dazedNconfused

ok I've had my car for a couple of years now and I've been doing alot of research
and i compiled a list of parts that im going to TRY and pursue and i wanted to run it by you guyz.

Sway Bar – Front

http://www.racingbeat.com/RX8/Suspension/14108.html
Racing beat resonated race pipe

http://www.racingbeat.com/RX8/Exhaus...nts/16221.html
BHR coil upgrade
http://blackhaloracing.com/products-...nition-system/
Cobb Access port
http://www.cobbtuning.com/products/?id=3812
76mm WRC spec cat
http://www.motorsportcats.com/motors...lyst_range.cfm
Bilstein PSS9 Coil over Kit

http://www.shox.com/appguide/shoxsho...ctsdisplay.php


Enkei RPF1 17x9 45mm offset





Notice no FI. i finally came to the conclusion that i really don't need nor want it for my purposes. if you guys don't mind telling me what you think or if you see a part that you feel i should reconsider feel free.



P.S. i don't track my 8 nor intend to at the moment.

jasonrxeight

looks good.

dazedNconfused

^ yea the main reason i chose to go with this midpipe setup is cause modified mag used this setup up and in their review they stated that it doesnt make it that much louder than stock, and with that cat it doesnt throw a CEL. but if you know of another setup that u think might get me what i want jus let me know.

Roidz

Some nice parts there.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

I would suggest adjustable sways if you plan to track. Each car is a little different, each tire is a little different, each track is a little different. You can adjust over and under steer with sways as opposed to dinking with tire pressure. Although, your coil overs will let you adjust spring rates...

I would still go with adjustable bars. I got the Progress Tech ones from BHR. I REALLY like them.

dazedNconfused

yes sir thats kinda the way i was planning on goin except i was planning on going with bhr coil upgrade first then wheels/tires then suspension pieces saving the cobb and coilovers last. as for the exhaust i never thought to look at ur posts so ill get right to that. also all this is goin to happen gradually (not by choice) so that should give me time to get a feel for each individual change to the car.

dazedNconfused

i dont think this is relevant but im actually excited about trying to do this. after work i drive down the same road cause no cops really patrol it and ive gotten pretty good at driving it but on some spots i cant figure out how to approch the turns ive tried different lines (within my respective lane of course), different braking, and different way of dispributing the weight on entry but i cant get anything to work. i feel by doing some of these mods i can get some piece of mind. and yes this the reason im doing the stated mods.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

not trying to offend you, but have you maybe thought of taking a driving course?
The best upgrade is diving skills...

04Green

iTrader: (1)

One thought, what year is the car? Are the dampers the original ones? How many miles?

dazedNconfused

hahaha yea i've thought about a track but i dont have the money or time to go to a track. and the car is an 06 original everything. with 70k miles

dazedNconfused

well i dont really have any major questions about suspensions, my old car had coilovers so i am acquainted with them but that was a civic so yea and i've been doing alot of reading about suspension geometry and such. Maybe one day ill go to a track but for the mean time ima work on my car on a road i feel confident on. i am only 18 so i have plenty of time to learn.

dazedNconfused

i see well then, so far for the exhaust and the suspension i should look around a little more then. well then ima keep searching, if possible im going to try and see if any of the other rx8s ive seen rolling around here (which is literally two or three, not very promising) have an alternative setup up and see if they let me drive it.

dazedNconfused

North Carolina, in albemarle

04Green

iTrader: (1)

So, what Charles said...

You did not say where you are on the east coast, but there are a lot of tracks. Tell us where, and we can make a recommendation. Time on a track will help prioritize what you want to do first. The 8 is a very easy car to drive fast. I did Brakes (Hawk HPS), Springs (Tein H), Shocks (Tokico D-Spec), Sways (Progress Adjustable), in that order, as I ran into what was limiting me on the track. A decent HPDE weekend will teach you a lot, and is usually in the $400 range plus gas to get there.

If you are not planning on a lot of track time, just get a set of regular shocks. The D-Spec are adjustable on the car, I drive around on a cushy "7" and set them on "2" once I get to the track. But, they are like $600. Not sure if you can save dollars with something else. Springs are easy because you have to take them out to get to the shocks.

