Advice for simple modding
08-10-2010, 12:29 PM
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Advice for simple modding
I am still new to my car, but I know I can't stay stock for long. There are a couple things I have been looking at right away and I am curious if it is really worth the money or if I should look else where. First off I am not building a race car, I am just looking to perk up an already perky engine. I have been reading the reviews and they seem to be well liked upgrades. I'm just looking for a little more in sight.
Mods considered:
1. BHR IGNITION UPGRADE(will this be noticable difference on a 2006 MT?)
2. SR underdrive Power Pulley(noticable?)
3.Replacing all Ignition coils,Plugs, and wires(not a mod but this will be done too)
4. ??Considering a single exit Borla exhaust.(not right away)
I have heard some reports of people getting a boost in MPG from the BHR and I should get a little boost by replacing the ignition items. I guess what I am really asking is, are these mods worth the money. I would like to see some performance increase. If anyone has similar mods, were you pleased with them? I dont want to lose MPG, but I am open to other mods that wouldnt require a tune too. so any advice or tips are appreciated.
Mods considered:
1. BHR IGNITION UPGRADE(will this be noticable difference on a 2006 MT?)
2. SR underdrive Power Pulley(noticable?)
3.Replacing all Ignition coils,Plugs, and wires(not a mod but this will be done too)
4. ??Considering a single exit Borla exhaust.(not right away)
I have heard some reports of people getting a boost in MPG from the BHR and I should get a little boost by replacing the ignition items. I guess what I am really asking is, are these mods worth the money. I would like to see some performance increase. If anyone has similar mods, were you pleased with them? I dont want to lose MPG, but I am open to other mods that wouldnt require a tune too. so any advice or tips are appreciated.
08-10-2010, 12:39 PM
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The BHR ignition is indeed a fantastic product, you can't go wrong with it.
However, any mileage or power gain you may see is really just correcting a weak ignition that was already in your car. A perfectly healthy brand new OEM ignition is about equivalent in mileage and power as the BHR ignition (some differences still). The biggest thing about the BHR ignition is that it doesn't fall off and die out like the OEM ignition.
I wouldn't bother with the pulleys. There isn't much you can do for power on these engines. Here is an excerpt from this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
However, any mileage or power gain you may see is really just correcting a weak ignition that was already in your car. A perfectly healthy brand new OEM ignition is about equivalent in mileage and power as the BHR ignition (some differences still). The biggest thing about the BHR ignition is that it doesn't fall off and die out like the OEM ignition.
I wouldn't bother with the pulleys. There isn't much you can do for power on these engines. Here is an excerpt from this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
Power Modifications:
From the factory, the 8 is VERY well tuned (mechanically). There are only 2 things you can do for easy power:
- AccessPORT custom tune to remove some of the "safe" parts of the tune (unavailable brand new as of July 31st 2010, used prices are already climbing)
- Removing the naturally restrictive catalytic converter.
Doing the rest of the common upgrades piston cars get (intake, exhaust, pulleys, etc...) nets you MAYBE 5hp. MAYBE. Depending on the brand, alot of them are inferior to the OEM stock system, and plenty cause you to lose power.
If you want power, you have to go forced induction, turbo or supercharger. And you need a starting amount of about $8,000 to $10,000 for a complete set up. If you find what you think is a "deal", please don't get fooled. If you spent $1,500 on your turbo system, you will still spend $8,000 to $10,000 in modifications, errors, swapping parts, getting stuff to finally work right, and probably an engine replacement along the way. If you dont have an AccessPORT, you have very little chance in making it work.
If you don't go that route, then the most you can expect is about 200 whp without a custom engine rebuild, which can run you several thousand. Spend $50k+ like race teams do ($30k ECU, hundreds of hours on the dyno with custom tune exhaust, really frequent engine rebuilds), and you can get to about 220whp. 222whp is the highest posted, and it was from a race team. (And no, Jedi54's 1,000hp dyno doesn't count, it was a software error in calculation)
Don't get fooled by any "chips", ebay or otherwise. There is no "chip" for the RX-8 that will do anything beneficial. The best you can hope for is nothing at all...a costly metallic sticker on your ECU. You can easily fry your ECU with one though, and that is $1,600+. The only flawless method of improving the ECU is through an AccessPORT. Hymee's ProTuner software and brick is also capable, but there are still bugs at the time of this post, and it is possible to wipe your ECU accidently. The piggybacks such as Interceptor-X and GReddy's E-Manager are terrible for the RX-8. You can get it to run, kinda. But you won't be making more power than stock.
From the factory, the 8 is VERY well tuned (mechanically). There are only 2 things you can do for easy power:
- AccessPORT custom tune to remove some of the "safe" parts of the tune (unavailable brand new as of July 31st 2010, used prices are already climbing)
- Removing the naturally restrictive catalytic converter.
Doing the rest of the common upgrades piston cars get (intake, exhaust, pulleys, etc...) nets you MAYBE 5hp. MAYBE. Depending on the brand, alot of them are inferior to the OEM stock system, and plenty cause you to lose power.
If you want power, you have to go forced induction, turbo or supercharger. And you need a starting amount of about $8,000 to $10,000 for a complete set up. If you find what you think is a "deal", please don't get fooled. If you spent $1,500 on your turbo system, you will still spend $8,000 to $10,000 in modifications, errors, swapping parts, getting stuff to finally work right, and probably an engine replacement along the way. If you dont have an AccessPORT, you have very little chance in making it work.
If you don't go that route, then the most you can expect is about 200 whp without a custom engine rebuild, which can run you several thousand. Spend $50k+ like race teams do ($30k ECU, hundreds of hours on the dyno with custom tune exhaust, really frequent engine rebuilds), and you can get to about 220whp. 222whp is the highest posted, and it was from a race team. (And no, Jedi54's 1,000hp dyno doesn't count, it was a software error in calculation)
Don't get fooled by any "chips", ebay or otherwise. There is no "chip" for the RX-8 that will do anything beneficial. The best you can hope for is nothing at all...a costly metallic sticker on your ECU. You can easily fry your ECU with one though, and that is $1,600+. The only flawless method of improving the ECU is through an AccessPORT. Hymee's ProTuner software and brick is also capable, but there are still bugs at the time of this post, and it is possible to wipe your ECU accidently. The piggybacks such as Interceptor-X and GReddy's E-Manager are terrible for the RX-8. You can get it to run, kinda. But you won't be making more power than stock.
08-10-2010, 12:39 PM
#3
1. The BHR iginition system is excellent but should be thought of more as an increased reliability mod (although it does enhance performance by ensuring the optimal spark).
2. Pulleys in this vehicel are of little value aside from aesthetics.
3. The BHR kit includes the coils and 'plug cables.
4. A Borla exhaust is very nice, but more of an ear of the beholder item than increased performance.
You haven't really read around here very well.
2. Pulleys in this vehicel are of little value aside from aesthetics.
3. The BHR kit includes the coils and 'plug cables.
4. A Borla exhaust is very nice, but more of an ear of the beholder item than increased performance.
You haven't really read around here very well.
08-13-2010, 06:02 PM
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Pulleys will help if they're actually lighter than OEM, but by help, I mean 1-2whp if any.
08-13-2010, 06:03 PM
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To the OP, add midpipe to that list. The stock cat is very restrictive, this is one of the scarce mods that actually will yield a good hp gain to price value...
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