Who here works on their own car?
 

Hi there. I'm currently in the market for a new car and I'm seriously considering the RX8. I just want to know how many of you install your parts yourselves on your RX8's. Is the rotary engine harder to work on than a piston engine? I currently own a turbo Honda Civic. My friend and I have installed everything on my car ourselves. Saves me a hell of a lot of money. I have zero knowledge about rotary engines. Can you guys share your experiences? Thanks! :D

I don't work on engines but I do "regular" upgrades like brakes, body kits and suspension.
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Uhwh warehouse

I prefer to work on my own cars.

Bought the Service Manual & wiring diagram book recently to better understand the inner workings of the RX-8 and the RENESIS.

Other than changing oil, adding rear door protectors, trunk cargo net, and fog light rewire, mine is still pretty much stock....so far:)

I've done all of the upgrades on my car except for the flywheel. It's really not a whole lot different from a lot of other cars. If you've built a turbo civic then working on your 8 shouldn't be a problem. As far as the engine itself goes if you were to do a rebuild yourself.............It's just as I said. Different, not more complicated.

I do all my own work. Haven't had the pleasure of working on an engine yet....

I get a lot of satisfaction doing my own stuff, plus I know some dope isn't touching my car out of my sight and control.

Not to hijack the thread, but what do you think of how your RX-8 feels with the lighter flywheel?

If you are going to be working with the exhaust and intake, it is just like any other Na car.
I installed my midpipe and my catback, and the most difficult part was probably loosening the hangers. I cannot really tell you much about the difficulty of working on the engine, because I don't have much experience with rotaries either.
The only experience I do have is helping my friend convert his rx-7 to true twin turbo, and it was difficult to work on with all the vacuum lines, but then again it is twin turbo and the rx-8 isn't.

I've always done all of the work on all of my own cars. I built the engine in my current RX-7 as well as my last one and have a new one on the stand. I develop and build my own intakes, exhausts, etc. I do my own computer wiring, tuning, etc... I built my turbo system for my RX-7 from scratch. I also do custom stereo work such as fiberglass as well as many other things. There isn't anything on a car that I can't or won't do.

I sure hope you were my next door neighbour..........:o

I do all of my own work, except if I need a hydraulic lift. Then I have a friend who owns a shop take care of it.

Every once in a while i work on the hood of my car with some ladies. But thaz it.

Thanks for the input guys! I just hate wasting money at the shop just to find out that they messed up my ride. DIY owns.

We do all the work ourselves and we have been since the begining with our other project cars. Having a lift does make life a whole lot easier. I remember jacking up my older cars in the driveway and using the jack stands and what not. Glad those days are gone.

wish i had a lift...i have a shop with 2 bays and 1 being finished but no lift...i have an off frame restoration on a CJ7 for a guy coming up and sure wish i had a lift for that....but i will remain the guy with the 4 floor jacks posing as a "lift"...but I also do all of my work on all my cars...and other peoples too....

I rotate the tires every 5k miles, otherwise I let the dealership do everything for free. Mileage service every 5k on the 5k, plus free oil change (gift as part of the purchase) every 5k on the 2500k.

unless it's warranty work i do everything myself... no sense getting my hands dirty when someone else will do it for free :-)

working on getting a garage together with a two post lift to make some ucoming projects a little easier.

Ray

I am 16 and i do bolt-ons with my friends (Intergra GSR,my RX-8,GSX,Prelude, and supra) (turbo,exhaust,body,etc.)but as far as internals tho, i ahve only read up on it. I know how a head works i jsut dotn know what fluids to apply and amounts of torque needed to do what bolts. And rotaries...i wouldnt THINK of tryingt to replace the seals...

P.S. jacks and ramps are GOD when you can't afford lifts...:(

I wish I lived in Houston too! :D

Dont forget, benz wagon.

weird, i never signed up for this site under this name, better log out ;)

Hmm, weird, oh well, get ready to add 240sx to the list too.

keep reading and don't be afraid of anything... you will make mistakes but just keep plugging along - mistakes will will become fewer and fewer over time.

Memorizing TQ specs and fluid usage isn't neccessary - there is pleanty of literature that is sent with internal parts that cover those topics.

if you can't find the specs with the parts then you can NEVER go wrong with factory service manuals.

and once you work with a lift on a regular basis you DREAD having to do the same work with jacks and ramps - at least i do, maybe i'm just spoiled :-)

Ray

I have to agree With GTray

ONLY remember where to get the information and you'll be straight.