bigfsi

Hiya! Not sure how active the forums are here still, but hoping I'd get some feedback on my post or just any comments in general. Bought my RX-8 about two months ago. Got it for a decently cheap price. 2004 6 speed manual for 2k. Been doing some maintanence on it, it does have 100k miles, of which I've put on a few thousand. Recently had a random very strong fuel smell especially when air is coming from outside rather than recirculate. Been researching it,, not an exhaust smell, assuming it's a failing fuel pump so I'm having it replaced with the recall on my car along with the airbags and front ball joints. Uh but mainly wanted to post about the upgrades I plan on throwing on, and any ideas about brands to use etc. I know a lot of it is covered in other forums and I might get yelled at for still being new to forums and rotaries in general. Anyways here's a general list of the parts I plan on installing here soon.
Spark plugs
Bhr coil upgrade
Cobb AP
Oil metering pump w adapter
Synchro saver
Clutch bracket
Air filter replacement
Brake pads
Rotors
Red evil Mazda emblem replacing stock emblem
ReMedy Water Pump
mostly wanted a localized place to post about what I plan on doing, brands to buy our avoid and just looking for other ideas. I'm still reading on forums all over the place on the site. Tons of info, just wanted some opinions on my ideas. Thanks!

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

bhr is gtg
they dont make the cobb for the rx8 anymore so look for a used version 2
if you smell fuel check your fuel line on the driverside engine bay or you could burn it down
sounds like solid maintence plan so far. hope you got a ROTARY SPECIFIC COMPRESSION TEST
these cars run rich so the exhaust does smell a bit (check if you have a cat) i would remove it if you do
its cheaper/stronger imo to weld the clutch pedal

welcome and gl. if you havent read the new owners threads please do

bigfsi

I checked Cobb's website a few days ago though and it looked as though the V3 was accessible for the RX-8. At least it was an option to choose from on the website which brought me to the V3 for the Mazdaspeed, was wondering if it was compatible and if not why would they list it as working with my rx-8. Was gonna do a compression test whilst in the shop getting recalls done. Removing cats and probably straight piping it with an electronic cut-out for loud/ quiet mode. Haha, live in North Dakota, no emissions tests or laws. And it's definitely fuel coming from the engine bay. Hoping it gets fixed with the fuel pump, otherwise I'm checking the fuel lines. Having the recall mechanic look at them for me anyways, at no cost for all that of course. And what do you mean by "gtg" for the bhr? Sorry not sure on that lingo. And yeah, been reading that thread. Very informative. I work as a tire technician while going to college so i tinker with the rx-8 quite a bit, and have got access to free tires. Two other rx-8 owners in town here but out of town come in sometimes and they toss perfectly good tires that I set aside for myself for free. Also, another note, haven't seen this posted anywhere so far, but living in cold climates with salt and snow, a common thing amongst the car culture up here is to actually bedline a lot of the undercarrige to protect against rust. Cheap, quick, and makes a huge difference. But was wondering if that would be harmful to the rx-8 due to the heat It produces. Has been a charm on my friends speed 3 and all the other car guys in town, but jw about the rx-8.

bigfsi

Also here she is right now

bigfsi

Also here's my rx-8 with pics and the Cobb on the website

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

gtg-good to go
cobb only supports forced induction now. mazda maniac sold the rx8 accesports but again im pretty sure they dont make them anymore

bigfsi

Aww dangit. I really wanted to pick up an accessport compatible with the rx-8.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

look for a used one here in the parts for sale. just make sure its unmarried from the previous owners car

bigfsi

And the used one would be a V2 right? If I wanted to do mapping myself does Cobb still offer the courses online?

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

you need the race tuner software from cobb. i got mine from them but mazda maniac did my tuning. you can also look into mazda edit or adaptronic for tuning solutions

i would comp test and do maintence before you worry about tuning, it really doesnt provide hp

Steve Dallas

See above.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The fuel pump is under the back seats, so if you smell fuel in the engine bay, that's a different problem entirely. Sometimes when the engine is replaced, people mess up the fuel line connection and it leaks fluid causing fire. So... get that looked before, you know.

Has the engine been replaced?

As for bedliner, do it and pack grease all around the back of the rear wheel arches. If you have the aero flares forward of the rear wheels, make sure you grease the part of the wheel arch inside them. Anything you put on the exhaust will burn, so... don't put any on the exhaust

I'd also recommend revisiting the wheel arches every month with grease or spray on light oil rustproofing. Around here you can buy the light oil stuff in a spray can.

bigfsi

Still original engine, so the fuel line re-use problem isn't viable. Could have nicked a fuel line while driving and scraped? It's a little low. And I'm interested in the accessport mainly for the diagnostics I would be able to view while driving, although I'm learning it's very difficult to track one down. Arg, frustrating. But appreciating the feedback a lot! Very glad to have found someplace active.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

For diagnostics you can get a scangauge or any other OBD2 tool for MUCH cheaper than an AP. There is also GoodBox, which will display sensor data on the car's center console display. Note sure if they're still manufactured, but they definitely answer email.

GOODbox Gauges

For the fuel line, anything is possible, but scraping it is pretty unlikely. Those lines are pretty well protected, and you would have to had to destroy the entire underside of the car. Either way, you said somebody is looking at it, so we'll know soon enough. Just be careful if it's not resolved, fire sucks.

bigfsi

Thanks for the suggestion about GoodBox, checking on it right now, although I'm bummed i got into my rx-8 so recently. Would've loved a chance to get it tuned by mazdamaniac with the AP.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

You still can if you find a used unmarried Cobb. You just have to pay him. There is also MazdaEdit if you want more accessible tuning. But don't let me spoil all these surprises, this forum is full of info.

bigfsi

Very true. Theres a huge amount of information here, very grateful for it actually. I guess I just enjoyed the individual responses to my ideas for my car and also wanted to test the waters on whether I would only get feedback if I were a longer joined member. Searching hard for an AP still though. And glad to know he'd still tune it actually. Thanks a ton!

lOOkatme

just get some cheap ceramic brake pads matched front and rear. I am running some autozone pads and they have done well for autoX.

You may need a better pad for tracking but on the street and autoX really doesn't matter IMO.

If you do a lot of lower speed high braking I prefer a lower coefficient of friction pad than a high speed track which I like more friction.

FF rated pads are good for low, GG might be better with more speed, really up to the driver here though. I really don't mind the lower coefficient pads that take a little more brake pressure which you can modulate better and heel toe easier for me.


just run the stock water pump.

I am running lifetime warranty oem stock ignition coils from autozone. they just replace them no questions asked at my location.

run cheap rotors that are blank, you don't need to spend money here.

bigfsi

I would run cheap rotors and brake pads, but I plan on taking it to a few autox meet ups during the summer and quite a few specify I have to have slotted and drilled rotors, so I'm out a bit on cheap ones right there. Doesn't bother me too much I suppose, just gonna add parts as I go along. Realizing finding a wiped V-2 AP is very difficult for the rx-8.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

That is a bizarre regulation. Cheap drilled or slotted discs are worse than blanks. Is this autoX organization sponsored by a disc manufacturer or something?

bigfsi

No, i also thought it to be odd, but that's the requirements they state. Can't really argue with it if I want to get out there and do it :/