Looking to get a good EMS and have narrowed it down to a couple of options .
I've read great things about the Interceptor x on this forum but have been in contact with Rotor Master & they sell something that sounds as good - "Power Mod"
Does anyone here have experience with these ? Any Good ?

Interceptor x is NZ$2540

Power Mod is NZ$1500


Thanks

Interceptor X is not a piggyback

Thanks
edited txt but can't alter title

Well I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the Rotormaster one is used on their SC configurations. Again, going out on a limb, I would say that if they are up for the job of controlling the car with a SC then it shouldn't have an isue with the NA car.

Apart from that I haven't heard anything about it. I would be wanting to find out what it is under the hood that they are using.

Andrew

Well doing a little research I find this http://www.rotormaster.com.au/subPage.asp?cid=9

Which leads me to this http://www.microtechefi.com/

When you google microtech and rx8 you dont find much. however one thing I did find was that MazFix in Qld are using it as well http://www.mazfix.com.au/perfproducts/bolton/microtech.html

Also, if you search the rxclub.com site for "microtech" you will come back with about 80 results. A few are quite detailed.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

thanks auzoom . Have spoken with Joe S. and they definately use "PowerMod" here is the link to the unit they use .

http://www.dnamotorsport.com/PowerMod/PowerMod.html

Quote from an emmail I got from Joe "MicroTech do not make an appropriate ECU for this application."

Hmmm, interesting how they dont advertise it or what they use it for on their web site. Oh well, I enjoyed reaidng about the microtech.

Interceptor X is not a piggybackWell, technically, it is. It does not replace the factory PCM and it only controls the EFI/EIC.

Im pretty sure that the interceptor X is the same unit as the microtech LT-10. You would be able to source a microtech LT-10 from someone like Promaz in Melbourne, already with a base map for the Rx8. Cost is about $1250 AU .

Give Simon from Promaz a ring.

Regards
Rexi

Well, technically, it is. It does not replace the factory PCM and it only controls the EFI/EIC.
MM has spoken.

Piggyback is such a loose term this day and they can do more and sometimes as much as a ECU replacement now

Rexi,

You are CORRECT!

The PowerMod is the "new" version of the TSI unit that was branded at one stage as the Ric Shaw unit.

I fitted one to my car (TSI) in the early days and posted detailed results somewhere around here. I'm sure 'mez will dig it up and post the link.

My opinion is that this is not a beneficial solution for a N/A RX-8. They are not "perfect" from the factory, but they are not too bad. We felt at the time that the minimal power gains did not justify the expense, so we shelved "piggybacks" or "interceptors" until forced induction time.

Yes, the X-Interceptor is indeed a Microtech. Yet another EFI tuning solution brought to you by Australians.

Cheers,
Hymee.

hmmmmm - veeery interesting .
I'd be happy to part with the $ if I got the same sort of power gains that the US guys are getting with the interceptor x & at the same time improve my fuel economy .
A 15% improvement in MPG would see the unit paid for in a couple of years with the current price of gas & the miles I do .

I could show you a chassis dyno report we did when after we spent and hour or so tuning on the rollers, and it shows about 20HP increase over the base line.

But there is one problem with that... We re-checked the base line and it had gone up 10+ HP from the earlier (pre-tune) runs. This was all during the same session. We put that down to picking up the 10+ HP due to extra heat getting into the drivetrain etc, hence less drive train losses. So in reality, we only got a bit less than 10 HP out of the tune-up.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Have already ordered an intake , a lightweight flywheel , an underdrive CS pulley and a free flow exhaust . With the ECU tune this should add up to over 20 hp which will make the car sufficiently powerful to satisfy me for another year or so (I hope).
By then i'll probably be in the market for your S/C :)

Yes, it all does add up. Let us know how it goes. If you are going to go down the S/C path anyway, why don't you consider putting a MoTeC on instead? It isn't really that much more expensive in the overall scheme of things.

Have already ordered an intake , a lightweight flywheel , an underdrive CS pulley and a free flow exhaust . With the ECU tune this should add up to over 20 hp which will make the car sufficiently powerful to satisfy me for another year or so (I hope).
By then i'll probably be in the market for your S/C :)


Synergy. The whole may be greater than the sum of it's parts. Or it might be less. Don't get into the habbit of 'adding gains', id est, "Pully gives, 5hp, Exhaust gives 10 - so that's 15hp!"

My previous car gained 25hp and 25 lbs-ft by switching to a test pipe from a 'hi-flow' cat. Before dyno: 242whp. After: 248whp. Power below the curve was MUCH improved however. At ONE Point my car had those gains. However, between 2500-5000 rpms the car was up probably a 10hp average. Average Gain across the powerband is the key, imo. Thus, adding 'more than 20hp' may NOT be felt in the least, depending on 'how' the power is added - that is to say, a 20hp Spike over a 100rpm range won't likely do much for your car.

HP Gains are very misleading - Only by applying context can we honestly say the car is faster/more powerful. Such a context would be "From 3000-5000rpms, the car is makeing 15hp MORE than before the mods." etc.


:)

Yes, it all does add up. Let us know how it goes. If you are going to go down the S/C path anyway, why don't you consider putting a MoTeC on instead? It isn't really that much more expensive in the overall scheme of things.
Yes I agree. It really worth to search if someone can tune a powerful unit for you.

