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BigBadChris and the little turbo RX8

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Old 09-11-2015, 10:28 AM
  #251  
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Originally Posted by BigBadChris
At this point, I could have pushed my car off a cliff, bought another one cash.....and still have been better off financially. Why do I do this to myself? Because I have wanted this car for more than a decade.
Don't worry everyone in this forum is in the same boat. Their car to the public is worth $5000 but they will gladly throw that towards an engine just for a few more years of rotary.

Financially it doesn't make sense, but anyone buying an RX8 to be fiscally responsible is an idiot.
Old 09-11-2015, 10:38 AM
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My mechanic bought one last month. New Mazda reman. 4,000 out the door. He couldn't believe it. Someone else traded him a chassis in exchange for an engine tear down. He pulled the engine, cleaned the parts....and kept the rest of the vehicle.

Nothing about this car makes financial sense.
Old 09-11-2015, 12:31 PM
  #253  
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So I'm confused, they picked it up from Scott, dropped it off in a field somewhere, and then still haven't gone and picked it back up to properly deliver it to you?
Old 09-11-2015, 12:38 PM
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No, they just decided not to show up. Twice. So Scott still has it. Perhaps my "left it in another state" comment was ambiguous. Sorry. I really really hate that company
Old 09-11-2015, 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by BigBadChris
My mechanic bought one last month. New Mazda reman. 4,000 out the door. He couldn't believe it. Someone else traded him a chassis in exchange for an engine tear down. He pulled the engine, cleaned the parts....and kept the rest of the vehicle.

Nothing about this car makes financial sense.
Alot of us make mistakes, I paid almost ten G for a engine that blew up on the initial start up, I paid to have a turbo kit built that I had to almost completely re-tool, I bought a supercharger that is now sitting around collecting dust because I can't find the right buyer, I paid for a oil pan that did not fit in the least and still leaks to this day.

If I had sat down and did my research on companies and final products before blindly giving them money I would have saved myself a lot of cash and heartache. Hindsight is always 20/20
Old 09-11-2015, 05:25 PM
  #256  
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also thanks for the new quote
Old 09-11-2015, 05:52 PM
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Quote all you want.

Those supercharger kits do look really cool. Maybe I should have gone with that and a BHR long tube header? Shrug.
Old 09-11-2015, 06:43 PM
  #258  
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^ you'd never hear me say that...... those SC guys have their own battles to fight, show me one SC build that is running the way it was intended and I will show you 10 turbo builds. Besides, your problems are not turbo related, they are logistics related.


Just curious, is this the same company that got your car down to Scott?

Last edited by RotaryMachineRx; 09-11-2015 at 06:48 PM.
Old 09-11-2015, 07:02 PM
  #259  
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I have had a myriad of problems with this build, machine.

No, I was unhappy with the complete lack of communication I had with my previous company, so I changed. The first company showed up late, got lost, and demanded to be paid in cash, with no receipt. All of this was news to me. Obviously, I didn't know how good I had it.
Old 09-13-2015, 09:21 AM
  #260  
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Old 09-29-2015, 07:54 PM
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Its back in Dallas.

Everything looks good, Im very pleased with the work. Unfortunately, the engine just wasnt up to the task. Low compression on rotor 2, doesnt like to hot start. Ten year old motor. I was hoping to get another year out of it, but you play the hand youre dealt. Therefor, its rebuild time. I am sticking with my current engine. I think the irons are in good shape and it is a good candidate. We will be using alloy apex seals, do some minor porting work, and using the high power engine internals. I have located a tuner here in town, and he is willing to take on the project. An upgraded fuel pump is probably in my future also. I have a pile of gauges to install, and whatever else I can get my hands on.

The motor should be out of the car by the end of the week, then the real work can begin. All of the parts are already in stock, so fingers crossed for a quick turn around.
More than anything, I am happy to have the car back. It brought an immediate smile to my face.



RX8 in the foreground, daily driver 2014 Mazda 6 in the background. Yea...I like red.

