Hi everyone,

This is my first time on here for some information. I am looking to add power to my RX8. Where do I start? I am not familiar with this car that much so try to be as detailed as possible. I am on kind of a budget, but I would like to know what is out there, please help. Thanks, James

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=122645

Everything else is not a major HP upgrade, just small bolt on stuff.

So judging by this, bang for the buck. I should go for a power adder combination like a supercharger or turbo system?

There's no such thing as power on a budget.

You can get minor power gains ... but honestly, you're better off saving up your pennies and get FI.

Best gains per $$ would be the greddy kit.

Kane,

I also see it says you are in OIF land? I am a soldier with the 2-327th In in Ft. Campbell. I will be in country in Sept.

what's FI?

So the Greddy kit is a worthy purchase? I just want to be able to feel the difference in power. I currently run my car at the local strip. It has run a best of 9.5 in the 1/8 mile. But, that was with my launching at 5500 RPM and keeping the RPM's high the whole time. I see this car has a narrow power band. Any way to improve it? Are small bolt-on's worth the money? Should I get my computer re-flashed? BBrx8

So the Greddy kit is a worthy purchase? I just want to be able to feel the difference in power. I currently run my car at the local strip. It has run a best of 9.5 in the 1/8 mile. But, that was with my launching at 5500 RPM and keeping the RPM's high the whole time. I see this car has a narrow power band. Any way to improve it? Are small bolt-on's worth the money? Should I get my computer re-flashed? BBrx8

Best NA bang for the buck appears to be a hi-flow cat/test pipe. Also may want to look at nitrous if this is more for the occasional drag strip run. a nice 55 shot Zex kit will help a lot.

Best NA bang for the buck appears to be a hi-flow cat/test pipe. Also may want to look at nitrous if this is more for the occasional drag strip run. a nice 55 shot Zex kit will help a lot.

thanks Fanman, I will look into nitrous. I know Zex is a good company. I am not sure which exhaust to choose. I want maximum power without all of the noise, what do you recommend?

thanks Fanman, I will look into nitrous. I know Zex is a good company. I am not sure which exhaust to choose. I want maximum power without all of the noise, what do you recommend?

stock.

So the Greddy kit is a worthy purchase?

Imagine the car with almost double the torque, and an extra 100 hp to the wheels.


Are small bolt-on's worth the money? Should I get my computer re-flashed? BBrx8

If you add up all the bolt-ons, your cost will be several thousand, and you'll gain maybe 10 hp.

thanks Fanman, I will look into nitrous. I know Zex is a good company. I am not sure which exhaust to choose. I want maximum power without all of the noise, what do you recommend?


No catback exhaust will give you more than 3-4 hp. The test pipe/hi-flow cat unit will give you about 6-10 hp for a few hundred bucks.

Be aware that the turbo system will be far more than the initial cost of the system. You have installation which will be about $1000, then tuning the engine management system (another few hundred $), gauges & installlation (another few hundred bucks), etc. Unless you have a $5K-$6K I would not attempt it.

If you are just looking for some more power at the drag strip that is an awful lot of money. For little over $1K you can have the Zex wet system & installation. People have gotten to 55hp-65 hp jets on a stock car.

If I had to do it all over again, this is the path I would have chosen.

yeah, it'll cost in the neighborhood of 4000 - 7000 to get the greddy fully functional, depending on how skilled you are mechanically. only nitrous is cheaper for big hp gains.


but with any large gains is the risk that your engine might not make it. So in addition to the up front costs, make sure you can afford to pay for a replacement engine should something go wrong. Mazda isn't going to cover it.

Kane,

I also see it says you are in OIF land? I am a soldier with the 2-327th In in Ft. Campbell. I will be in country in Sept.

Come on down!!!! :lol: You'll really enjoy it, nice weather and smells like roses here too. I am with the 7th Dive Team. My brother in law is at Campbell as well.

FI = Forced Induction = Raising the Oxygen content to the engine.

There is a Dyno thread here too that will give you the dyno charts for some of the FI options and the rough "cost" of each. IMO, the turbo is worth it, makes the car into a monster. I wonder if that dyno thread has Zex on it as well?

I think that dyno thread is linked in the Power Adders thread... to lazy to check.

Good luck with whatever you do!!!!

OK I checked, and yeah it is linked on the Power Adders Thread. Read it a few times, and buy a book or two on the list, you should have some reading time here shortly.... he he he.

Although I don't have an RX-8, forced induction is the best bang for the buck. For my car, the supercharger ran me about $3600 - and I picked up about 130 RWHP at 8 psi of boost.

Thanks for all the information. I am thinking right now that the ZEX system, catless mid-pipe, lighter flywheel, and a new clutch is a good start. Would you also recommend a reflash with this setup?

Also, are these intake systems worth the money???