My VR Esmeril Turbo RX 8
#1
My VR Esmeril Turbo RX 8
How do your guys like my car? It is the base model with sport package with real mazdaspeed front bumper. I have modified the car little by little over the past 2 1/2 year. I only do performance mod and want the lightest model for better power to weight ratio. I removed the front crash bar and made a bracket to support the intercooler in addition to the L-shape bar provided with the kit. The air pump was removed. Lighter rims replace stock rims.
Engine mod: Esmeril turbo, Mazdaspeed fly wheel, Mazmart water pump and thermostat, Esmeril ignition coil, 2 1000 cc injectors, high flow fuel pump, Agency Power pully, racing beat street flash (before turbo), stock clutch....will change soon...., Mazsport midpipe, Hymee exhaust which will be replace with HKS Hi Power next week, Axile short shifter (I don't even remember what the name is anymore....), Amsoil synthetic motor oil, Amsoil synthetic transmission and rear differential oil, Innovate LC1 O2 sensor, prosport gauges, boostlogic turbo blanket, stainless clutch line
Suspension: Koni Yellow sport shocks, Racing Beat springs, Racing beat end links, Wedsport SA-70 17", Bridgestone tire 245/40
Progressive technology front and rear sway bars, mazdaspeed front and rear strut bars
Light weight mod: Lighter rims Wedsport SA-70 17" (17 lbs vs 23 lbs stock rims, it is a shorter rim so it effectively shorten the gear ratio, quicker acceleration), Ray lug nuts (they are really light, 20 of Ray lug nuts weight less than 5 stock lug nuts!), light weight battery, Mazdaspeed fly wheel, crash bar removed, Air pump removed, HKS hi power exhaust, no jack/spare wheel but has patch kit, remove factory floor mat and replace with light plastic one. And yes, driver is on diet too since I am a runner!
I drive the car mainly on weekend and to work sometime. It has been a great 2 1/2 year so far as it runs perfect and never miss a beat. The car has not been tuned yet and so far I put down about 850 easy miles since the turbo was installed. The kit runs real smooth and the sound of the turbo spooling is sweet to the ears. The turbo makes the car sound awesome. I will have it tunes as soon as I install the HKS Hi power exhaust. It will easily beat 300 whp for sure with this kit. The car will get tune soon as I hate to drive it the way it is right now....grand ma is probably drive faster than me...
Also I attach a photo of the new wastegate. It is a tial new low profile 38 mm. You can't even see it because it is located above the cross member. The only thing that lower than the cross member is the dump pipe. It is less than 1" lower than the cross member. No more fear of damaging the wastegate when go over speed bumps.
Hope your guys like it!!!
Last edited by Luckycat; 05-27-2009 at 08:52 AM.
#12
#13
Thank you Chickenwafer. I like your car too. Very clean. I can't wait to have the car tune because it is not safe driving it the way it is right now but I always remember to stay off boost and I did for all those 850 miles. I am smart enough avoid driving the car hard without tuning. That how a lot of people blow their engines.
#14
I am waiting for the exhaust from you. I am the guy that order HKS hi power from you last week. I will tune the car once I install that new exhaust. Suppose to come in next wed according to FED EX.
#16
Yeh wait for new exhaust and wait for Chris to tune the car. I am sure it will be fast, especially with a light base sport package model with some weight reductions.
#18
Well I haven't weight how much all the stock stuff weight when I removed them. I remove the front crash bar off the car too and that piece is at least 15 lbs. I also lighten the car with new rims. Those Wed sport SA-70 rims in 17" weight around 17lbs a piece. Stock rim weight around 24 lbs so there is around 28 lbs of rotating mass eliminate right there. Other rotating mass that reduce is the fly wheel with mazdaspeed flywheel. If you want to reduce weight on the car, the best place to do is to reduce rotating mass. Stock floor mats are pretty heavy and so I replace them too. The turbo may add some weight on the car but over all I still have a lighter car which is fun to drive and very responsive. I am into performance mod and not other things so I put my money where it matters.
#19
I'd guess the turbo pipes/parts probably added 40lbs to the front of your car. Now...once it's tuned, it'll EASILY make up for that. :D
Are your new tires heavier than the OEM tires? I guarantee replacing the floor mats will gain you zero 'fast' increase.
Are your new tires heavier than the OEM tires? I guarantee replacing the floor mats will gain you zero 'fast' increase.
#23
Yes, I think the car would be a bit more nose heavy than before. The heaviest part, the exhaust manifold is located behind the front axle so the only part that sticking out infront of front axle is the turbo and intercooler. However, I remove the crash bar so that bring the weight at the furthest front of the car down slightly. I took the car to an empty parking and did some hard driving in circle. To my surprise, with the suspension set up that I have, I fell out of the seat before the tires lose the grips. I don't feel any change in handling. That good enough for me I guess.
And about the tire, I don't know how much it weight but I would say similar to stock. I got a good deal on those tires so I got them. Next time I will get a lighter tires for sure.
And yes, the increase in power would off set the small weight the kit add to the car.
And about the tire, I don't know how much it weight but I would say similar to stock. I got a good deal on those tires so I got them. Next time I will get a lighter tires for sure.
And yes, the increase in power would off set the small weight the kit add to the car.