Last edited by BigBadChris; 09-29-2015 at 07:57 PM.
Old 09-29-2015, 08:50 PM
  #262  
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Where in Dallas are you?
Old 09-29-2015, 08:53 PM
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I am about five miles north of downtown, the car is in Garland.
Old 09-30-2015, 12:47 PM
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Who is doing the tuning? Please tell me you sent it to PRT. Steve Kan is one of the best rotary tuners in the country and he is in your backyard.
Old 09-30-2015, 02:45 PM
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Yes, Steve has agreed to help me out. Once Ari finishes the motor, I will limp it over to PRT.
Old 09-30-2015, 03:03 PM
  #266  
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At this point you might as well do a 6 port swap.
Old 09-30-2015, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by BigBadChris
Yes, Steve has agreed to help me out. Once Ari finishes the motor, I will limp it over to PRT.
i may head up in a few months to have the adaptronic tweaked a bit.
Old 09-30-2015, 05:39 PM
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A six port swap was discussed at length. There are other some other considerations, such as moving the seat back (I do not have the legroom to work a clutch, I am 6'6" ), locating a donor car (need the electronics, intake manifolds, etc), and the additional expense. I haven't ruled it out, 9k. Once I made up my mind to redo the motor, the first thing I thought of was "six port swap?"
Old 09-30-2015, 06:07 PM
  #269  
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Originally Posted by BigBadChris
A six port swap was discussed at length. There are other some other considerations, such as moving the seat back (I do not have the legroom to work a clutch, I am 6'6" ), locating a donor car (need the electronics, intake manifolds, etc), and the additional expense. I haven't ruled it out, 9k. Once I made up my mind to redo the motor, the first thing I thought of was "six port swap?"
c'mon... a 6 port swap is easy.... find a donor motor and transmission, grab a 6MT ECU and ABS electronics module from the same car, buy a clutch pedal assembly, master cylinder, and CF drive shaft. Throw in a steering wheel (so you can swap out your paddles), and 6MT gauge cluster then you're 99% there.

Trying to think what else I needed. That seriously covers the bulk of it
Old 09-30-2015, 06:25 PM
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I have the swap thread bookmarked. Unfortunately I do not have the ability or the space to do it, so I would have to ask a shop. My mechanic has never done it, but he swapped some RX7s from auto to manual. I am pleased to see that yours is nearly finished, ShellDude. Gives the rest of us slushbox owners hope

If I did it, I would imagine that I would use my rotors and housings and just replace the side plates, bearings etc. 31k miles, the irons should be in good shape.

Last edited by BigBadChris; 09-30-2015 at 06:36 PM.
Old 09-30-2015, 07:26 PM
  #271  
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To do it all over again I would not have tried to rebuild boosted.... And I likely wouldn't be prepping to sell my 8 either.

You could have some one do the motor and transmission drop for you and the rest yourself.

In the end that's basically where I ended up.
Old 09-30-2015, 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by ShellDude
To do it all over again I would not have tried to rebuild boosted.... And I likely wouldn't be prepping to sell my 8 either.
So you think boost was just too much to ask for, or was your rebuild not up to it?
Old 09-30-2015, 10:03 PM
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The rebuild was solid until it detonated 8 times on the dyno because my dyno tuner was having a bad day.

Things were not right between the adaptronic, the ssv, vdi, and injector staging and we pushed it anyway.

I should've insisted on doing the 6MT ECU cutover before trying the final tune.

The reality is even with the best build on the planet and tune I would be looking at another motor in 30-40k miles.

I just don't have the stomach, or the wallet, for it any longer.
Old 09-30-2015, 10:22 PM
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I'm sorry to hear that. It's heartbreaking when these projects bite the hand that feeds them. I flooded two apartments due to aquarium malfunctions, those were expensive mistakes!
Old 09-30-2015, 10:38 PM
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You drove a turbo auto and a turbo manual. So I have to ask you....is the switch worth the effort?


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