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Aw I appreciate that! Mine still has some work to go... but I picked it up for cheap with that as the goal, something to tinker with (as it's my 2nd vehicle). I would like to replace the front bumper next (small rock chips and paint spidering), the front lip needs replaced, and the hood could use a sand down and repaint (small rock chips). It's passable, but nowhere near as good a shape it would be in had I owned the car since new. My poor car has been abused, multiple (minorish) accidents, etc. I'd also like to start replacing interior parts with some of less wear too.
We own our house, we moved out of state for my husband's job (military)... so we rented it out while we were gone, and then moved back in. Worked out great, fortunately.
New Miata I take it? Too bad about needing a rebuild. Mine was rebuilt at Rotary Resurrection just before I purchased it. He is one of the few I would recommend due to his experience and knowledge.
Truth be told, I've always had the most fun in the cheap or rough cars that I've saved. I go in without any worry about ruining it since it is essentially already damaged goods. It frees me to push the car harder and really learn it; then as I improve it, I'm so comfortable that even when nice, I can still drive it to the fullest. Yes, it is a 2016; lovely car in every way, except the fact of having a car payment. I have some reservations with the MX-5 just because it is so new and nice, but being so similar to the NC/RX-8 and FD RX-7 in handling (I feel it handles a bit better than my FD did, but hard to say for sure with such a large power disparity), it bolsters your confidence, allowing me to drive it harder than I'd consider driving another similarly-new car.
One side of the coin shows the rebuild as a bummer, but I see the other side as well; I'll have a new (known) engine of good health and can perform reliability mods at the same time to give me a great baseline. Buying a running car would be unlikely to offer that comfort, unless, like you, I lucked into one with a documented recent rebuild. I had a really bad rebuild experience with my FD, it was situational and partially my fault (the failure was ALL my fault), but it has informed me on how to approach the RX-8 rebuild. I'm just anxious to get it done and start having fun.
I feel the same way. I bought this one expecting it to need a rebuild (kid that had it was concerned about it, car just needed some more time and some love). I was looking for one that needed work either mechanically or body (was even looking on copart for one with repairable damage). I just wanted to stick one in the garage, haha. I couldn't have found a better fit for me. I paid just over 2k for a runner that really just needed some TLC. It won't resell well (6-7 owners, multiple accidents listed on the title, albeit minor)... but it's an Rx-8, you don't buy one to resell for a profit, LOL.
I agree on the no payment. My main car is an 06 Subaru wagon (family car). I can't remember the last time I had a payment. Paid for my last couple in cash. Well, I lied, we have a payment on my husband's GTO, but my cars I'd typically rather just maintain them well and be free of payments.
I was getting some minor alternator feedback through the speakers. Installed an Axxess AX-ANR1000 in-line power noise filter... worked perfectly. No more background noise coming through.
Next on the list:
-Replace tablet in the nav hood. It has never charged well (even in the house).. so I am going to look into replacing it. I basically never use it for anything as it is now, so want to get something more functional. Looking into options.
-Have an oil leak I need to pinpoint. Looks to be the oil pan seal, but may be the oil feed lines to the oil coolers.. tho it didn't look like it at first glance. I can't see it being the pan seal with how new it is (<10k on the rebuild) but still possible. Eventually I will get around to chasing it down....
-Passenger side visor completely cracked and is hanging by the wires (well, if it wasn't for a zip tie) so getting one of those as well.
-Having a friend come over soon to do a compression test just to see where it's at (I need to buy one of my own...) It hot starts on a 90+ degree day after heat soaking at idle for awhile, within 1 second, so I'm pretty sure she's healthy (lol).... but I just want to track where it's at from last time for my own curiosity.
-May put new spark plugs in after comp testing, with all the knockoffs floating around my concern is peaked. Will check and possibly replace.
Most recent picture... (Don't mind the clutter, we just moved and my husband immediately deployed and I have 2 small children so it's going to take me awhile to tend to the garage.. but I'm getting there. lol. Side note GTOs have FAT asses compared to 8s. lol.
My garage is about the same most days. Kids bikes near it and tripping hazards abound as I am restoring an 88 10th Anniversary RX-7, lol.
