apfeiffer

Intro:
stared a new job out of college and decided to trade in the 2002 Protege5 hatchback I purchased from my mom last year for a used vehicle. I’ve always loved the styling of the RX-8 and rotary engines. I wanted a low mileage car and stumbled upon a 2004 RX-8 with with 38,000 miles for $7,000. Needless to say I loved it, and after the test drive and stellar compression test results I bought it.

Background:
My dad was automotive mechanic and I started helping him with his classic and custom project cars when I was 12. My first car was a 240Z that I got for dirt cheap from a neighbor which rebuilt the engine and carburetors to make it my daily driver for the past 6 years until I needed a car to commute to work after college. I still keep it running and drive occasionally but I am currently working on saving up to slowly do a full rebuild. In college I worked as a boat mechanic to pay the bills. However, my knowledge with EFI is very limited (as you will discover if you read the full post) because most of what I worked on were older carbureted engines.

RX-8 Details:
- 2004 RX-8 6spd MT Grand Touring (build date 2003, last 5#’s of VIN 11040)
- Lightning Yellow body, with black interior, and yellow Momo shift **** on short throw shifter
- SatNav package and Bose Stereo with 6 disc changer
- Rotary accents, low profile color matched spoiler, and low profile side skirt body kit
- AutoPower street/sport roll cage
- Decat with tuned exhaust (manufacturer unknown)
- Street-ported engine
- Interceptor-X Piggyback ECU with Microtech digital dash mounted where ashtray/cigarette lighter would be (Removed shortly after purchase, my first BIG MISTAKE)


Recent Mishaps:
When I first filled up after driving it home all of the fuel poured out of the tank from the bottom of the car. Dealership was nice enough to have it towed to them and found a loose nut/bolt on the tank that caused the problem.
The piggyback ECU was tuned for max power (it was originally the PO’s summer street/track car) and was getting poor fuel economy and cops started noticing the flames that shot out when shifting above 5,000RPM. Plus it was causing glitches with the information screen above the radio. I found instructions for install/removal and followed them to a T, but still managed to fry the PCM, keyless entry module, and coils. I still have no idea what happened but after a 5 weeks with a Mazda Mater Mechanic and many trips to the junkyard to get them discontinued parts it came back to life and gained a whole 3-4mpg average. Boy did I learn my lesson about messing around with EFI components.

Outro:
I look forward to learning more from what seems to be a very great and knowledgeable car community. I look forward to being active in the community as I am in the Datsun Z car community. I’ve already amassed a good collection of spare parts from the junkyard RX-8’s, but definitely let me know if there are any specific parts I should be keeping an eye out for on my junkyard runs. Also I will soon be putting up the Interceptor-X with display for sale when I’m allowed to post in the for sale section.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Welcome aboard.
Are you planning to track it? Sounds like a good catch despite the issues.

I'd be careful driving around with a cage if you're not wearing a helmet. If something were to happen, you don't want your head to bounce on the bars nstead of the airbags.

apfeiffer

Thanks, yeah it was touch or go there for a few weeks of being scared I electronically totaled the car but it is running amazing and drives better than 2018 Mazda3 loaner vehicle I got while mine was in the shop.I’m not planning on tracking it, that’s what I hope to use the 240Z for in the future when I put a RB25 Turbo engine in it. I’ve definitely been planning on returning the vehicle as close to stock as possible which would mean removing the cage, but living in an apartment complex and no longer working in boat mechanic shop means I have no place or access to tools to remove the cage easily for the time being. If you have any experience with installation or removal of the cage I would really appreciate it as it seems like The bolts for it run through the floor and wheel well.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Welcome.
My LY GT is stock except for BHR midpipe
& SakeBomb ignition kit.
Idk if you know it, but a fully loaded GT in '04 was $35K.

apfeiffer

I knew the base price of a new RX-8 GT was around 28k in 2004, but I never knew how much all the options this one had cost. Thanks for cool bit of information.

Here’s a pic of mine. It’s got a few cosmetic problems like some dings in the paint that go to the base that I need to touch up with a kit. Also has some yellow decals on the fender and mirrors that are starting to crack, and the tail lights get condensation. I made sure to grab a full set of light assemblies from the junkyard to restore and reseal for the future.

apfeiffer

I knew that the RX-8 GT was about 28k when it came out in 2004, but I didn’t know how much all the extra options cost. Thanks for that cool piece of info. I’ve tried twice to post a picture of mine but I guess I can’t yet since I’m a new member. Anyway yours looks real nice and you kept that paint really nice. Mine has lost some of the deepness to the yellow from the Florida sun and has a tiny rocks dings in the paint that go down to the base metal I need to touch up with a paint repair kit. I did get a full set of light assembly to repair and replace mine since they are getting condensation in them and are starting to fade. If there are any members in the St. Pete/Tampa area that could point in the direction of a car club or a garage space to rent that would be great.