mikeljourdann

I went and test drove and an 05 MT today and was really happy with the car mechanically. Was less than thrilled cosmetically but it’s a solid car if I want to devote my time, money, etc., to this. The car has a stock exhaust on it currently with a gutted cat and the smell was a little over the top. Like it’s still stuck in my clothes from a test drive.

I don’t mind a little man scent but it’s not the smell for my daughters. Would a proper midpipe, forgive my naivety, what ever the correct proper cat delete solution would be, alleviate this to an extent? I understand it’s unavoidable but I didn’t expect it to follow me home.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

you can get an aftermarket cat but most will burn up quick due to the heat of a rotary unless you spend the money on a quality catted midpipe like the bhr. honestly cats are not good for a rotary but any decat pipe will still smell.

mikeljourdann

Thanks for the response. I’m okay with no cat - but is it something about the stock cat being gutted that makes it worse if that makes sense? I just drove around at lower speeds but it was an absolute constant - didn’t seem to dissipate while moving.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

idk maybe a resonated mid pipe would help but i really dont think it would tame the smell w/o a cat. growing up on 2 stroke dirt bikes/quads i like the smell plus shooting flames is cool

Loki

iTrader: (1)

It will not smell less until there's a cat in the system. Honestly it's not the worst thing, as long you have a good condition OEM cat or HJS sport cat. Both are pricy. Cheap alternatives will get expensive when you have to replace them every year, including Magnaflow and such. Most cars are less picky but most cars aren't rotary.

CaymanRotary

Not a great situation to be in. Any mid pipe will still cause smell. The catalyst uses very expensive materials and are very expensive to buy new ($2,000). You could try to find a wrecked RX8 that still has a good cat at a junkyard. However, this may not be possible depending on your local laws. To me, it seems like you have an exhaust leak as I never notice the smell while driving. Only when stationary.

10KRPM

I was thinking the same as Cayman, wonder if it has a leak. I noticed the decat smell when I first had mine but no longer notice it much, and really never minded it. Sometimes with windows or sunroof open driving 15-20 mph in traffic I might get a whiff, but otherwise never with driving. Certainly never strong enough to smell it on my clothes.

One other thought, I wonder how long it's been sitting. Running the tank low and filling with new gas might make a difference if it's not been run much recently.

mikeljourdann

Thank you for all your responses. I believe the car has been mostly sitting for the last few months as he blew the clutch, parked it, and just did the clutch to sell. Some of this gas could have been sitting since like November possibly? Could this be a logical cause?

Also, while I’m at it I had concerns about the clutch. He just did the clutch - not the master and a slave as well - I don’t know much about those components on this car but should this typically all be done together as in other vehicles?

Thank you!

CaymanRotary

The master and slave cylinders are completely different from the transmission. They can be easily fixed with replacement parts. If you are having issues with clutch pedal pressure, you may want to investigate. Typically, these are not changed out in a clutch job unless they were problematic. Try filling it with good gas and see if the smell goes away.

10KRPM

And one more thing on the cat issue - my guess is that if you buy it, run it, get some fresh gas through it, get used to it, you will be fine with no cat. On the off chance you can't get used to the smell, so you put a cat in. Either way you have the car and it will work for you. No idea what kind of deal it is, but seems like you like it and feel it is good mechanically.

mikeljourdann

Alright, I knew I had an issue when I did a different clutch and had to do them all at the same time (Jetta not an RX-8). Owner says clutch grabs closer to the floor than it used to, but I didn't notice any pressure issues.

The car is wonderful mechanically. 20,000 miles on the rotary after a dealer rebuild, 100 miles on the clutch, feels solid and responsive to the road. But I was taken aback by it cosmetically. Paint was way worse than anticipated, needs rear tires now (really bad plug), the smell stuck in my clothes (like it smelled like I'd been landscaping for 8 hours), no polishing the headlights is going to save them, shift **** came off and broke into two pieces in my hand, visor fell in my face during test drive, headlight went and I had too much time thinking standing around while he worked to change it. I think if I would've been prepared for all these things it wouldn't have been as bad but they were all enough little things to hit me at once I walked away. Supposed to see him this evening (because I'm an idiot and drove home with a key to the car) and I think I'm going to make him an offer that is lower than we originally talked about that works for my budget and see how it works out.

