BigBadChris and the little turbo RX8
 

Okay folks, it's that time again....a newb starting a turbo build.

I've owned the car for about a year, 2005 4 port with 31k miles. It has been good to me, but it just needs more power. (Cue Tim Taylor sound effects)

I have upgraded what I can, including a SOHN adapter, switched to 10/30 Idemitsu synthetic, did the cooling fan upgrade and the first $100 mods. I also did a full tune up at 30k miles. That helped a lot, new plugs, coils and wires. Also did a deep clean on the throttle body / accordion tube, and added a catch can.

Here is my build list. (Yes it's a turbo 4 port, please don't tell me to sell the car and Get the one with three pedals. The car was a gift, so I am keeping it and making it my own). This is not a pie in the sky "this is what I want" thread, I am ready to go. I just want some collective wisdom before clicking "buy it now"

Top mount turbo kit (67mm ball bearing Precision Turbo)
Air to air inter cooler
Waste gate plumbed to recirculate
New motor mounts
High capacity oil pan
Second oil cooler - bought on eBay for twenty bucks!
Stainless steel oil lines
BHR automatic radiator -just bought it in the for sale section
Racing beat triple gauge set - oil temp, oil pressure, water temp
Lotek dash gauge pod
autometer boost gauge
autometer wideband analog AFR
autometer fuel pressure gauge (not 100% on this one)
Mazdaspeed exhaust (heard it in person, loved it)

I have been told that under 300hp, my stock fuel injectors are good to go. I also saw from 09factor and others that they upgraded their injectors, so I am a little unsure about this.

My current plan is to tune via Accesport. I have not found a tuner in the Dallas area, so I will probably be doing it via the MM service.

Most importantly, I am paying someone to install it. I do not have the mechanical ability to do something like this, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

How much hp and whp do are you suppose to get from these mods?

Sell it an buy a manual and turbo that or don't turbocharge it at all.

*Agree with 9k but if you are intent on turboing the AT be aware that somewhere around 260whp is the limit of what the AT can handle safely .
*You will need to upgrade the injectors probably as there are only 4 of them . (6 port has 6)
*67mm turbo is way too big ... A stock greddy kit is ideal for a 4 port AT

62mm is probably more then the renesis could ever handle.

67mm turbo is REW territory, sorry lol.

Also agree with what 9k said.

All due respect, 9k, but that is not an option. I was very polite in asking that people not suggest I sell the car. It's in the AT specific section for a reason. You don't like AT builds? Please don't comment in the AT forum. Automatic or manual, high power or low power, we were all drawn to this car for a reason. We appreciate its unique style, it's mechanical achievement, or "turning on rails" handling. Either way, it's all about the rx8. Let's focus on that, and not the way I change gears, ok?

As for those frowning on the size of the turbo, it is a used Mazsport kit. The kit was recently uninstalled by Scott at Rx8Performance.com and he gave me an excellent price. There are many many posts about the Mazsport type 3 kit, it's power levels, and it's capabilities. I don't need to rehash any of that here. Likewise, please do not dig up the Mazsport saga, and that of Scott himself. I have had nothing but great experiences thus far , and I will continue to do business with him. You don't like it, please don't comment here. This is a build thread, not a "what happened in 2008 and I'm still not over it" thread.

I am well aware of the limit that a slushbox puts on the system, and we are going to keep it under control. I am absolutely going to use an electronic boost control, because 13 psi and 330+ whp is just too much, both for me and the 4 speed. I have read the AT threads, and there are people out there that have not destroyed the 4 speed unit, I hope to be one of them.

Yes, a Greddy kit would have been a good fit, it's a small turbo that comes on early. Unfortunately I did not have any luck procuring one, so you make the best of it and move on. I am looking forward to building the first Mazsport automatic turbo.

Stay tuned.

op a few things

the guys posting about the snail size all have a lot of experience boosting an 8

a good friend of mine started with a greddy kit (bnr) and only made ~15hp more than my 6mt with his auto

and it doesnt matter, you will get 9ks opinion if you want it or not. hes usually right about 8s tho

Hello again, 200.mph

Yes, it's a big honking turbo. The only point I was trying to make was that this was a kit, designed by someone else. I did not just find a turbo on eBay and decide to put it in my 8. I understand that it's big, angry, pants on fire Performance. If I'm going to blow up my engine or transmission, at least I'm going to do it with a smile on my face.

ok but fyi that "kit" ive personally seen trying to get tuned on a dyno and it was on a 6 port. didnt go well. not bustin your balls jussayyin

Well, Scott is tuning it himself, so I am hoping for the best. I understand a lot of you have opinions about the guy. That's fine.