The unit is only as good as the tuner who does it.

Good luck.

I understand what you are saying dmp . I've done heaps of reading on this forum so I have a good idea of what to expect from these mods.

I may be pissing into the wind but was thinking :

Lightweight flywheel - will give improved acc. in 1st & 2nd

Underdrive CS pulley - slight improvement all through but may also help with driveability issues of the flywheel ie from idle an extra hp or two may help low rpm takeoff in traffic etc

Intake and RB Ram air duct - better acc. in higher gears due to slight ram air effect

Catless midpipe - adds to the overall at higher rpm

ECU tune - gets the most out of the above mods + improve MPG

With all this done the car should be noticeably fatser than stock with the MPG improvement being the icing on the cake.

Yes, it all does add up. Let us know how it goes. If you are going to go down the S/C path anyway, why don't you consider putting a MoTeC on instead? It isn't really that much more expensive in the overall scheme of things.

Tell me more - I did a search but can't find any feedback about a motec on an N/A street car.
How much ?

Brett

Brettus,

Good thinking! I agree with your assessment. Do all of your stated mods and you will have one responsive N/A rx8. Guys in the states that have done all these mods are getting approx 205 rwhp, up from around 180-185 standard. A 20-25hp at the wheels is not insignificant!!!!

Regards
Rexi :)

Yes, it all does add up. Let us know how it goes. If you are going to go down the S/C path anyway, why don't you consider putting a MoTeC on instead? It isn't really that much more expensive in the overall scheme of things.

I agree to a point. the motec has many more features that you have to specifically option on the microtech.

the flip side is the motec is probably considerably more difficult to install. mircotech's come configured to the appropriate sensors from the factory so it's just a simple wiring job to a large extent.

hymee are you considering offering wiring kits for the motec?

the flip side is the motec is probably considerably more difficult to install

How could that be? The loom we made for Wildcards car was totally plug and play into the factory ECU. If we put a solution to market, it will be based on what we did for the 'card. The only non-standard sensor we added was a MAP sensor 'cause we had boost. All the other sensors (i.e. crank-angle, throttle position temp, yada-yada) were the factory ones. We can have plug and play looms made. Race quality. :ylsuper: They will look from the outside very much like Wildcard's did.

I can give a price estimate on the MoTeC for N/A or F/I if anyone cares to PM or email me.

Brettus, I did start a thread once titled something like "First RX-8 running MoTeC" when the moment happened.

Cheers,
Hymee.

How could that be? The loom we made for Wildcards car was totally plug and play into the factory ECU. If we put a solution to market, it will be based on what we did for the 'card. The only non-standard sensor we added was a MAP sensor 'cause we had boost. All the other sensors (i.e. crank-angle, throttle position temp, yada-yada) were the factory ones. We can have plug and play looms made. Race quality. :ylsuper: They will look from the outside very much like Wildcard's did.

Cheers,
Hymee.

I'm making the assumption the motec system is like the haltec in that these management systems can be configured to a number of sensor types and the sensor is defined in software as to how it is read (and the sensor type effects how it is wired).

this is a simple matter if you are supplied with instructions, but a challenge if you just buy a motec and try and fit it. first you need to work out what sensors you have, where the trigger events happen and then work out the configuration appropriate to your particular engine. having experienced this adapting a haltec to a motronic based engine, I know it can be a challenging DIY to work all such info out. obviously if your motec supplier has experience with your particular motor this can be insignificant if information if fitting/sensor details are supplied, but usually the shop will want to do the wiring (more cost).

If "we" sell someone a MoTeC for an RX-8, it will be plug and play, and have a tune up already in it.

Lets not make this look like an argument. I'm just simple stating facts, not assumptions.

Yes it would be a challange if you started with a blank piece of paper. But we have done the leg work. You saw how easily it started and idled on the engine dyno test stand? That was the same loom out of Wildcards car.

Cheers,
Hymee.

If "we" sell someone a MoTeC for an RX-8, it will be plug and play, and have a tune up already in it.

Lets not make this look like an argument. I'm just simple stating facts, not assumptions.

Cheers,
Hymee.

I wasn't in anyway trying to start an argument nor discredit a kit purchased from you.

when buying an engine management, after-sales service and the shops experience with your motor are very important. I was merely pointing this out to others. it isn't just buying the motec you also need to consider the know-how to install one. that's why I asked if you were doing a kit. I'm confidant I could install one myself but I would still consider buying a kit to save the install hassle.

I can't resist this; :o:
aren't you making the assumption that all motec's will be purchased form you? ;)

Mazsports Interceptor isnt "just" a Microtech either. It is different although based on that L-10 whatever and comes with a wiring harness/loom for "plug and play". no cutting into the factory loom etc. plus you can see from the threads here that you get more than the unit- you get soem great customer service from Scott.

(of course you will get fantastic customer service from Hymee too- nothing i posted was meant in anyway to be seen as choosing a "side" or nor advocating Scott over Mark. they are both great individuals with great product and support.)

Call me old fashion....

Great customer service is face to face contact and fix it on the spot. Not via telephone and email conversations...

Hymee and Scott will be excellent if you live locally.