Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Recommended mods for beginners?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-09-2008, 11:04 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Recommended mods for beginners?

I'm new at this and I'm trying to get a good idea about what mods I should start off with. Everyone on this Web site far more knowledgeable than I about mods for the RX8. What are some good, easy bolt-on RX8 mods for beginners?

I have no one to teach me this stuff and I'm dying to learn! Please help!
Old 03-09-2008, 11:11 PM
  #2  
^NieL
 
N rider89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: santa clara ,ca
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
clear corners are a simple mod that has a good diy guide on here. an intake isnt that difficult of a job and it makes you learn how to take off the front bumper.
Old 03-10-2008, 01:03 AM
  #3  
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
swoope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: orlando, fl
Posts: 14,602
Received 35 Likes on 31 Posts
killer links here.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/how-behave-forums-139802/

beers
Old 03-10-2008, 01:08 AM
  #4  
I ♥ Drifting!!!
iTrader: (6)
 
imput1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by texano03
I'm new at this and I'm trying to get a good idea about what mods I should start off with. Everyone on this Web site far more knowledgeable than I about mods for the RX8. What are some good, easy bolt-on RX8 mods for beginners?

I have no one to teach me this stuff and I'm dying to learn! Please help!

Go to a track day and learn what the RX8 can do.
Old 03-10-2008, 01:18 AM
  #5  
RX-8s Official Cool Guy
 
HiTMaNN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Put some new Valve caps on the tires... that is super easy!
Old 03-10-2008, 01:23 AM
  #6  
road warrior
 
LionZoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
First of all, what are you trying to accomplish? Second, how much money are you willing to spend?
Old 03-10-2008, 02:29 AM
  #7  
d j
hukbong himpapawid
 
d j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Schwedelbach, Germany
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by LionZoo
First of all, what are you trying to accomplish? Second, how much money are you willing to spend?
+1

are you going for looks? performance?

welcome, btw! I'm guessing that you're stationed in Altus (unless your a dependent)
Old 03-10-2008, 09:38 AM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm looking for performance...looks isn't high on my list of priorities. You guessed right.

I know for a fact that I don't want to do forced induction, cuz it sounds way to complicated for my skill level (which is the lowest possible).

Here is my list: anything that isn't forced induction and that increases the torque/hp.

I know there are a lot of knock off parts and/or unreliable parts out there, I just wouldn't know them even if they hit me in the face.

I'd even be willing to volunteer to help someone just so I can get experience.
Old 03-10-2008, 09:41 AM
  #9  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd love to do that, but I'm pretty far away from anything. Altus, Okla., is farm town USA.
Old 03-10-2008, 09:49 AM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by HiTMaNN
Put some new Valve caps on the tires... that is super easy!
I'm not looking to waste my money...but I'll keep that in mind.
Old 03-10-2008, 09:54 AM
  #11  
Registered User
 
frollo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you will find texan that the majority of the people here have found that bolt on's and anything other then fi will not give you a significant amount of hp/torque the best thing you can do is get a new tune (al la accessport) which will run you in the tune of 700+ and that nets about 15 hp or so. New exaust might get about 3, intake might improve the sound (and a hp or 2). Put in a mid pipe and remove cat and you might get some flames out the back... i'm sure you see the pattern, the car is fairly optimized from the factory. Again the biggest gains w/o fi is probably the map and if you look at the price per hp it is better then the other things you can do to your car.
Old 03-10-2008, 12:40 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
nelsonrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: new jersey U.S.A
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
exhaust,racepipe,flywheel,clutch,A/P,Nitrous
Old 03-10-2008, 01:54 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by frollo
you will find texan that the majority of the people here have found that bolt on's and anything other then fi will not give you a significant amount of hp/torque the best thing you can do is get a new tune (al la accessport) which will run you in the tune of 700+ and that nets about 15 hp or so. New exaust might get about 3, intake might improve the sound (and a hp or 2). Put in a mid pipe and remove cat and you might get some flames out the back... i'm sure you see the pattern, the car is fairly optimized from the factory. Again the biggest gains w/o fi is probably the map and if you look at the price per hp it is better then the other things you can do to your car.
As of right now, the RX8 is my daily driver. I can't go crazy on it just yet. My #1 reason for wanting to keep it simple is that I want gain some experience while still keeping this as my daily driver.

