Definitely. Assuming they actually ship on Monday. 6 AM on Friday might make me wish that was me instead of Bambi's in the pic but if I'm staying in on Thursday I might be able to swing that. I'd wager Saturday will be a better bet tho.

I'm gonna ask Ray how far you are behind me in line. You already paid, right?

 

Nice work! Was he using a 20gauge or a 4/10...or a rifle?

 

Actually, I took the shot. He's still too small to hold the gun up. He'll start shooting next year. But it's the first time he sat in the tree stand with me. We got incredibly l.ucky for his first day out with me.

I know you guys are younger, so it may a little hard to understand. But those moments with your son, or your dad, are what life is all about. He'll remember that day for the rest of his life. It was probably one of the best days in both of our lives!!! I don't think I've ever seen him so excited. The other cool part is he helped me gut it out. Stuck his hands in and everything. I wasn't sure how he was going to handle that.

Before I got the car, hunting was my passion. Being able to share these things with your kids (or your dad) are the moments in life that are remembered! I'm taking my other son out this Saturday. Doubt we'll get that lucky twice!

 

Court Results - reduced fine, with court costs totaling $75... original mail in waiver was 100... but I probably spend 40 bucks in gas getting up there and back twice.
And I couldn't get them to drop the points... oh well.
I fought the law, and the law spanked me and told me to knock it off....


This is a nerd questions, but what does the COBB port actually do? Does it change air fuel ratios and ignition timing and such? I never really looked into it.
People say its one of the best performance mods, but that gets thrown around pretty readily.

I've never been hunting before. I like the idea of stalking something then shooting it... but then dragging and blood and stuff... I don't know... sounds like work.

 

That's why I always hunted ducks. Sit on your behind with your dog. Wait for ducks. Shoot duck. Dog goes and gets duck. Dog brings back duck. The ultimate in lazy man hunting.

 

You missed the most important part: Take duck back to lodge. Drink beer and lie about how far off the duck was when you shot it, how hard it was to shoot at that angle, and how your dog had to swim uphill both ways to get the duck. Oh, and yeah, drink more beer.......

The Cobb AP accesses the cars computer and enables you to change all those parameters. It is most useful for those who have already made multiple performance mods to the vehicle, like force air intakes and the like. It is very desirable to adjust the cars computer to accept those modifications and adjust the parameters to their best points.

 

LOL... I understand. Saturday is fine.

Yup. Check has already been deposited.

 

It essentially allows you create your own flash and enables you to do almost anything that the RX8 computer can do. To me it seems that the three most common adjustments are masking CELs (especially associated with trim levels and the midpipe CEL), AFR adjustments, and the flow of oil. Essentially that allows you to run leaner, with more lubrication, and without annoying dash lights. You can also use it to adjust dwell settings but the BHR ignition kit works best under the OEM settings.

The nice thing about the AP is that it isn't a piggyback ECU so once you've programmed the 'flash' the way you can disconnect the AP and the car continues to use the new setup. It also doesn't corrupt or change the default Mazda flash so if you need to service your car you can go back to the latest OEM flash.

I've got a crapload of research to do on mine and since I didn't go with the MazdaManiac tune I'm going to have to learn how to tune the car myself - although there are a lot of new tools including a 'auto tune' software set that Kane is developing which will hopefully allow me to get almost the same results as what I'd get via the MM AP.

But I got my AP for around $475 instead of $675. New.

Only issues that I know about with the AP are some potential problems with MAF readings with some intakes (no idea if my RB is a problem child) and the Cobb AP may not be capable of handling any high-power mods (ie +300whp). I'm not quite sure why the latter is true but I have no intention of getting this car over 300whp so I don't really care about it.

I've got a ton to figure out regarding it. Jon probably knows 10x what I know since he was all set to buy his over the Summer.

Only other things I want before the Spring are some gauges and a dual resonated midpipe. Both RB and BHR are allegedly working on a DR midpipe and the RX8 Store might do one as well so hopefully someone has something available to replace the Mazsport one before the Spring.

 

That's only because I read EVERY post in the Cobb thread (which took me roughly 125 pages of nightly read to catch up, many slow nights at work )
But you nailed the important stuff!

You won't have this problem because the MAF sits in a stock size tube.
The problem with intake setups was that some were running custom intake pipe sizes.

Its not the COBB that can't handle it, its your stock injectors.
When you get the turbo, it'll come with upgraded injectors.

 

Interesting. I thought it had to do with being able to go beyond what the OEM computer is capable of handling.

Side note - any idea if I need any tools beyond standard mechanics tool set for installing the kit?

