Great write up with a ton of helpful information! Thanks Man!

Ditto ↑↑↑ Look forward to any applicable updates.

I have been busy with re-writing all of this content (and other content) on my own website outside of the forums. I'll transfer the updates and edits back in when I get a chance. It's time consuming because of all of the reformatting between forum markup vs html / css markup.

Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble Godfather - your contributions really make the Club worthwhile.

Nice summary tyvm :icon_tup::icon_tup:

As is the same for so many others, I have found this thread very useful for gaining direction in sorting through the immense amount of information available here. Very grateful, thank you.

Good Stuff
 

One more thanks from a newbie here.

Ray

Great write up, thank You!

Put Perfectly
 

Thank you so much for this post it has helped me out tremendously! Everything that you mention is so on point.

Full Respect
 

Wow, any man that can right this much on modding in a forum deserves respect Good Job and a great read!:ylsuper:

Liked this big post and as a long time 8 owner you are absolutely right in the fact that the rx8 is "money hungry" when it comes to mods. You pay to play with this car.

Sorry to bump here , but i thought it was important in that it took several visits and a few re-reads to feel lke i want to thank RIWWP for the extenssive write up and because of that most of my v8 ideas for my series one rx8 went out the window.Thank you so much!.

finished reading for a 3rd time...
 

I plan on going through it again... I delve into too many things other than just cars, but I love the rotary engine.

If I was rich as crap... Thanks again for this amazing write up though. if I hang in there I'll be sure to keep coming back to this.

This was a huge help! Thanks

STELLAR INFORMATION, in a clear and easy to digest format. Kudos!!

So what are the actual gains of all the basic "mods" together?

I found this STAGE 1 RX8 UPGRADE | News Pac Performance

Do RX-8's have unusually high drive-train losses... 238hp=150whp?

So add a AccessPort/Mazdaedit and headers and what would I be looking at? 200whp tops? The newbie tuning guide lists 215-230whp as the basic upper N/A limits, are these with porting?

I really like the RX-8's design and how light weight but also practical it is, stiff chassis, looks like a coup but is actually a four door... just if it never has the punch to keep up with a family sedan...

Always seems like they never give light cars enough power, BRZ/FR-S, S2000, the Elise they at least eventually supercharged...

I have heard a healthy / factory fresh RX-8 will dyno in the 175-180ish WHP range. I feel the RX-8 was quite over-rated, and it is sensitive/prone to loosing power through loss of compression, loss of spark strength, and other losses (gumming of intake components, fuel pump woes, etc). So it's not uncommon for RX-8s to lay down low numbers, say 150-165WHP.




Headers and a tune would maybe be worth 10ish WHP? The consensus is that CAI is a few HP tops, catback is a few HP tops, some folks say the mid pipe is worth a bit but other say it's not worth much at all. Dynos talk, but too few people dyno a single component back-to-back, they lump a bunch of mods together and it's tough to say WHICH component produced the best gains.


Lightweight cars have their own advantages. I'm okay with getting beat by trucks or Camrys in a straight line, because that's not what I consider "competition". The RX-8s prowess is displayed on a winding road, autocross, or road course.

Just wanted to say thank you for the write up. Saved me hours of searching for answers.

I have an 06 ported motor with AEM, BhR Ignition , BHR Midpipe and Full cat back exhaust.
It netted at 225ish WHP.

I have a few friends who dynoed their 8's all stock at 185-200 whp.
One friend dynoed his 8 with cat delete 210 WHP
I guess it also depends on engine's health.
The most I recall seeing N/A build pushed 230 WHP thats with porting, polishing and etc

Rx8 came pretty refined from factory and Mazda milked every last drop of juice out of this renny motor.

Best and Cheapest mod by far has been CAT Delete and it also helps your engine last longer

I have yet to get mine tuned, it's still running factory flash.
I am hoping to gain a few more ponies maybe 5-10 whp at best if anything i guess

But I'll be injecting more oil in the rotors to prevent premature wear
Have my fans come on earlier
and See If I can get something done about fuel economy not my biggest concern but we will see :-)

I was thinking to go with BHR Headers, but changed my mind. I'll either be boosting the renny next year or go with REW Swap.

Unlikely you will get much more from a tune ... maybe playing with timing a little may yeild something .
Porting raises the volumetric efficiency of the engine and the result from that is that the ECU max calc. load cieling is hit and it will run leaner . I've seen it where this effect put AFRs exactly where you want them ,more by accident than by design .A proper tune will make it all work the way it was supposed to but not give you anymore power.

Those numbers are all STRONG.

Do you recall what midpipe was used for that 210WHP pull? some folks claim the factory midpipe isn't restrictive.

BHr Midpipe if the memory serves me well.
Or either gutted cat.

Great input Brettus. Thanks.

Yes, I am leaning towards a tune so all the mods sync in and my engine runs properly.
To feed my need for Pawaah! i am following your turbo build thread :-) Great stuff in that thread.

I am fairly new to tuning concept, just acquired an unmarried cobb and will get a rotary tuner to tune it for me for now.

Yeah ... you might not make much more power but still worth doing IMO.
Hard to find a tuner competent with the Cobb and rx8 combo though . PM me if you geet stuck.