The more I was looking at the pic of the old exhaust, I was thinking that was the same exhaust that I just took off of my Nordic Green 04 in favor of a stock cat back, lol. When I removed it, I was surprised at how light and thin it was. The piping was cracked in places and the overall quality was garbage. I put it out on the side of the garage. Sounds much better now, lol. I'm betting your ca sounds amazing!

I like the idea of the tablet mod! Well done on that! Notice any difference in starting or idle with the new coils and wires installed?

I haven't installed the new coils. Just ordered a set of new NGK spark plugs, so once those get here I"ll do it all. I doubt I will notice any changes with startup I mean, It starts within 1 second anyways.. and it idles very smooth/consistant. It has a good strong rev, no loss of power or problems related to misfiring so Im not sure If I will notice anything at all (other than piece of mind that it has new healthy components in there) but Im hoping I notice some improvement anyways, haha.

I have my old catback sitting on my porch, lol, not sure what to do with it. The system is okay. The piping was fine. I had no leaks or any cracks, etc. I think it just had cheap mufflers on it. It's possibly the same manufacturer. They might use whatever is available, lol.

I did really like how it sounded, until I heard my new exhaust. The old one had more rasp to it that I didnt even realize was there until I heard the new one. It is much smoother, I posted a video (it's an attachment so it's a small link).

New NGK plugs arrived today. Will be installing all the ignition components soon.

Also excited to have found a reasonably priced OEM shift knob, thanks to a local rotary engine builder, who also builds endurance race car Rx8s. Time to get rid of my cheapy, don't know why one of the POs decided to do that, but slowly coming back together in better condition than when I got it :)

Glad to hear that the parts arrived and that you picked up a stock shift knob. I prefer the original shift knob. Its weighted well and has a good feel when rowing through the gears.

Yeah, I've heard that. I was contemplating just getting an aftermarket weighted knob.. but I really like the OEM one. Im sucked into the "triangles triangles triangles"... lol.

Me too! The rotor themed design aspects of the car are one f the many reasons that the car appeals to me in the manner that it does. Just such a clean design and a lot of thoughtful touches like the rotors all over the car. Are you noticing any improvement or degradation in gas mileage since the new exhaust was installed? I'm curious to see what difference it will make with all of the new ignition components in place!

I was averaging 15-16 MPGs with the previous catback (aftermarket, however it was OEM diameter). The new exhaust is a 3". I will see if it's been any different, haven't paid attention.

I did an oil change on my Subaru today so I didn't end up doing the ignition yet.. definitely next on the list.

I modified some push pins to fit into rotor accent holes, does the trick.

I did however get my shift knob in the mail. MUCH better. It looks better and even though it's not THAT much different driving it, it does make the throws feel more natural. Subtle but noticeable. Very happy.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...767c20d41b.jpg

That new knob does look great on there! And that shift boot!!! That's really neat with the RX-8 logo embroidered in it!

Thanks! Yeah one of the POs installed some cheap Autozone knob/boot.. :-\ I got this boot from a seller on eBay. It's quality leather & embroidery. Highly recommend. Matches the chaparral perfectly.

I think I'll check it out and find one for my Titanium Grey GT! It needs a new boot anyways and the one you have is awesome looking! Very stock appearing but with a nice touch of personalization! What's next for the 8?

Im not sure if I've seen gray or not, but worth a shot!

My 8 is probably getting a break from presents atm, I spoiled it lately, lol... but I definitely have tires on the "going to need soon list" ... Im trying to decide if I should just buy a new set or since my wheels are so beat, maybe just getting a wheel/tire package? Either that or just going to refinish my wheels when they get the new tires..

A SOHN is on the list, as well as a MS wing... A few big purchases so will be a lil while, lol.

D585 ignition components are halfway installed. I can't locate my 13/16 spark plug socket, and of course, my husband took my Subaru today, so I can't run to the store to get it (too lazy to pull the car seat out of the 8 for my LO and put it into the beater for a 5 minute trip, lol).

Everything but the spark plugs are good to go, other than putting everything back together.

I also found the source of my slight squeaking/engine bay noise. Idler pulley had some play, and when I took it off to inspect it and spin it on my finger I can hear some noise. Definitely the culprit. The hubs is going to bring me home a new pulley and a new spark plug socket and I can finish up the job.

Excuse the quality, it's crappy when i don't use the flash if it's not very bright.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...6a72c85a29.jpg

Im noticing a slight bit higher fuel economy since installing both the exhaust & new ignition. I was averaging 15-16 MPGs on my OBD2 reader before, and now I am seeing an average of 17-18 MPGs. It's not much but it's something!

Took a couple pictures when I got home from my drive today. God I love this damn car, lol.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...f757d5ddaa.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...32bcc856c2.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...3b32873d9a.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...a37019ecfa.jpg

Where did you get the D585 coils from?? Have you changed the dwell mapping for the new coils?