I think the RX-8 could be a wise investment if well kept. Many are disappearing due to being parted, rusted or wrecked. In some years there won't be many left in as nice of shape as yours is in. We all know they aren't an investment now, but they could possibly see a surge in price once there aren't many left out there. Its taken the 1st generation RX-7 over 25 years to start climbing in price. The 8 may be the same way. But we don't buy them for investment purposes anyways. We dive them because we love them and they put a smile on our face with every drive.
My garage is about the same most days. Kids bikes near it and tripping hazards abound as I am restoring an 88 10th Anniversary RX-7, lol.
I think the RX-8 could be a wise investment if well kept. Many are disappearing due to being parted, rusted or wrecked. In some years there won't be many left in as nice of shape as yours is in. We all know they aren't an investment now, but they could possibly see a surge in price once there aren't many left out there. Its taken the 1st generation RX-7 over 25 years to start climbing in price. The 8 may be the same way. But we don't buy them for investment purposes anyways. We dive them because we love them and they put a smile on our face with every drive.
I'm unsure the RX-8 will appreciate to the degree the 3rd-gen RX-7 did, but a similar appreciation curve as the 1st-gen is realistic. I don't mind as I prefer attainability, I loved my FD but the value of it made it less enjoyable, and now the prospect of owning another is so far away due to the ridiculous inflation that they have suffered. As it stands now, I want a second RX-8 eventually, and a 1st-gen RX-7. Goal would be for both to remain stock (with only reliability mods) and be shining examples of daily-drivable RX-cars. My current RX-8 would become a dedicated track car at that point, possibly with a turbocharger, or a stupid engine swap. More rotaries will have to wait a bit though as the next car purchase will likely be a truck to facilitate all of the upcoming house/barn/garage work we'll be doing.
How's the car been treating you over the last few months? Any new upgrades or have you just been enjoying the car the way it is?
Honestly, I've only driven it a handful of times over the last 6 months. It developed a pretty significant oil pan leak, and I have been too busy to do the repair, so it's sadly sitting in the garage with the battery unhooked atm. With a 9 month old baby & a deployed husband the time is just not there. I have been really itching to drive it tho, so maybe Ill start tinkering soon... maybe, lol. Thank you for asking
I can relate to the time not being there. With working two jobs and having 6 kids, I'm lucky if I get a few hours each week to work on my cars. I was lucky enough to have about 4 hours yesterday to work on the 10th Anniversary RX-7 that I'm restoring. Is the oil pan leaking from the seal or has the pan developed some rust. I've seen some rusty and leaky oil pans on the 8's, but we live in a state that salts the crap out of the roads and these cars do not old up well to winter use.
Honestly, I've only driven it a handful of times over the last 6 months. It developed a pretty significant oil pan leak, and I have been too busy to do the repair, so it's sadly sitting in the garage with the battery unhooked atm. With a 9 month old baby & a deployed husband the time is just not there. I have been really itching to drive it tho, so maybe Ill start tinkering soon... maybe, lol. Thank you for asking
My freshly-installed reman engine has an oil pan leak, guessing the gob job at the Virginia plant was a bit off that day. Not A Preppie suggested the Pineapple Racing oil pan gasket, which I shrugged off initially, but will be installing in my car as soon as my oil change is due (another few weeks).
As a side note, here was no gasket on the oil pan from the factory. Its a grey RTV type of sealant. When I replaced the engine in my BB 04, I resealed the oil pan with Toyotas' FIPG and its been holding up perfectly for two years. The pan and the engine have to be cleaned and prepped properly and the seal will last a long long time.
I figured it was due time I updated this. Finally got around to working on the car.
I ordered a new oil pan from Atkins with the updated baffles, the Pineapple Racing oil pan gasket (because **** RTV), and while in there I was recommended to do the REMedy oil pressure regulator so I went and threw that in there too. Im just waiting for the oil pan gasket to arrive and I can button it up and get it back on the road. So here are a few photos from the last few days.
Covered in pollen from working with the garage doors open. New vs old My little co-pilot.
