Ok I am new to this whole Rotary thing and I have been reading the boards for a few weeks now and ended up buying a Shinka Model for my wife. I have seen most mods arnt going to add much whp, but are actually for sounds and such.

What I am wondering is what are a good first few mods I could do to the car. I know intake and exhaust, but like name brands as well since I know every car has a certain following of companies that support certain cars.

Thanks any help would be appriciated!

 

I like the following:

Racing beat REVi intake
Racing Beat Ram air intake

for the exhaust there are a few I like
Greddy (a little louder)
Racing Beat

you can find them all at www.rx8store.net <-- their webpage is being redone and will be up again shortly. They also have very good pricing.

 

I have read alot about this REVi intake. Is it considered one that is top of the line for this car? If so I am sold. And what all does the Ram Air Part do for it? HP? / Gas?

 

The REVi adds some HP but it aids in smoothing out the idle and gas mileage. The RAM AIR intake connects to the REVi and takes air in from the front of the car. This lowers intake temps, increases gas milage, adds HP at speed (hence the ram air name), and makes an awesome sucking sound when you floor it! Racing Beat is one of the most respected manufacturers for parts for rotary cars. Their HP claims are always modest but they live up to what they promise. There are a few other manufacturers that have made intakes that cost HP and made the car run like crap. I have the REVi and the RAM Air intake and I really like it.

If you do decide to install the ram air and the REVi get the oil and AC screens from Racing Beat and do it all at once so you only have to take the bumper off once. Check it out here:

www.racingbeat.com

 

first mod i would do is exhaust... changes the note of the car and takes out the puny exhaust pipes that come stock...
next i would do all suspension

 

The Shinka Model already have a tight suspension. Only thing i would do is lower it, but in the end wouldnt be worth it to me.

 

Thanks for the info in the REVi. Think Imma have to go that route. Thanks for the info.

 

The suspension differences between the Shinka and the Standard RX-8 are very small. It will get 98% of the gains that suspension mods give to the standard model. That said, if it's tight enough for you now, that's all that matters. No reason to spend money on something you're happy with and may change it to something you don't like as much as stock.

I'd do exhaust. But that's really a matter of personal taste. Personally, I prefer Borla. Racing Beat and GReddy are probably more popular.

 

Yes for what I am used to. The suspension is real tight. Can take a corner at 90 and not flinch.

I now have the intake on order.

Is the underdrive pulley worth the time and efforts?

 

What do u mean by 98 percent of the gains than the standard model?

 

I think he means by 98% gains: If you put a suspension mod on a standard RX8, you get the full benefit of the gains, and on a Shinka you'll get most of the gains too. In otherwords, mods to your Shinka's suspension will have a big effect.

But if you like the suspension, then stick with it. Improved suspension will be at the expense of drivig comfort. You'll feel the bumps more with the stiffer springs/coilovers.

 

Dont bother with the pullies, I havent heard of any substantial gains from them.
Next, I would go exhaust. I have a Borla, and absolutely love it. Other mods include a high flow cat, or perhaps a canzoomer/emanage/interceptor. If your not considering FI, I would suggest a piggy-back computer unit or a high flow cat. they seem to be the only real things that will get you any kind of substantial gain.

Hope this helps

-Bryan

 

Thanks a ton guys. This has been real helpful. Gonna decide the Exhaust hopefully tomorrow. And maybe the midpipe as well.

Been reading about the interceptor, but is this benifical to the N/A cars as i have seen only turbo'd RX8 with them to this point.

I am looking to hit 230-250...Now hurt my feelings...Is this possible?

 

230-250, N/A?

Um, no. Maybe with the Interceptor you can break 230, but we're not sure what its' gains will be on N/A cars yet. Most people can't even hit 250 with a turbo although with the Interceptor now, that will change.

 

I got SR Motorsports pullies on my car. Absolutely worthless. Save your money and like other posters here said, get exhaust (more for better sound), air intake, & maybe hi-flow cat (best hp gain beside ECU change). 230 to the wheels would be impossible. These cars dyno from 170-190 hp to the wheels stock. With mods & ECU tuning (Canzoomer) you were looking at around low 200's. With the Interceptor I would say around the low 210-maybe 220's (that a big if). You want 250 whp, you are looking at forced induction.

 

My first and only mod, so far, was installing the Mazdaspeed Flywheel. The reason it was my first was because the transmission was allready off the car and it was easy to access.

 

Aluminum Fly wheel best acceleration gain ($750 Installed). After that I would go for a High Flow Cat or Mid-Pipe ~ 8 HP gain ($300)


Or you can spend ~$500 for the Revi Intake for ~ 2-3HP gain......or buy an exhaust muffler for ~450.00 for ~3HP gain. Some aftermarket exhaust systems will actually lose you power.

 

So it looks like forced induction is the way i am headed.

I have seen on here Greddy does a turbo set-up. Are there any other companies. Give me more to read up on!

 

Greddy seems like the best choice as of right now then there is speed force racing which personally i wouldnt consider ( no proof of numbers just some bogus story) and there is ptp which is the one im lookin forward to. time will tell with the turbo set up. but if im gonna spend 5k+ on FI i need to sure im gonna be happy with the gains. my 1st mods were the borla exhaust with the rp hi flow cat. next is the suspension for me.

 

Why not just lower it, get some nice rims, paint the calipers, tint the windows, and get a sub.

 

Here's one that'll change your shifting experience drastically: RP Short Shifter. I kid you not! 1-2 shifts are flawless event at 9K+ rpms, and so are all the other shifts. There's also about 30% less throw for each gear. Long story short, you can't mess up shifting unless you're a total moron.

My first performance mod was the REVi Intake and Ram Air. The significance is slight, but it's there (says my butt dyno); also, you'll the sound as its deeper and more pronounced than stock.

 

I am personally not a fan of the Greddy Turbo yet, the emanage is not sufficent for controlling management of the car. Mazsport and Vishnu are working on different ecu's I like to wait and see how these other comapnies do and let other people be the gineau pigs not my car.

 

Well for one it is the wifes car and she is refusing to allow me to lower it. I was also told the 300 watt radio was plenty so i better not even think about adding speakers. (She knows me too well cause I didnt bring up either subject....yet)