if found)
This is more of a sub-topic of the ECU tune, but it seems that it needs it's own section, as it really isn't clearly spelled out anywhere.

The COBB AccessPORT is a tool, much like a wrench. To us, you are asking: "Can I remove my engine with this wrench?" Well, kinda. It's part of what is involved. You won't be able to make any progress without it, but even if you have that wrench, if all you do is hit yourself in the face with it, you won't get anywhere toward your goal. It has to be used appropriately, and it is simply one of many pieces that you will need to get there.

In more practical terms, the AP is nothing more than a communication device, a phone if you will. It can communicate with the OEM ECU. What it tells the ECU is entirely dependant on what information you are pushing through. If all you are pushing through is requests to clear codes, then that is all it's going to do. In order to increase the rev limit, you need to have the AP "flash" a map to the ECU.

But you have to get this map first.

Well, what is a map? A map is basically a digital copy of the ECU's parameters and tables that it uses to manage the car. Much like if you right click on a picture on the web and click "save-as" and save it to your computer. Just like that. You can upload that picture to the web if you want, and everything is exactly like it was.

But, you want a change. Lets say that the picture was of a girl with a big mole on her face. You wanted to touch that up and remove it. Well, you will use some other software to make those edits. Then you have to upload the new picture to replace the original. That's all the AP is doing when you flash a map. It's uploading the digital copy of the ECU's data files.

What tuners do, is they make edits to the data files to adjust fueling, timing, CEL blocks, rev limit changes, etc... as needed. Then they load them into the AP via USB and use the AP via ODB2 to load the flash to the ECU, applying the changes.

So you can get the AP to help you toward your goal, but you will also either need the software to make the edits AND the knowledge of what you are doing (because it's not a simple process of point and click), or you will also need the services of someone that does have the software and does know what they are doing. If you pick the 2nd option you will also need to pay them a fee of some sort, and probably work within their scheduling.

It's a thing of beauty Timmy

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVOp5DlQ2M...e-clapping.gif

Well executed RIWWP. Excellent polish on this thread.

Nicely done!

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...63o1_400-1.gif

BTW, ASH8 has an excellent stickie on the differences between Series I and Series II.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-te...s-i-ii-161665/

Thanks, updated the first post.

^^^ PM'd
Read it again while having morning coffee.
Awesome stuff

Hmm, so the Nitrous link is now invalid. It was a thread from 2007 that is still in the Google Search cache, however it's a deleted thread on here. I found a thread from 2009 that noted that it was deleted at that point (so >3 years ago), so not sure how it worked before unless it was my mod status that was allowing me to see it in-correctly.

The 2009 thread asking about the 2007 thread I originally linked (https://www.rx8club.com/major-horsep...-rules-169349/) mentions that there was an updated version, but I am not finding it at the moment.

Anyone else have any ideas or have it bookmarked somewhere?

Perfect! I should have thought of that.

Excellent thread RIWWP, fantastic read, thanks for all your effort :)

Awesome write up. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by redline86 (Post 4300246)

It's too bad RacingBeat doesn't make a resonated mid pipe. I'm sure some people would buy it if they did. :rolleyes:

RIWWP Edit: Whoops, thanks. I'm bound to make mistakes here and there. Added.

i think they do check their website.

So i didnt see fuel injectors mentioned. Would upgrading to higher flow injectors/ fuel pump make significant gains?

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak160 (Post 4422645)

i think they do check their website.

So i didnt see fuel injectors mentioned. Would upgrading to higher flow injectors/ fuel pump make significant gains?

No, we don't have a fuel limitation while n/a. It's all a problem with airflow (exhaust) out, and the restriction is in the engine.

Very good information. I am very new to Rx-8s and rotary engines so this was extremely helpful!
Very interesting to see that things like an air intake and exhaust system may not do anything where as on a piston engine usually bring noticeable changes.

Hope to have my first rotary soon and this thread was a big help! thanks :rock:

so after reading all this, your telling that 99% of the upgrades are not useful or should not be done!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohammad_1992 (Post 4425174)

so after reading all this, your telling that 99% of the upgrades are not useful or should not be done!

A RX8's base rear wheel HP is 170-180. Without tuning, the only mod that will give you measurable gains is a mid pipe or a lightweight flywheel. If you get the right combination of intake and exhaust mods (tuned) you may achieve 200-210 rwhp.
For the cost of getting this 30 hp, you are halfway to getting a used Greedy turbo kit where you can get a 100 hp increase that you can really feel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohammad_1992 (Post 4425174)

so after reading all this, your telling that 99% of the upgrades are not useful or should not be done!

This is just the information of what does what, the basics of what you can expect, and things to consider. How you use that information is entirely up to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnielsen (Post 4425199)

at the price of $$ and engine longevity.

hey RIWWP,

do you think adding estimates for how much power you get out of certain mods is a good idea?

you mentioned the aem intake is ~3.6hp

I dont think you gave any more figures other than the intake. Obviously the numbers will be very small, and many products give different results.... Maybe "the best in this category (name) gives approx ___ hp"??

I'm willing to add them only if people hunt down dyno sheets to back them up.

It's "common knowledge", but if I start putting numbers in the opening posts people are going to start demanding the sheets. And to be honest I don't have the motivation to hunt down those dyno sheets.

Someone else may want to tackle that for a few of the items?