Glad you got it all sorted. I use the same thermostat, it definitely helps driving around since the stock thermostat begins closing below 203F, and completely closes at like 185F (or something close to that).....

The only downside to that thermostat is in the winter time where I was fighting to get temps above 160-170 degrees.

Thanks. And yeah I can see where getting engine temps up to optimal range in the winter c/b an issue. I'll take working to keep temps up in winter vs. fighting to keep them down in the summer. :yelrotflm

Damn, it should have been so obvious looking back! I think I may purchase myself the same lower temp thermostat now. I pretty much never see over 205F but if I could drop that down to the 185-190F range that would be nice. Where did you pick that up from Curt?

I'd changed a few things... so it took a minute to identity that the thermostat was the issue.

I picked mine up on Amazon. :icon_tup:

Team,

No worries... all good...

IDK that the Mishi is inherently a better thermostat, ... though evidently Mishi believes so based on their lifetime warranty. :icon_tup: But I do believe its a better fit for our higher heat generating FI RX8 application. The Mishi activates ~ 10 deg F lower, 169F, than the OEM unit, ~ 180 +/- 3 F, which as a component of an otherwise robust cooling system can lower typical cruising temps. :). And anything that assists in keeping our temps in check is a good thing. :yesnod:

Thanks. I'll definitely experiment with obstructing the rad &/or coolers if I have trouble w/low temps in the winter. :icon_tup:

Aah...ok... mis-read... thought you were referring to Mazda OEM. Interesting that others saw no gain w/the Mazmart. C/b that I saw significant gain w/the Mishi b/c my previous t-stat was sticking badly. :dunno:

So, I'm out cruising w/wifey last night, whip a corner... and a GTR pulls alongside. I hear him downshift, & rev... exhaust is poppin' and cracklin, he launches, then slows down. Not to be outdone...I drop a gear, rev, & launch... then slow. We're in a heavily policed area... so neither of us is gonna bust a grape. :nono: So, we both get caught at the next light and we're chatting. I tell him I just installed the turbo kit...and compliment him on the NICE GTR. Check it... he compliments my 8...says it looks & sounds great. I'm just thinking... What??!! I think he was just being cool. :yelrotflm

RX8 owners in general seem to have this obsession with keeping cruising temps down. Makes no sense to me but as they say .............. if it makes you feel good

Update:

I've been continuing to tune my EBC using my AEM Failsafe gauge's boost curve profiling capability. Boost profile is "squaring" nicely, i.e. overshoot eliminated and boost dropoff minimized across the rpm range. :icon_tup:

Per my original objectives...reliable, OEM mannered..., daily driver...I'm converging on conservative low and high boost settings, 8 & 10 psi respectively, but know this kit is capable of more. :D: W/ kit and cooling sorted... plan is to enjoy her as is for now..., resolve any add'l wrinkles which arise...and m/b get in a roadtrip. :)

But I am still weighing pros & cons of fuel enrichment - W/M or ethanol blend - in the future... to create headroom to open this kit up a bit more... It'd be fun to do...but what's the point...the car's a blast to drive now. :ylsuper: We'll see...;)


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...a401481a22.png
Boost profile is "squaring up" nicely...

That's looking really good Curt - nice work . Boost profile is much better than I would have predicted and seems better than the earlier kits were capable of .

Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely satisfied w/ results to date...: smooth, w/ daily drive-able manners, and more than enough power for street driving on tap. :ylsuper:

Installed a mount for my Gopro and h/b experimenting w/ capturing some vids. The Gopro vid quality is good for this application, minimal shake, blurr, etc. But unfortunately, the video simply doesn't capture or convey the actual or "sense of" the rate of acceleration as compared to being in the car.

Below is a vid of a moderate acceleration at ~ 8 psi. Vid starts w/ me traveling ~35mph, and the mini-SUV in front of me ~75mph. More fun in the car ...than watching the vid. :yesnod:

From rx7club.com, so not exactly our application but still an interesting read with respect to auxiliary injection...
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...fd-fix-806104/

Thanks, Tom! Spot on. Will give it a thorough read...

Awesome, two thumbs up Curt, looking real real nice!

Thanks! :D:

Update:

Started getting the occasional P0139 CEL and was concerned my cat was clogging up. So, de-catted my BHR midpipe. Initial indications are... she breathes better, spools faster, and picked up a few HP. Can also hear my turbo spool & WG more clearly. :icon_tup:

Additionally, I'd installed my IC, ducted & sealed, in a v-mount config, similar to Stroker's config shown here, but with the addition of a divider bisecting incoming airflow between the rad & IC as shown on my setup below.

In 91F ambient temps and cruising at 70mph, the initial divider position yielded:
- IATs: ~18 +/- 2F above ambient.
- Coolant temps: ~ 175 +/- 2F

I repositioned the divider to direct more air to the IC, ...less to the rad. Now under similar conditions my set up yields:
- IATs: ~14 +/- 2F above ambient. :icon_tup:
- Coolant temps: ~ 180 +/- 2F. :icon_tup:

Fans rarely come on anymore... in 91F heat... except sitting a long while in traffic. Might just run this setup a while before installing my DP rad, 8" IC and aluminum undertray. :D:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...80ba579552.jpg
Stroker's v-mount setup.
v
v
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...84b11ebf52.jpg
My setup: V-mounted IC w/divider
.

Quick fyi...for any installing the RX8Performance kit.

Beware...installing the front large under-brace may make contact w/ the ex-mani. Interestingly on my original install this was not an issue, and I'd left it off since the rebuild until a few days ago. After installing it while doing some other things..., I immediately noticed more noise...drone, exhaust note and sluggish acceleration. :confused: ???

B/c of the other work...it was not immediately clear what the root cause of the noise was. So, after backtracking and dbl-checking ..., I discovered the brace contacting the ex-mani just beneath the turbine inlet. Perhaps it was placing some pressure on the turbo bearings...dunno. Loosening the passenger side of the brace ~ 1/8th inch resolved the problem, and she's back to normal. Whew... :)


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...397affbbe5.jpg
Installed brace making contact w/ ex-mani on left
v
v
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...4ba52a4665.jpg
Close-up of brace contacting ex-mani
v
v
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...1beb10d6d0.png
Brace was making contact ~ here.
v
v
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...aafea0c181.jpg
Pressure on the mani just beneath the turbine inlet would place pressure on the turbo shaft bearings.
v

Did you wrap the heat insulation on the mani thicker this time around?

I did slightly. It's all such a tight fit... that m/h been the issue..., or getting the ex-mani sealed..., or the small variations from install to install... :dunno:

But caught me by surprise... so wanted to alert others of the possibility.

Team,
That makes sense. Thanks!

I'll install heat shield on the passenger mount short term, and... washers / spacers in time. :icon_tup:

Team - Not sure I’m completely following… :scratchhe

On the driver side I’d think the best approach w/b to insert the spacer between the metal base and rubber.

On the passenger side again either between the metal base and lower rubber …or perhaps between the lower rubber and mount bracket arm…which would better distribute the force across the rubber to avoid the deformation seen here.

Is that what you're saying...or am I missing something?

The unknown challenge w/b whether or not the existing bolt which runs thru the middle of both is long enough or whether a longer bolt will be needed.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...b78d978333.jpg



Passenger-side mount
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...5a4ba18e8f.jpg
Driver-side mount

Are you sure the rubbers are the correct way around Curtis ? The thicker rubber is normally on the compression side , you have it on the rebound ?

Also: that large diameter washer on top is doing nothing . It would be better between the lower rubber and the plate that goes to engine.

:rofl: No worries. I appreciate your trying to help. :yelrotflm :)