Finally filed my taxes. Just waiting for a refund now. Quick questions.

What effect does a mid-pipe have on its own for an RX8? I'm only expecting a couple horsepower, and am more concerned with torque. Does torque output remain roughly the same, does it peak higher, or does it just lower it all together?

And what does the AP do for naturally aspirated RX8's in terms of power? I've ripped through probably no less than 30 pages word for word of this forum and can't find much other than it smooths out power delivery. I know the extra features it has, just wondering if it has a decent effect on power. Or do you need extra mods like a mid-pipe or cold air intake for it to really kick in, or like-wise are those mods pretty much useless until you get an AP with the proper maps to optimize everything?

 

The internet is a great place for information. Unfortunately most of that information is wrong.

HP = (torque x RPM)/5252

You can not increase horsepower without increasing torque.



Removing the catalytic converter will throw a CEL(check engine light) and give your car a very distinct gasoline smell. The CEL can be removed with the accessport and the smell can be mostly tuned out with the accessport.

You should experience some power increase but it varies from car to car.


This is all pretty basic info in the world of internal combustion engines.

 

Either way with the AP you will need to have someone tune your car to get the full benefit of it. It is worth it but only if you get it tuned as well.

 

It is possible to gain maximum horsepower but lose maximum torque. That equation shows that for hp to go up, there must be a higher torque at that particular rpm. It doesn't say anything about torque or horsepower having gone up at any other point. +1 on getting it tuned

 

Aren't Mazda Maniacs calibrations close to a custome tune vs. the standard Cobb AP? One can change some parameters with the MM Cobb AP.

 

Jeff keeps his tunes locked, so you can't modify/view them.
You can get the AP and run the AccessTuner software to do it yourself (if you know what you're doing).

 

do you guys know how much of a change in smell it is if you were to have a midpipe and then get the AP tune? i want to get a midpipe but the smell is whats stopping me. i hear people saying its horrible and others saying its not too bad.

 

I'm still on MM's base tune (which isn't too far from stock anyway).
Still smells the same.

 

I don't plan on leaving it untuned, and when I do buy an AP down the road it'll be from the MM. The CEL I can get cleared for free and I usually drive with the sun roof and windows open. Plus I like the smell of a rich running engine

Anyway the Agency Power pulley, catless mid-pipe, or the AFE short-throw is going on my car next. Maybe a Cobb AP if I have the coin. I think its safe to say everyone agrees the mid-pipe gives you some power, whereas some people say the pulley doesn't do anything at all. Thought about a cat-back but scratched it off. Not very cost effective, even for the mod list of an RX8. I'd rather pay $200 for 2, maybe 3 horsepower than $500-600 for 4 horsepower at best.

 

^^maybe instead of the pulley, save up for the AP or a lighter flywheel.
I wasn't impressed with my AP pulley mod.

 

That's what I've heard. I did use the search button

AP would be a lot more tempting if I knew the effects it would have on a naturally aspirated engine. All the tech is pretty cool and all, but my engine is rock solid so I would never use any of it. $700 is pretty steep for a 'smoother power delivery' and gauges I would never need...

As for the flywheel I probably wouldn't replace that until my clutch gives out. Like-wise I wouldn't buy a new set of rims until I needed new tires.

 

The gasoline smell is really only bad at idle. I'm very happy with mine. You are keeping the catback stock though? I'd recommend getting a catback exhaust before the midpipe or both at the same time. The midpipe/stock combo sounds pretty muffled.

 

Don't waste your money on the AP pulley unless you're interested in engine bling. The amount of HP it takes to turn the alternator and water pump isn't very much. I've ran with the AP pulley for almost a year and it's made no difference in my performance. It's $150 you can spend somewhere else.

 

Its only bad at idle FOR YOU... not the people following you.
I always look in my mirror at the person following to see if they start making funny faces or cover their nose.

 

Haha yeah, drive throughs tend to hate me though.

 

I've listened to a few RX8's with header-back exhausts. Granted they were video's online, but they all seem pretty loud and droney. Not looking to make the car much louder. Maybe a little more aggressive sound and a couple extra horsepower. And I'd love to have a good excuse to go under my car. I'm checking the fluids so frequently my oil rag is probably draining more oil than the engine itself lol

 

Gotcha. The pulley has been scratched off my list. Some people swear it gives you power, others swear it doesn't. Regardless, too much controversy for $150. I'll put it towards tinted windows or something. Thanks.

 

Its a placebo effect.
They are trying to fool themselves into thinking it was worth spending that much money on a pulley.

 

Yeah I had that when I got my intake. Then I found you guys. Way to crush all hope

 

Or save you from wasting more money on disappointing mods

 

True, true.

I might as well get the cheapest pipe on the market. All cat-backs are pretty much the same for the RX8 so I don't see why the mid-pipes should be any different. The one at RX7store looks good enough for $200. Anything cheaper?

 

^^ I would have to disagree... all cat-backs and mid-pipes are a little different.
Different ID and different sound/tone, though the "performance" is pretty close to the same (performance really with the mid-pipe).
Some like it louder than others.
The sound/tone is what it really comes down to when selecting a mid-pipe or cat-back and which sounds better to you.

 

I've noticed though that all cat-backs sounds pretty much that same past X RPM. Only in the lower revs do they sound slightly different.

 

Just to chip in about the smell etc... if you drive around with your windows down a lot you are going to get used to the smell of gasoline. Even leaning out the tune to reduce the extra gasoline (which you would need an AccessPORT or similar thing) the gas smell is ...prominent. On a stock map with extra fuel being injected to save a catalytic converter that isn't there, it will be even worse.

 

I got mine removed by a local performance shop for 100$ while retaining the stock resonator... sounds great no gas smell whatsoever... (i dunno my 8 is wierd ???) & I love my AP underdrive pulley... its part of a great road race build and I notice alot more power in third gear around the 4000+ RPM band... just my $.02