I plan to get rid of that awful magenta strut tower brace/battery tie down brace. I was pretty bummed it came out the hue it did but at least its hidden under the hood haha
Got it finished. Turns out 3 of the bolts on the front cover were stripped. Not sure how/when it happened, I was aware of how gentle you have to be for those particular bolts. I met NO resistance while tightening them from the start. I also had noticed upon removal that one of them wasn't even hand tight. I swore I hadn't broken it loose yet, and it was also leaking oil down the threads. I am assuming that this is why the oil pan seal didn't last 10k from the rebuild. It is likely these bolts were not holding properly. FORTUNATELY these are some of the holes that you can just use a longer bolt/nut.. alas, it lives & now with improved oil pressure :D
Very nice job with the car!! The picture with your son in the seat is priceless!! Planning any other repairs or upgrades this summer?
Thank you!! Hehe!
Nothing in particular after the new oil pan & high pressure regulator. If I come across any decent finds for OEM "upgrades" (replacement interior parts in better condition, etc) then maybe.. Wheels/tires are on the list of needs somewhat soon. Definitely new tires within the next year +/-, and these wheels were so abused by POs that I would prefer to replace them.
Here are a few pictures from the local abandoned building I took last week.
Nothing in particular after the new oil pan & high pressure regulator. If I come across any decent finds for OEM "upgrades" (replacement interior parts in better condition, etc) then maybe.. Wheels/tires are on the list of needs somewhat soon. Definitely new tires within the next year +/-, and these wheels were so abused by POs that I would prefer to replace them.
Here are a few pictures from the local abandoned building I took last week.
Just wondering if there were any updates on the car and how it's been treating you.
Thank you for asking! No real updates.
I am planning on replacing plugs & doing a comp test soon. Likely need new motor mounts & would like to put some new tires & maybe wheels on it. Car has been lovely though - I just don't drive it too often so the miles go on really slow, haha. I do want to do some changes to the tablet in the nav hood mod too but I havent really decided on what I want to do there.
Edit to add: I actually went back to the OEM 6 disc Bose radio - I was having some finicky radio issues and I believe it was due to a fault in the circuit board of the CD player as it had been in our possession for awhile, in/out cars/in storage totes, etc. I have rectified the weird issue I was having. The OEM radio doesn't have the loud mode you get on aftermarket radios so it's missing a lil umpf that the previous head unit had which is a lil bummer - though its nice having it all clean and 100% functional again. I would occasionally turn the car on and the radio would be dead and the only way to get it to work would be to pull the interior fuse. It was random and only happened after key turned off and on again, never while driving and I verified the wires were all properly connected and isolated, etc. I was also having alternator whine feedback despite the addition of a ground loop isolator. The steering wheel button add-on was working fine initially and then that stopped working randomly for 2 of the buttons and not the others so that was a shotty piece of equipment so I just said **** all this nonsense and the OEM radio corrected it all, LOL.
Not in particular - though, when it's time to address the suspension for maintenance (the rear is a little saggy so it's on my mind though not an immediate repair needed)... I will likely replace OEM with coilovers. We'll see though.
New Odyssey battery. I let my kids (7 & 2) play "race car" one too many times in the 8. Someone hit a button and left something on and I didn't notice - killed the battery. It didn't want to hold a charge after that.
New replacement NGK spark plugs going in.
I borrowed a compression tester from Steve (Rotary Compression Tester.com) to check it. I'm a little poopy about the results atm, but it's not symptomatic or anything. It was just to see where it was at. It's been a few years since I last checked (only +/- 8k miles ago however). It's dropped some since then (results posted previously in this thread). So while it is on a rebuild that utilized B quality housings, and wouldn't have optimum compression regardless - it is important to note how much it's gone down over the last 8k miles, so I'm glad I know where it's at.
Onto the more interesting stuff - some photos I took today
05-21-2018, 07:02 PM
I have some reservations with the MX-5 just because it is so new and nice, but being so similar to the NC/RX-8 and FD RX-7 in handling (I feel it handles a bit better than my FD did, but hard to say for sure with such a large power disparity), it bolsters your confidence, allowing me to drive it harder than I'd consider driving another similarly-new car.
