dgbowers

I recently bought an RX-8, and I've been looking to do some performance upgrades... but I'm in college and have limited resources. Any suggestions?

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

remove vfad and filter walls and get a k&n drop in filter

The Reverend

iTrader: (1)

You won't get any decent performance upgrades for cheap with this car. Search around for

exausts
intakes
midpipes
cobb accessport

Renesis_Genesis

find a rich girlfriend

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

or get some lowering springs and upgrade the handling performance ohhh

dgbowers

Seems like the most viable option

The Reverend

iTrader: (1)

or get some really nice tires tbh

dgbowers

I bought some Goodyear Eagle GTs and put them on. Are those pretty decent?

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

You will not find any inexpensive HP upgrades for this car.

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

do the throttlw body bypass

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. Best low cost bang for the buck. I wouldn't modify the stock filter box tho'. Just remove the VFAD and drop in a K&N flat filter. You'll have a noticeably smoother transition without the VFAD shutter hesitation around 4k rpm and more airflow with the K&N. You can also add the Racing Beat Duct to more directly intake ambient cold air to the filter.

dgbowers

Is there a diy guide for it?

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

yes its very easy , and the walls inside the airbox come out with a screw too so theres no hack job

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

Do not expect much if any gains by doing these mods...

dgbowers

Thanks for the input guys. Im probably just going to end up pinching pennies to get an intake or exhaust.

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

not much gains but cheapest thing to do its basically free except for thr drop in filter which i got free, and throttle body bypass is like 10 buxs and worth it for a slightly better response

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

neither of whick will add power uless you get a midpipe

dgbowers

Can you post a sticky for the DIY

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

yeah lemme search it

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

diy vfad removal

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...y+vfad+removal

diy intake box mod

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...y+vfad+removal

diy throttle body bypass mod

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ody+bypass+diy

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

And here's the Racing Beat Duct mating to the stock airbox DIY: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=Duct

Note that you have to remove your front bumper to remove the VFAD. It's really pretty easy. You disconnect/remove the side marker lights (aka "corners'), undo a series of nuts above and below and lastly disconect the foglight connectors. There's a good DIY for the bumper removal as well. The first time you take off the bumper takes some time (noobie caution factor) but thereafter can literally be done in 10-15 minutes. Video and text:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...bumper+removal

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...bumper+removal

mike[piston eater]

iTrader: (3)

thanks i forgot to tell him about bumper removal

fastlaneracing

Low budget and performance dosen't go together.

Give your car a nice maintenance instead, new coils, plugs, plug cables, oil, filter etc..

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I would agree in principle that true performance enhancements on the '8 cannot be done on a tight budget. But there are some things, such as VFAD removal, a more efficient air filter, a short shifter, better tires, etc. that can give a "butt dyno" feeling of enhanced performance. I believe the OP is aware that there's no free lunch and these "low budget mod's" are what he's looking for.

Heck, I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from college days and still like a inexpensive 'feel good' mod when I can find it. Frugal Yankee in me I guess.

fastlaneracing

You are right, there are some goddies there.

Im also a fan of most bang for the bucks and a good maintainend car is a fast car.