If you take out the cat and add a mid pipe will the RX8 still meet emission standards?

So you're talking about putting in an ECU? What's the best one to get? Installation difficulties? Does an ECU automatically readjust every time you add a new mod?

Do you have a recommended list of mods/brands I should use?

Sorry about all of the questions...occupational hazard. I'm a journalist.
Old 03-10-2008, 02:04 PM
  #14  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
If you want to achieve an increase in performance without going crazy i suggest that you buy a shorter final gear.
By far is the best mod i experienced on my ride
Old 03-10-2008, 02:40 PM
  #15  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
lightweight rims
lightweight flywheel
some sort of ignition upgrade
cold air intake + revi ram air

a few track/autox events to help you realize the potential of the 8 is good too.
Old 03-10-2008, 02:51 PM
  #16  
The Professor
 
staticlag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by bse50
If you want to achieve an increase in performance without going crazy i suggest that you buy a shorter final gear.
By far is the best mod i experienced on my ride
It's true, the 4.77 is one hell of a mod.
Old 03-10-2008, 02:55 PM
  #17  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
and for those that do a lot of highway mileage, a real gas killer.
Old 03-10-2008, 03:02 PM
  #18  
Registered
 
Aero8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: EVOLV-Chicago
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Was this answered?

MT or AT?

If MT...

AFE Short Shifter - easy to install, fun to drive.
Old 03-10-2008, 03:45 PM
  #19  
Finally Boosted!!!!!!!
 
tdiddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central IL
Posts: 1,035
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Get the AccessPort and a Midpipe. Less than $1000 and you will feel the difference.
Old 03-10-2008, 10:45 PM
  #20  
Registered User
 
sosonic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
1. Mazmart water pump

2. Mazsport ignition solution or upcoming alternate ignition solution.

3. Flywheel, if manual

4. Short shifter, if manual

5. Automatic Transmission Cooler and Redline High Temp AT fluid, if auto

6. Cold Air Intake duct. Racing Beat or Odula.

7. High flow air filter

8. Synthetic oil, 0W30

9. Amsoil long life oil filter

10. Oil catch can and breather mod, DIY section

11. Throttle Body bypass mod, DIY section

12. Exhaust, Greddy is good. Preferably weighs less, pipes are larger, and sound DB level near stock.

13. Larger oil cooler or 2nd oil cooler (if older 4AT).

14. Greddy oil pan, adds extra oil capacity

15. Redline Water Wetter for radiator

16. Redline gas additive, Redline 2 cycle oil as premix, or other premix.

15. Scangauge 2

17. Escort GT2 G-Timer or G-Tech Pro

18. Mazsport fan mod or other type fan mod (maybe unnecessary if have ECU reflasher and map editing software)

19. Electrical Grounding kit

20. Rear strut and member brace set.

21. ECU reflasher. Cobb AP, EFIdude, or Hymee

Last edited by sosonic; 03-11-2008 at 03:45 AM.
Old 03-10-2008, 11:25 PM
  #21  
Bigus Rotus
iTrader: (3)
 
Nemesis8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,573
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
smoke it - slam it - bump it
Old 03-10-2008, 11:51 PM
  #22  
d j
hukbong himpapawid
 
d j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Schwedelbach, Germany
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
short shifter
springs + adjustable shocks/coilovers
sway bars

you can install all those in the hobby shop.
Old 03-11-2008, 09:27 AM
  #23  
ಠ_ಠ
 
Socket7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Under the Dumbarton Bridge
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Performance mods for a beginner?

A good set of tires (the best car in the world is useless with crap tires) and the short shift mod.
Old 03-11-2008, 11:56 AM
  #24  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
texano03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by d j
short shifter
springs + adjustable shocks/coilovers
sway bars

you can install all those in the hobby shop.
Do all aftermarket mods come with DIY instructions, and do the auto hobby shop offer some kind of guidance or do I have to figure it out on my own (just wondering)?

what does the sway bar do for the car?
Old 03-11-2008, 12:05 PM
  #25  
The Professor
 
staticlag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by texano03
Do all aftermarket mods come with DIY instructions, and do the auto hobby shop offer some kind of guidance or do I have to figure it out on my own (just wondering)?

what does the sway bar do for the car?
Most stuff you have to figure out on your own.

Some of the better companies provide instructions with pictures.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Recommended mods for beginners?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:15 AM.