 

MM runs over 300HP with his turbo and (or course) uses to AP.
Its honestly been a couple months since I kept up with the Cobb thread.
Too many people asking the same dumb questions that can be answered by reviewing the first post.
Then people started turning on Jeff for taking too long on tunes (which was ridiculous).
I'll glance back over it, but I don't recall there being a PCM limitation with the Cobb.

Do you have a 13/16 spark plug socket (with a swivel is better because the front leading plug is in a tight place... you'll see )
Other than that, a couple extensions and basic tools is all you need.
Do you have anti-seize?
I'll probably just bring everything needed just in case... we'll get it done.

 

Yeah. Lots of people running over 300whp with the AP. I think it's when people start approaching 400 that the limitations of the AP come out.

Since that's approx .05% of RX8 owners it's not a real common topic.

I'll pick up some anti-seize and the spark plug socket. I have plenty of extensions and the rest of the basic tools. Feel free to bring yours but I'm a big believer in owning tools I need so I'll get those anyway.

 

Hey, any of you guys ski? I'm trying to put together a couple weekday trips up to Holiday Valley.

 

While you're out, pick up some dielectric grease if you don't have any.
A lot of people don't use it, but its good to use on the inside of the wire boot.
Not only will this ensure a tight seal against moisture, but it will also make for easy removal of the spark plug wire set boots in the future.

 

yea...your knuckles will appreciate it next time you do your wires.

 

Ok... i figured the Cobb did something of that nature... it seems like it could be dangerous in the wrong hands though... do you set it by trial and error or does have sort of pre-set programs?


Doc: I ski - weekday trips may be difficult though.



Jon + Ryan: all this talk about what you're doing in preparation of changing your plugs has me thinking perhaps I should wait until you guys do yours.

Jon: I ordered a set from the Hill guy, seems like a pretty good deal. They're the NKG laser iridium... I don't know if those are OEM replacements or an upgrade though.

 

It comes with stock maps, you then tune from there.
MazdaManiac offers tunes if its purchased through him.
They do have a tuner software available to do it yourself, but if you don't know what you're doing, it can do harm.
You need to learn A LOT on how to properly tune a vehicle before doing it yourself.

Its up to you.
I've already changed my plugs and the coils will be quick.
Maybe Ryan has a big enough garage for two cars.

Those are the OEM replacement. Not worth going with any other.

 

If you are running the stock engine setup, there's no big advantage to the AP. Minimal gains. I don't recall. Do you have anything special in your setup?

We can do a weekend trip, but they're harder for me.

 

If I remember what I read correctly a while ago the gain to the AP on the stock setup is fuel mileage.

 

His gutted high-flow cat will benefit.
But it all comes down to a proper tune since EVERY car is different.

 

No cost savings when you're spending $500-700 for the unit. Might gain VERY slightly, but not much.

Yeah, that would make a difference. But I would pay the extra to get the Mazda guy's tune. I wouldn't want to be trying that on my own. Maybe Ryan can help him, he seems to know alot about this stuff.

 

The stock map is leaner.

Without proper data logging and table charts, you really don't know what needs adjusted.
The goal is not specific to air/fuel ratio (like some people on this forum think).
The air/fuel ratio is the means to an end not the goal itself. It is only a compass that tells you the direction of fuel delivery to tune (like running rich or lean at target RPMs).
You need to understand loads, ignition timings, and more to properly tune.

I'm in no way an expert on tuning, but a couple Techs I work with do their own tuning so I've had many discussions on it... enough to not jump into it myself until I do more research.

 

I agree 100%

 

Performance gains it's better then any other N/A mod and adds value to each additional mod you do between the intake and the exhaust. But the ability to mask CELs and the ability to increase the amount of oil going to my seals is going to be the big immediate benefit for me.

If I go Turbo next year and haven't found someone nearby capable of tuning then I will probably subscribe to his service but honestly there isn't a whole hell of a lot he can do for an NA tune that isn't already provided by the Cobb basemap. And while he was the only tuning game in town 2 months ago the release of RaceTuner has allowed a few other people to get involved and unlike MM they're providing a lot of information to help other people learn rather than just charging for it (which btw I have no problem with MM doing - just noting it). It's also really freakin' hard to tune a car from 1000 miles away. A tune shop with a dyno can give me the same input data that MM could with an hours worth of dyno time.

I'm not planning on doing any real tunning until the Spring when I'm driving the car on a daily basis and even then I won't go any farther than what I'm 100% sure about.

 

Nice! Cobb just added data logging to the AP. Suddenly this one tool does just about everything short of making dinner.