So, for an order,

Brakes
Sways (cheaper than springs and shocks)
Springs and Shocks

Then go after power last. I am learning to suck less at driving at Roebling Road in Savannah. It is a 2 mile road course, in the 90 seconds a lap takes, I only want more power for 8 to 9 seconds. That is about 10% of my lap times where there is even a possibility of being faster with more power. Put another way, with 500 hp, I might be able to get 3 seconds (Lambo Super L had 600, only beat me to the end of the straight by 2 seconds). I took 15 seconds off my first outing with training and replacing worn out suspension parts.

Now, the AP will take a lot better care of the motor than the stock tune. When I stopped pre-mix, car ran better and stronger, and gets more oil on side seals. Cooling fan mods help too. Tune process just takes some time because there are so freaking many of us in the queue and there is just one Jeff.

Good luck, you got lots of choices here. I would strongly recommend some track time with an instructor though, sounds like you will like it.

Mike

dazedNconfused

the track thing does interest me but right now i have a lot on my plate with school and work and other bullcrap, i mainly just drive to blow off some steam but who knows maybe down the road i can give it a try. btw they have drifting events here and im pretty sure they do time attack. if i ever get a chance to hit the track that will probably be the first place i give it a shot and its not very expensive to enter i just wanna make sure the car can handle being pushed harder before i go and do somthing that could potentially harm the car.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Understood...

The thing that can get you in the most trouble, and sap your confidence in the car the most, is brakes. I was not an original owner, no idea what had been done, and the Mazda screwed up changing the brake fluid. Get that taken care of, or do yourself so you know it is right. After that, I would go for it as is (after proper tech inspection). The car will roll a little more than with sways, but that lets you feel and learn what is going on, it will pitch around a bit more than with good shocks, but that also lets you learn what is going on. This learning process is important, or at least it was to me. I pass a lot of faster cars where the driver has not been able to learn what is going on or how to listen to the car.

Just remember, the mod that has made the most difference for the most cars, overall performance wise as well as chick magnet and down right coolness improvement, is Nordic Green paint...

dazedNconfused

well then i think i have a better idea of what im going to do and about the green paint, if you say so.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Piece of mind comes from knowing where the car's limits are, then driving well within those limits. The stock RX-8 is one of the world's finest handling cars, and if you don't have piece of mind with it as is, $3k worth of gadgets won't change that. While it may be possible to experiment semi-safely on the street at the edge with a '94 Tercel, it is not possible to do so with the 8. To reach that level with this car you will be going way too fast, endangering yourself and others.

Yeah, I know, I'm a boring old fart. I've also experienced the deaths of about a dozen friends who were killed fooling around with cars/motorcycles/airplanes, most of whom thinking they were much more skilled than they turned out to be. Leave your car stock. Sign up for a driving school, or find a local SCCA chapter for some cone chasing in a big empty parking lot.

Razz1

+1.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

+1 to all of the above, But, please see to the brakes, pads and fluid. Or, Just fluid. Something like super blue, so you know when all the old stuff is out. It is a $20 investment and will make system last longer.

dazedNconfused

i 1000% agree with you sir and i am working on that. but just so you dont think im just another crazy kid i have never ever gone flatout in the streets ever. when i work with braking there is this abandond parking lot area that i go to mainly because with braking you have to be very commited. on the streets i never carry much speed really or atleast not so much that it would require heavy braking. i also have lost people close to me because of thier carelessness, but like i stated i will never take it to the extreme they would take it, cause lets face it with cars in general **** happens and when u take it too far thats multiplied ten fold.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Edit: "leave your car stock except for BHR stuff."

What we tend to lose track of sometimes though, is just how good this car is right out-of-the-box. Also, as used prices fall into a range reachable by students and early-career folks, I fret a bit about those who sink every penny into buying the car, with no reserve for unforseen maintenence. It's no fun having a dead auto you're making payments on in the driveway, with no money left to fix what broke.

dazedNconfused

ok so let me revise my list

bhr coil upgrade

enkei prf1 17x9 with a 245 tire (still undecided on the tire brand)

rb sways

tokico d specs with springs (still looking into which spring to pick)

bhr midpipe

cobb

in that order, i decided to go with a shock/spring combo and then maybe later on go with a coilover kit mainly so i can see the difference between the two after getting used to the shocks/springs.

dazedNconfused

10/4 capitan.

dazedNconfused

humm? flywheel. that is guna be one of those later down the road parts but yea i was looking at the parts you guys have at blackhaloracing i think i know were im going to do all my shopping when i have some money to spend.........ebay. im just kiding.