This is a documentation of my work on my 2006 Mazda Shinka Rx8 that happens to be automatic (ew I know) So I'll start off by listing mods that anyone can comment on and ask questions - LRB Under tray and Aero Plate: $200

- Greddy Lightweight Pulleys: $250

- TRacing Coolant Hoses: $200

- Racing Beat Street-port template: $200

- Sohn Oiling adapter: $80

- Megan Racing Motor Mounts: $250

- AEM Cold Air Intake: $500

- Atkins Thermal pellet: $25

-Gauge pod plate $50

-Prosport Water Temp digital gauge $50

-AEM Wideband AFR gauge kit $200

-Mishimoto Sandwich Oil Plate $80

-E85 eFlexFuel Pro kit $975

-Racing Beat Water Temp Adapter $25

-Haltech Water Temp sensor $80

-LRB Exhaust Manifold Heat Shield $120
Please ask any questions if you are curious on taking any of these kits on (I suggest all of them for rather performance or style points)


The meat and bones of the project ---------------
Now the shinka actually came with a 6 port motor with yellow injectors, which will make this swap so much easier and will be less extensive than going from 4 port to 6...
A little birdy had told me that I should be able to use the oem ecu and pcm with just a little bit of tuning but since I have not fully dived into the project and I'll make sure to document if this is true or not. I plan to fully list out every part someone would need so instead of buying an ENTIRE car like me they can just find each piece individually.

The parts I've found to be different no matter how you take it are the powerplant frame, wiring harness (because of the transmission wiring), flexplate and flywheel (I'll tell you my solution to this), and the only other parts I'm sure I need to replace are all the interior. I'm certain there is going to be a lot more to change but I want to see if I can DIY as much as I can to show that there can be work arounds to save money.

There is a counterweight on an automatic rx8 that doesn't come stock on a manual, how did I get around this? ACT makes a nice flywheel that so happens to use a counterweight just like the automatic rx8, so using the last 3 braincells I've put together that using a lightweight flywheel I don't even need to take off the big nut (I have an impact, but a lightweight flywheel sounds like a nice mod). The flywheel is using the oem bolts from the flexplate so it's a direct swap.

Automatic rear iron housing issues? No problem not only am I NOT taking off the rear iron, but it's also got a missing/broken bellhousing bolt hole. I have heard that the rear iron from an automatic is compatible with a 6-speed manual transmission, so I'll makes sure to see for myself and document how everything fits on and if I lose my transmission because its only holding on with 4 bolts...

Oil coolers and transmission coolers. The 2006 SHINKA already came with 2 oil coolers, and I have retrofitted an aluminum radiator in my auto rx8. A little word of the wise, the oem auto radiator has its transmission cooler built into the radiator so if you replace the radiator with an aluminum one you need to make a new cooler which I did by getting a mishimito universal 4 row transmission cooler that I just zip tied to the front of my radiator and I'm not sure a 4 row will be enough but it'll work for now.

Starters? I have one coming from Rx8 performance, the only place in the world that'll take over a year to make a part (literally), I have ordered an upgraded starter from them before for my auto and it works like a dream and just recently ordered a manual version which will hopefully be getting here soon. Now I heed a warning, I ordered a duo canister from them in JANUARY, I still have not received the part and I cannot get a call through to save my life, the man who works there is extremely nice and likes to email in very random times but still I have not received any confirmation that I'm even getting this part before the end of the year. SO, MAKE SURE TO CALL/EMAIL ABOUT AVAILABILITY BEFORE ORDERING.

Motor mounts? yes, there seems to be a material change in motor mounts between manual and auto, I just bought some manual Megan Racing mounts, and they seem to do the job just well (maybe) I have the transmission out and my engine seems to be very easy to wobble, don't know if this is normal and would like some feedback on this.

Injectors, IF YOU'RE USING A MOTOR THAT ISNT USING YELLOWS THEN SWAP THEM. If you do not use the correct injectors, then you'll hit the limit of them quite quickly and especially with my e85 kit I'll be pushing the limit of them even with yellows. You can swap the red injectors with yellows and all you have to do is change the latency and flow rate through Versatuner and you'll have a nice setup (I have not changed my fuel pump yet, but I do have a gauge for fuel pressure and I'm waiting for it to get too low in pressure or break)

This is all I can think of at the moment, but I start the swap this Saturday and ill document daily with pictures.