ganseg

iTrader: (5)

Anything in the Feb issue about the RX-8?

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

I get mine in the mail, but haven't gotten it yet, but I haven't check either, it usually comes around the 10th of the mouth

Modified Dave

Sorry ganseg, nothing in the Feb issue. Been swamped with other projects, but will get back to the 8 soon. Next story will be tearing down and rebuilding a Renesis, possibly including some custom port work and upgraded seals if I decide to build the engine (I bought a spare engine and trans from Joe who used to run a well known rotary shop in the area called RPM) for boost rather than STX compliance. To be honest I kind of missed the boat on the STX thing after falling behind on the build during the summer, since I'm not sure I can build slowly enough this year to keep the car STX legal for the 2011 Nats. So I may have to ditch the STX idea and move on to building the car in a more open fashion and then running it in SM as well as using it for Time Attack. One way or the other I will still get the car out to a National Tour event (most likely Finger Lakes) and then the 2011 Nationals. Maybe some STX events in the spring before dropping in the fresh engine and trans, then maybe SM at the Nats with a s/c or turbo under the hood.

I've been talking with Jason Saini and a few other smart people about suspension tuning and the 8, so I will definitely have some good suspension stories starting in the spring, including sway bar testing and tuning as well as a change to higher end double-adjustable dampers and springs. Might even get Jason out for a co-drive if we can get our schedules to line up. Would certainly be extremely valuable to have his help dialing in the car, given his extensive experience with this suspension and chassis.

On the boost idea, I'm still mulling over my options. I'd love to fit a Rotrex under the hood somehow, but that turns into a custom install, so will probably go with a more ready-to-install kit.

Anyway, I'm open to any suggestions from my rx8club friends

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

^Maybe you should check the National Tour schedule this year...There is no more Finger Lakes

Possibly Delaware or Toledo?

stewiefied

subscribed

BigC94

Subscribed

Heeley

do you have any emissions data for the car after installing the HJS cat? I have an FD rx7, and i'm looking for a replacement for the stock cat that will hold up to a turbo rotary, and this might fit the bill. It would be nice if it would pass ontario emissions with this cat.

Matt

Modified Dave

No more Finger Lakes? That sucks. So close to home for me. I'll have to see what other events are somewhat nearby.

Heeley, no I don't have emissions data, but that's actually a great idea for a future story, so I'll get an e-test done soon and post the results here. The cat isn't throwing a CEL, which is consistent with other HJS cat users on this forum, so at least we know that much.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

I just got the march issue, no rx8 articles, but my fan mail was printed in the feedback section!!

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Ha! Mine was too!

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

Sweet!!!, If my car was more togethor I would be submitting it to the readers ride thing they are going to do

ganseg

iTrader: (5)

Thanks you two for contacting them. Good to get the RX-8 out there! Next - Readers Rides!

Modified Dave

Sorry there was no RX-8 tech in that issue. Just in the process of rebuilding a spare engine and trans I picked up (lots of tech stories to come on that), and of course since I'm based in the Toronto area I can't really do much track testing this time of year



Anyway, come the May issue we'll be back in the full swing of things with the RX-8 project, including the engine and trans rebuilds, seat upgrades, another round of suspension upgrades, some interesting aero upgrades, etc., etc. Lots more good stuff to come, I promise.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

^ Awesome.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

Can't wait!!!!

ganseg

iTrader: (5)

I liked the article about racing the other car magazines in the March issue!

Modified Dave

Thanks ganseg. It was a fun event that Goodyear did a great job with and having bragging rights as the fastest out of a bunch of semi-talented magazine editors/auto journalists is, um, an honor? Haha...

ganseg

iTrader: (5)

About 1 more week till the May issue comes out!

quisk

Being one that subscribed to the mag several months ago for the STX build, I sure hope to see some RX-8 Project activity again sometime soon. The last few issues have basically gone into my recycling bin after about 5 minutes of page flipping.

Modified Dave

Sorry quisk, we'll try to give you more than 5 minutes of entertainment next time. There is a RX-8 story in the May issue and although the June issue is largely dedicated to our in-house project cars, unfortunately I just tore (completely severed, actually) my Achilles tendon while playing basketball, so I'm unable to drive for the next 6-8 weeks at the very least. This means I'm unable to do much of anything related to the RX-8 at the moment, though I do plan to push ahead with the engine build and trans refresh, plus I may be able to work on some interior upgrades like seats, harnesses, and maybe a custom video camera mount idea I have floating around in my head. I've got some very sexy suspension parts sitting here in boxes waiting to be installed and track tested, but until I'm able to drive again those are going to have to wait

BTW, I do still plan to attend the Deals Gap Rotary Rally in the RX-8, with a friend chauffeuring me around so that I can cover the event and do some judging at the car show (and possibly shoot a car or two for features in the mag). So you can at least look forward to that story in the not-too-distant future.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

SOrry about your heel man!!!!!

So I am confused, cant u have people do stuff for you and you write?, or is this all out of your pocket?. And if it out of your pocket what the hell does the s2000 guy do for money? He has spent 10x more on that then you have on the rx8. I subscibed for this build too and from the sound of it we arnt gonna get anything for 6 mounths, by then you might move to a different platform

quisk

Also sorry to hear about your achilles tendon, Dave. Hope you repair quickly.
Yes, I received the May issue last week and enjoyed the RX-8 Project write-up - thanks for the great info with lots of details. Looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.

Modified Dave

I can have people do some work for me, which is the plan with the engine build, for example. This is an easy one to keep working on since the engine core is at my builder's shop, so all I have to do is go drop off the parts for the rebuild and snap some pics while he works. And I can also do some wrenching myself, but what I can't do is drive the car with my right foot in a cast and orders to keep my weight off it, so it gets a bit trickier when having to figure out how to get the car from point A to point B. I have friends that can help out, or I could have it towed to various shops for install work, but I like to test every set of mods on the track so that I can document how the car's performance has changed in a meaningful way, and without being able to drive the car that becomes an even bigger issue. I have a few friends who are pro quality drivers who could sub in for me, but that becomes a scheduling challenge. Anyway, as you can see, things will be slowed over the next few months, but they won't come to a screeching halt and I will 100% complete this project before moving on. There is no timeline on when the project needs to be completed by, and I may keep this car long-term and convert it into a full race car since I'm selling my current race car (an old Honda Civic). So I would expect this project to last for at least another year or two in the mag, maybe longer if we decide to convert it into a full blown race car.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Well it would be nice to see it actually compete in STX some day ... otherwise poopy happens 4 sure

ganseg

iTrader: (5)

Somehow I missed the May issue - someone mind giving me a recap?