Thanks for all the feedback!

CaymanRotary

The only thing that's expensive to fix in your list is the headlights. Those bulbs are roughly $150 for the pair (yes, have to purchase as a pair) and if you need to replace the headlights themselves it can get expensive fast. Try to find a junkyard RX8 and scoop the parts you need. As for paint, try to get a cheap paint job and hope for the best? Not sure what kind of budget you have for repairs.

delhi

Sounds like exhaust leak. Even with catless, I can only smell if the car is stationary. And that's on certain occasions. Certainly not stick to the clothes bad.

mikeljourdann

So I made an offer - he didn't accept it. Didn't know I wanted one so bad and had an alternate thought - why not just buy one that's really clean and have the motor done rather than vice-versa?

So I found a car that fits the bill. Super clean 2004 cosmetically, 100,000 miles, no dash lights but motor has never been rebuilt. I've seen prices all over the place on the forum and will consult a shop - but assuming it's running fine now and is going to need rebuilt soon does anyone have a ballpark on what it would cost me to have done? (I have searched, please don't be mad at me)

Thank you!

Edit: Local rotary shop quoted me $3,600 ballpark - then mentioned the owner put an RX-8 daily out for sale this morning and wanted to send me info!

CaymanRotary

Only way to know if the engine is no good is to have it compression tested. Even a bad engine will run with a good ignition system. You really dont want to go the route of having to rebuild the engine. I dont see how they can properly quote a rebuild without first taking the engine apart and seeing what is needed. It could run anywhere between $3000-$6000 depending on parts needed and labor. Even then, this is a risk as the engine will only be as good as the person doing the work.

You are really better off spending a bit more now for an RX8 in great condition with a solid compression test result. Otherwise you are leaving your fate in the hands of someone you really dont know. They may do a good job or you could have a bad rebuild and the engine goes out on you (probably the day after the warranty runs out lol).

Loki

iTrader: (1)

3600 sounds reasonable and definitely a better idea if you're comfortable with engine replacement. After that you have a good condition car for another 100k if all goes well.

If you can get a comp test to see just how much life is left in the engine it may make it worth more or less. If everything passes, 5k is not crazy. Depends where you live as well. I doubt the seller will have many offers.

mikeljourdann

I pushed for the quote - that was a best case scenario don't have to replace a whole lot of parts, etc. They seem to have a good reputation based on Google feedback etc. I think I'm going to go by after work and see what the owner put out for sale, whether I've gotten his email yet or not, and just chat them up in my face mask.

The seller is a guy who own a shop (not rotary shop) and bought the car off a customer who bought something else from him. Cosmetically, tires, interior, etc. it's damn near perfect. He'll do $3,000 and I figure if a rebuild is $3,600 in it at $6,600ish for a 100k miles? Doesn't seem that bad to me. I offered $3,000 for a healthy running one that needed paint, tires, exhaust work (apparently, lol), all the stupid interior stuff that breaks, blah, blah, blah. Somehow this seems like a more logical approach.

mikeljourdann

I kinda pushed him for that price - that's best case scenario don't have to replace a lot of stuff, etc. They seem to have a really good reputation here locally as a rotary shop. I think I'm going to go by after work and see what the owner is selling and chat them up through my face mask a little bit. It's only about 15 minutes from my office.

See that's my thought. This is a super clean '04, no dash lights, good paint, good tires, leather, sunroof, all the trim pieces under the hood, nice exhaust, coils, stock other than that. Owner is a guy who has a performance shop with good reviews (non-rotary) and bought it from a customer when the got something else from him a few weeks ago. I mean I offered $3,000 for one with 20,000 miles on a rebuilt motor that needed paint, tires, headlights, apparently exhaust work lol, every little interior thing that can break fixed. This dude will take $3,000 and I can drive it home - if it's $3,600 to rebuild I'm in it at $6,600 for 100k miles which somehow just seems more logical than the other route.

