Okay... I'm pretty confused now... I've been looking for a few things to get for my first 8 mod, and here's what I have in mind.

1) MazdaSpeed Exhaust (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=78728)
2) REVi System w/ Ram Air Duct
3) MazdaSpeed Flywheel
4) Anything else? o_O;

So yeah, I really need some help deciding and am looking for you guys out there to help me!

http://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=1137771

http://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=1137773

start reading here, it will be a start...

beers

Links did not work swoope

Well, I've done the reading, and I've seen the benefits, I just want to know where you gyus think I should put my money. I'm just really confused because there are so many things out there I can get, and I want them all now. ;)

Out of the ones you listed the flywheel will be biggest difference probably. I would go for spring/sway

Hmm... springs and swaybars... yeah, that's on my list as well. But, is there really a big difference in the ride when you have swaybars and new springs installed?

^ Yup.

What's your big priorities ? Handling, power/acceleration, sound ?

Priorities
Power/Acceleration
Handling
Sound (I could care less about...)

A tech mgr for Mazda (has GTP 04 RX8) told me the best bang for the $$$ was the light flywheel. He is also running RB intake, ram air, exhaus . BTW, he removed the MS exhuast and went with the RB unit. He told me don't waste your money on the MS exhuast.

there is a new ms exhaust out....It is better then the first one.

Yeah, the service manager at my dealer told me the same thing, that the light flywheel is best. However, I did some research and found out that the MS isn't much lighter than the stock one compared to say - the RB flywheel... am I seeing things?

I noticed the same. The SR motorsport FW looks pretty good. I am guessing that the SR has better revs than the MS but I don't know the draw backs....driveability, etc.

Yeah, that's the thing. I guess I know I can trust an MS part. That's why I'd get it over a RB flywheel, but I wanted a few more opinions on it.

The MS Flywheel is heavier than most of the other ones, moreso for weight re-distribution. The Unorthodox Racing unit has a built in counterweight and is quite a bit lighter, same with the Racing Beat unit. also the ACT. I have the SR unit, it is very good, but very $$$. Unless you can get a good deal on it, I would suggest you go with another unit.

Realize that the air intake/ram air unit is pretty easy to install yourself, the flywheel, while it can be done by yourself is very difficult. If you expertise level is changing your own oil, I wouldn't suggest dropping your tranny in your driveway.

I have the ms flywheel great first mod imo. You can definetly feel the difference in how it revs. You won't regret it. The only thing is that you might want to change out your clutch since you're down there. You'll see the biggest difference performance wise I'll start from that.

Does MS have a clutch?

Anyway... I think I'd go for the MS Flywheel, for sanity sake. But yeah, I think putting in an intake by myself is as far as I would go since I had done it on my Starion before.

Thanks for the great advice gyus!

MS does have a clutch. Unless you are having the dealer put this stuff in, there really is no need to buy MS Stuff. You buy MS stuff because you can keep the warranty. It is really good quality stuff, but much of the time it is priced at a premium vs. other things that are just as good.

Also, unless you are going forced induction down the road, there is no need for a new clutch. The stock clutch can easily handle stock/slightly greater than stock hp level. If you are planning to turbo your car later on, then it is a good idea to change out everything at once.

Yeah, unless I can find a really nice shop that is reasonably priced and and really reliable, then I will be doing all the installation at the dealership. Since I did get the extended warranty (don't shoot me), I do want to try and keep it. ;) I don't know if I'll be going FI soon, since I haven't fully decided what's in store for my 8. But if I do go FI, it won't be for a while.

Make sure it is a Mazdaspeed authorized dealer, and they will honor the warranty even if you put MS parts on there. Many Mazda dealers won't. Some dealerships make you buy the MS parts there (more expensive) if you want them to honor the warranty.

Yep, did my research on that. :)
But they'll up the price on the MS parts? That's crazy shit, at least the guys I talked to showed me the same price I saw on the website. But is $120/hr reasonable for service? That's what the service guys told me.

$120/hr reasonable

depends on how many hours they are quoteing you.


beers

4-5 hours for the flywheel.

:(

For $480 to $600 you might as well wait till it is time to replace your clutch and throwout bearing.

Another great mod is the Axial Flow Engineering Short Shifter, also called RP Short Shifter. :)

High flow cat is also a bonus on the 8, stock one is definitely a chock point and weighs more than the aftermarket cats.

Yeah, that's true. I was looking at the short shifter... how easy is that to install? As easy to install as an exhaust? How about the high flow cat? Seems like I'd have to raise the car to install that one. But thanks for the opinion 4yts.

Yeah, that's true. I was looking at the short shifter... how easy is that to install? As easy to install as an exhaust? How about the high flow cat? Seems like I'd have to raise the car to install that one. But thanks for the opinion 4yts.

The short shifter is a half hour install. All done from the drivers seat.

The high flow cat isn't too bad but it is a lot easier on a lift. It has one rubber hanger where the exhaust has four of them. Much easier to do than a catback.

The Revi makes the car idle very smooth. I have helped install this and I have the Ram air fitted to the stock box. I would like to get the Revi though. Just look at it as a possible waste since I am planning on Supercharging.

Awesome, I'm definitely going to have to look at the short shifter then. But that still leaves room for the intake or flywheel or exhaust. I would want to get the flywheel in before I go dragging, so it's still in my mind. :) I might just have to go for the REVi.

Make sure it is a Mazdaspeed authorized dealer, and they will honor the warranty even if you put MS parts on there. Many Mazda dealers won't. Some dealerships make you buy the MS parts there (more expensive) if you want them to honor the warranty.



if true that would be in violation of MNAO policy, sounds like more of a BS scare tactic to me

Yeah, the service manager at my dealer told me the same thing, that the light flywheel is best. However, I did some research and found out that the MS isn't much lighter than the stock one compared to say - the RB flywheel... am I seeing things?

weight isn't the thing thats important about a flywheel - its rotational inertia

... i did a rough calc a year or two ago and despite the MS being heavier then RB's, the MS has alot of mass removed from the outer part of the flywheel because of the holes - so much that I believe it came out almost identical in inertia to RB's

Awesome, thank you for that information r0t0r.

What about the act chromoly flywheel? Is this a good flywheel to get over the rb and ms units?

i just wanted to thank you guys for this discussion. very informative for a newbie to this car.

I agree... but we all haven't come to a definitive answer yet. :)

Can anyone tell me who makes the Mazdaspeed Flywheel for the 8??? I am looking into the one that is coming out for the 6S and I wanted some company background... I know Mazdaspeed always sublets their engineering...

Thanks...

I agree... but we all haven't come to a definitive answer yet. :)


if you want since you live in sj you can come test drive my 8 and see if it's a worthwhile investment for you. Shoot me a pm.