Avalonstar

Okay... I'm pretty confused now... I've been looking for a few things to get for my first 8 mod, and here's what I have in mind.

1) MazdaSpeed Exhaust (https://www.rx8club.com/onlinemazdaparts-com-108/mazdaspeed-group-buy-announcement-78728/)
2) REVi System w/ Ram Air Duct
3) MazdaSpeed Flywheel
4) Anything else? o_O;

So yeah, I really need some help deciding and am looking for you guys out there to help me!

swoope

iTrader: (5)

https://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=1137771

https://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=1137773

start reading here, it will be a start...

beers

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Links did not work swoope

Avalonstar

Well, I've done the reading, and I've seen the benefits, I just want to know where you gyus think I should put my money. I'm just really confused because there are so many things out there I can get, and I want them all now.

QBallz

Out of the ones you listed the flywheel will be biggest difference probably. I would go for spring/sway

Avalonstar

Hmm... springs and swaybars... yeah, that's on my list as well. But, is there really a big difference in the ride when you have swaybars and new springs installed?

QBallz

^ Yup.

Fanman

What's your big priorities ? Handling, power/acceleration, sound ?

Avalonstar

Priorities
Power/Acceleration
Handling
Sound (I could care less about...)

rotary magic

A tech mgr for Mazda (has GTP 04 RX8) told me the best bang for the $$$ was the light flywheel. He is also running RB intake, ram air, exhaus . BTW, he removed the MS exhuast and went with the RB unit. He told me don't waste your money on the MS exhuast.

DARKMAZ8

there is a new ms exhaust out....It is better then the first one.

Avalonstar

Yeah, the service manager at my dealer told me the same thing, that the light flywheel is best. However, I did some research and found out that the MS isn't much lighter than the stock one compared to say - the RB flywheel... am I seeing things?

rotary magic

I noticed the same. The SR motorsport FW looks pretty good. I am guessing that the SR has better revs than the MS but I don't know the draw backs....driveability, etc.

Avalonstar

Yeah, that's the thing. I guess I know I can trust an MS part. That's why I'd get it over a RB flywheel, but I wanted a few more opinions on it.

Fanman

The MS Flywheel is heavier than most of the other ones, moreso for weight re-distribution. The Unorthodox Racing unit has a built in counterweight and is quite a bit lighter, same with the Racing Beat unit. also the ACT. I have the SR unit, it is very good, but very $$$. Unless you can get a good deal on it, I would suggest you go with another unit.

Realize that the air intake/ram air unit is pretty easy to install yourself, the flywheel, while it can be done by yourself is very difficult. If you expertise level is changing your own oil, I wouldn't suggest dropping your tranny in your driveway.

IZoomZoomI

I have the ms flywheel great first mod imo. You can definetly feel the difference in how it revs. You won't regret it. The only thing is that you might want to change out your clutch since you're down there. You'll see the biggest difference performance wise I'll start from that.

Avalonstar

Does MS have a clutch?

Anyway... I think I'd go for the MS Flywheel, for sanity sake. But yeah, I think putting in an intake by myself is as far as I would go since I had done it on my Starion before.

Thanks for the great advice gyus!

Fanman

MS does have a clutch. Unless you are having the dealer put this stuff in, there really is no need to buy MS Stuff. You buy MS stuff because you can keep the warranty. It is really good quality stuff, but much of the time it is priced at a premium vs. other things that are just as good.

Also, unless you are going forced induction down the road, there is no need for a new clutch. The stock clutch can easily handle stock/slightly greater than stock hp level. If you are planning to turbo your car later on, then it is a good idea to change out everything at once.

Avalonstar

Yeah, unless I can find a really nice shop that is reasonably priced and and really reliable, then I will be doing all the installation at the dealership. Since I did get the extended warranty (don't shoot me), I do want to try and keep it. I don't know if I'll be going FI soon, since I haven't fully decided what's in store for my 8. But if I do go FI, it won't be for a while.

Fanman

Make sure it is a Mazdaspeed authorized dealer, and they will honor the warranty even if you put MS parts on there. Many Mazda dealers won't. Some dealerships make you buy the MS parts there (more expensive) if you want them to honor the warranty.

Avalonstar

Yep, did my research on that.
But they'll up the price on the MS parts? That's crazy ****, at least the guys I talked to showed me the same price I saw on the website. But is $120/hr reasonable for service? That's what the service guys told me.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

$120/hr reasonable

depends on how many hours they are quoteing you.


beers

Avalonstar

4-5 hours for the flywheel.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

For $480 to $600 you might as well wait till it is time to replace your clutch and throwout bearing.

Another great mod is the Axial Flow Engineering Short Shifter, also called RP Short Shifter.

High flow cat is also a bonus on the 8, stock one is definitely a chock point and weighs more than the aftermarket cats.

Avalonstar

Yeah, that's true. I was looking at the short shifter... how easy is that to install? As easy to install as an exhaust? How about the high flow cat? Seems like I'd have to raise the car to install that one. But thanks for the opinion 4yts.