Hopefully the one he has for sale is nice and affordable and I don't have to worry about anything. I guess we'll see!

CaymanRotary

$3600 is an arbitrary number. What if the housings are damaged? What if the rotors are not able to be reused? What if you need a master rebuild kit? Those alone without labor will total your $3600. Definitely pick their brains because the last thing you want to do is invest in an RX8 with a broken engine as the repair costs are impossible to know until the engine is out of the car and taken apart. For all you know that shop looks at you like you have the word "Sucker" tattooed to your forehead. For $6,600 you could find a good RX8 with a good engine. You do not have to buy locally as you can get the car transported to you from anywhere in the country. This way you dont have to worry about a rebuild which will save you an immense financial headache. Added bonus: you just get in your new RX8 and drive it.

mikeljourdann

Thanks to everyone who has provided advice. I pushed the guy for a compression test and have yet to hear back to this point... imagine that.

BUT – all is not lost! When I called over to Pettit Racing with my question they told me Cam had an RX-8 for sale that they just finished and hadn't even listed yet. I did my research on the shop, went by after work, checked it out and got to talk some with Cam (who's absolutely as knowledgeable, friendly, and great as the internet says), and I'm picking up this absolute beauty at lunch. Cam gave me a lot of good advice (and showed me a dope RX-7), the car drives like it's new (high miles, 50k on the motor, transmission work done), and I know exactly where to take it if I have any issues. What a wonderful place to have 20 minutes from my house.




I'll get a nice full picture set and description up after I get to clean her up this weekend and spend some time with her. Really excited to be joining the club!

CaymanRotary

Excellent news. I'm not saying that shop was bad but you definitely want to do your research and ask the right questions before doing business. Looks really nice! Wish you the best of luck my man!

10KRPM

Congrats, that looks really to be in good shape. Sharp color, I like that a lot.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

phantom blue is a cool color. congrats. what were the compression #s?

delhi

So you bought it from Petit Racing? Wow... that's cool. I heard good things about them. Nice specimen of the RX8 you got there too. Congrats.

mikeljourdann

Don't have any compression numbers on it. Call it foolish, but I have some faith in the shop and their reputation and it's a solid car. If I have any problems, I absolutely know where to take it and I know I'll be taken care of. Through one weekend and about 100 miles out driving and detailing it in the rain, it's a wonderful healthy car that I was fortunate to find through some happenstance. Got a few things on the way - new radar detector (these things eat up the road), new dash cam, a mount for my phone for the AC vents, and a dope Momo shift **** because I'm a fidgety person and I feel like I'm going to break the little triangle off the baby shift **** while I'm driving. Been cruising the forum and bought the parts for the tall person mod. I'm loving this car.

Cam and everyone at Pettit racing have been awesome. I called the shop with a question and found out this car was put out for sale that day. When I bought the car and had some questions about premixing, Cam gave me a gallon of their premix. When I popped the hood with Cam, he showed me little mods and tricks the car had to make it more efficient, cooler, etc. When I stopped by to take care of some paperwork and asked about what coolant to use, Harlyn told me and gave me a free gallon. Told me what oil he thought I should run, his opinion of how it should be started/driven, and everyone has answered all my silly detailed questions, because I'm a crazy person with details, without hesitancy or annoyance.

This is my first rotary and without Pettit Racing I'd probably be super stressed out about all the details and questions. I'll make sure to stop in for oil changes and to buy premix just to make sure qualified people keep eyes on it. That and keeping up with oil, fluids, premixing, etc., and I'm confident I have a car that I bought within my budget that's going to last longer than what I was looking for. Super fortunate to have found this car at this place. I'll get some pics up once the tropical downpour stops in a few days. Thanks for all the advice and kind words.