Also, any sound clips on the exhaust?? Looks realy good :)

I bought the kit from a friend (Grewvin Tuning). He puts these kits together as well as a lot of Rx8 pcm mapping & such. He does electrical work professionally, and tested the currents on the wires, etc, and does a real nice job putting these together. He is also the one that did the tune on my 8. I do not have the dwell updated yet, as he is back in my "home state". I live out of state right now, but in another year or so when we move back, I will probably have him update the dwell for them. Because he already tuned it, and has my files, etc.. I'd like to stick with him updating it. I don't see myself ever going back to the oem coils so I think it would be good to do. I may be catless again by then too and need the rear o2 code deleted ;) haha.

I posted a video of the new exhaust but everyone seems to be missing it since I added it as an attachment... let me repost it.

Here is a collaboration of before/after clips.

Old catback idle/revs (you can hear the deteriorating rattling mufflers as well - this was right before I pulled it off)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...kpWTXY3bTdWNkE
Old catback when I first got the car idle/low revs (so disregard the ugliness that has been repaired, lol)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...3VkWklYbGVMU1k
Old catback 1-2nd gear pull inside car video
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...mM5dTQtZUR3VVk

New exhaust at idle (few revs)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...zg2UXkxTlRCYWM
New exhaust 2nd gear pull (best video I have atm) inside car video
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...UhZMzdoYnhjM00



Im very happy with it. Performance is obviously indiscernible (even tho I had an aftermarket exhaust before, it was still OE pipe size and the new one is 3"...) but the tone is much better IMO. The old exhaust I always liked (until the mufflers started to deteriorate) but now that I have the two to compare to I realize so much more how raspy the old one was in comparsion. The new one is super smooth sounding. I really love it. Both have the OEM cat pipe in place, so no mid pipe changes with these particular videos. Also the new one looks better too. lol. No one "cared" for the old tips so they were pretty beat. These ones I can actually maintain, lol.

Good morning Jazer.

I just saw your ignition install.
Idk if it's an issue on yours, but when I installed the BHR kit, I didn't realize the 1st coil connector wire was rubbing on the engine lift bracket.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...bdc79efa6c.jpg


It eventually shorted out popping the engine fuse and left me stranded at work, had to get it towed home because I didn't know what happened at first.
If you're not sure it has plenty of clearance, you might want to check it out.
I took my bracket off. The bolts help hold the water pump on, so I put some equal thickness washers on them to be sure they didn't bottom out.

This was taken before I organized the wires. there is no rubbing. It's tucked neatly below the bracket. Thanks for pointing it out tho regardless. Always something to tuck away!

Ahh gotcha, I bought the bennet built coils and im not sure but i think one of the coils may be faulty... When its warmer out i plan on pulling them and testing them.

Yeah i must have missed it, whoops! :uhh:
Anyways, it does sound nice, would love to hear it from the outside or a drive by. I've never actually heard mine from outside the car because i don't trust anyone driving my car lol. My borla tips need to cleaned bad. Cleaned em at 104k and not even 400 miles later they are disgusting! Keeping them clean is a project for sure lol

I will try to get an outside video, not sure where I could do it.. where i could just set my camera down. My husband would just tease me for taking more videos/pictures of my car if I asked him to do it, hahah.

I too haven't heard my car from the outside while driving either. My husband has only driven it 2x since I bought it, and I was in the car with him, lol. He doesn't care to drive it. I think he got "overwhelmed" when I told him all the special stuff that rotarys require you to be aware of and he has no interest in dealing with it, lol. Also he hates driving low cars, and even tho it's stock height, it's low for a stock car.

I clean my tips every couple weeks with metal polish.. lol. I'm anal about that stuff.

My coils are the AC Delco D585 and they work flawlessly.

For fun I made a little tooned picture from the one of the ones I took yesterday. I was just messing around while watching TV.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...fe093fd4a8.jpg

Just committed to this (already Brilliant black) Mazdaspeed wing. Its missing the lower brackets so it will be some time before I have it mounted.. but I have a friend who fabricates that is going to make me a set. Thanks to someone who provided me with a ton of measurements of their brackets from one of the 8 groups. Since my friend is out of state once he gets the template down he is going to use his 3D printer to print a mockup for me to test fit. Once we get it down, he will have the brackets laser cut and bent to shape XD

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...2afed56851.jpg

You got really lucky finding one already painted Brilliant Black!! Those wings aren't my taste but they are quite desirable and can be expensive. I'm sure as the years pass they will only increase in value, so I think you've made a wise investment in purchasing it! Looking forward to seeing it installed!

It's funny because at first I didn't like them. I didn't care for the metal brackets, but the more I looked at them (over the months)... and saw them from the following angle, I was hooked. No other wing compliments the body as much, that I've seen.. and admittedly, I really wanted a slightly more aggressive wing than OEM.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...d2bb4b5949.jpg

Ohh, and I also like that it utilizes the OEM holes... so if I change my mind I can just put my OEM wing back on. No harm done.