But we can all agree that the best person to install and program anything is the guy that designed it. That's for cars, computers, building a house, anything

:lol: Man, you are in for a long ride. This will be an important lesson for you to learn though. And no we cannot agree, the best person to install it and program anything is the best person for the job, not the person that designed it. I wouldn't let ( MOD EDIT: personal attack removed) Scott program the clock on my microwave. But you sound set in your ways and like to learn the hard way and I was like that so you will just have to learn the hard way.

I gotta agree with most of the guys here, but do what you want. Seeing that it is the 4 port and AT, have you thought of meth/water injection? Supposedly it helps a lot with carbon buildup, which is a concern you should have, among many others...

Edit: I know it(meth/water injection) has been discussed somewhere here before, but I can't find the link.

scott designed his "kit" in florida on a local friends car who had it shipped down there. he had his car over a year and after he got it running (not well i might add) he used it to demo to potential customers until my buddy and his wife sued him. hes a member here but hasnt been active for a while but these are facts. ill give you his screen name if you like. ive know him over 15years. his car is now in upstate ny (still his) not running right and was turned into a bagged show car

ATTENTION!

Anymore personal attacks on current/former vendors or members will be handled with a vacation from the site.

I don't care what your personal thoughts are, keep it above the belt. The OP has already stated he doesn't want to go through the history or "saga"
As he put it.

Any further comments which derail this thread from its intended purpose will be deleted.
Thanks

Travis

Is this a new rule or are you just making them up as you go along?

travis facts do not=personal thoughts

Scott since when are personal attacks allowed?

Jesse, the op already said he doesn't care. It's a build thread, leave it at that

Travis

Oh I thought that rule specifically stated personal attacks against members. Duly noted. Carry on.

ANYWAY.

BigBadChris,

As noted previously, your choice of hardware is flawed and your expected results are skewed. You might want to rethink your plan all together and do a little more homework before you start buying things. And there were some issues with the BHR radiators as of late so you may want to get it pressure tested and cleaned at a rad shop before installing it. A buddy of mine also had fitment issues with his BHR radiator so keep that in mind as well.

As for the kit, any kit can be "fixed" should problems arise but you need to consider the cost and your ability to have that done.

I'm sorry, but can we all take a moment to address the real issue here, It's just staring me right in the face and I can't let it pass any longer.












Brettus' Avatar... BBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBBBBBBSSSSS my GAWD Man those are some wondrous dirty pillows!!!!!

:lol:, you would have loved MM's avatar's.

@ 9k

I appreciate the heads up on the radiator. I saw a similar note in the thread where I bought the rad. I have made plans to have it pressure tested. If it fails, back on the For Sale section it goes.

Please, I am genuinely interested. Are you saying the Mazsport kits are flawed, or the Garrett (Precision) turbo, or the entire theory of a turbo 4AT? What exactly is wrong with my expectations? I expect with more air and more fuel, my car will go faster. I expect that with a faster car, I will enjoy driving the car more. I also understand that FI, of any flavor, will decrease engine life. I have budgeted for a rebuild at some point in the future. I never said I was trying to hit 362, 338, or even 300 whp (which has been dyno'd on this kit). I would be fine with 250 whp (still a hundred more than stock!!!). However, a Greddy kit was not available during the build window that I have. The Greddy kit wasn't perfect. MM did a lot to help it along with his turbo upgrade, I have to admit that was on the wish list too. The Petit kits are too expensive for my budget. This kit fit my budget, along with the install and tuning costs, and my upgrade goals.

@ Love Hounds

I have indeed looked at a water/methanol kit! I was reading some of those threads here last night. That is on my wish list for this project, but it might have to get pushed back until the fall when my second job kicks back in. Anything that lowers the temps and can reduce the possibility of knock is a win win in my book.

@ 200.mph

I am sorry to hear that your friend had a bad experience with his car. I feel like I can trust Scott with my car and my money.

@ Gravey

I have completely lost my train of thought several times reading Brettus's posts.

@ Anyone

I would really like some feedback on gauges, preventative maintenance, and the like. I am concerned about how any modified PCM behaves. Can it still detect a misfire? If you hide the CELs, how do you know if you have a real problem? (There are some problems that won't show up on a gauge, we don't have enough gauges to cover every CEL).

If you don't understand why that turbo is a bad idea on a 4 port AT (or Renesis in general actually) then you don't need to be turbocharging anything. And a Precision is not a Garret turbo and the main problem with that kit will be tuning.