Upgrades and mods for Rx8
 

well i've been doin some research but im still not sure where to start
Should i start with intakes/exhaust or start with the suspension like swaybars and flywheels??
im new so, any advice will help

Let's start with what do you want out of your 8?

ummmm that's kinda hard question to answer
anything and everything is good enough?

If that's the case start buying then. My statement meant, do you want to autocross it? Do you want to bolt on stuff just to be doing stuff? Do you want to increase in HP? Do you want improve the asthetics of it?

i'm havin the same problems, i dont know what to get, i want to increase my hp and torque to at least 280 hp and 200lbs torque... where should i start?

without turbo/nitrous/supercharger

lmao, you could start with a new car

Honda stickers!!!!!!!

j/k RX-8's are great handlers, horse power not so much. Good luck with the mods.

You should start by searching and finding out that nobody has even gone over 220 without a turbo/nitrous/supercharger.

If you're looking for more power, but not FI, look at lightweight flywheels. That will be one of the only non FI items that will give the 8 significantly better acceleration. Talk to Charles R. Hill @ BHR if you want a good set up.


For handling, getting stiffer sway bars makes a huge difference.

And just for fun factor, the Axial Flow short throw shifter is a nice thing to have and it is fun.

How does the Axial Flow short shifter compare to the Mazdaspeed short shift kit that is available in Japan and via japanparts (I just saw it last night and am wondering if it's worth the trouble and whether it will make it harder for a newbie to learn shifting a manual transmission - my wife only knows automatics)?

AFE SS is about 29% of a shorter throw.

MS SS is about 20% of a shorter throw.

AFE is $260.

MS is $443.


It's actually pretty easy to use, and quite fun. In the beginning, it will feel like the throw only went half way and is not in gear, but it is of course. I didn't think it was too difficult to change over from the stock, so I don't think you would have much of an issue. As for your wife, she may experience an issue in selecting the correct gears, because the AFE ss (and im sure the MS as well) makes the gear selects very close to each other.

I highly recommend getting the AFE SS.

If you're ever in N. NJ (Bergen County) let me know; I'll let you feel my car with the AFE SS.

spend money on track days, since you probably have no clue what it can do.

im talking about 280 bhp not whp!

ok well 280 bhp = about 240? whp. Thats is a good bit more than all the bolt on possible will give you

^ still not getting there NA.

Same general problem.

JP replies
 

The FEED 4.77:1 Rear diff crownwheel/pinion will also make for much improved accelleration

GW
JapanpartsLLC

Link please. I may be interested :)

Like everyone with an RX8= start with a midpipe.....from Racing Beat. Then add the Hi Power HKS...less weight...with the REVi intake and REVi Ram duct from Racing Beat....and a flywheel....Royal purple oil.....Lighter Crank pulley (get the 3 if you want).....aftermarket header....altogether maybe 20 hp. u want an extra hp or so....get the ZEX or NX nitrous 50 shot....i heard people running 50 shots and i yet havent heard anything bad about 50 shots.

After that move to the suspension of the car....its not only about power....its also about handling and thats why 8/10 of us own an RX8....
Sway bars.Strut Bars.Cross Bars...cross braces....adjustable Coil over kit....Brake Kit from BREMBO (VERY VERY SEXY) or slotted rotors with HAWK PADS..

Which way are you heading? SHOW? TRACK? DRAG? DRIFT? They all have different roads

ummm...we only have 1 header

+1 for a track day or High Performance Driving class first. This will tell you what you want to do to your car once you find out what you like to do and what it needs.

Personally the RX8 is plenty faster than I am once I realized what it's capable of.

**EDIT DonE

this sounds like the direction im goin to take
could ya gimme an estimate how much this all gonna cost?

xvickx: if you're looking for more HP, those mods will not give THAT much power. (ask me how I know? :D: )

why don't you do yourself a favor and use the Search feature towards the top right of the screen. You can find all the different intakes, exhausts, midpipes, etc on there and then start making choices on your own.

Most of our mods come down to personal taste because hp is very similar between the different brands

ahh ok
thanks for sugesstion
ill hit that search button right away:)

btw how do you know?

(take a peak at the mods in my Garage) https://www.rx8club.com/vbgarage.php?do=view&id=8610

hey guys, new to the site, ill post pics as soon as i can of my ride. used to own a tc, made the switch. happy i did, but i swear that car had more pull then this one did off the line. is there any good torque upgrades without going like turbo or supercharger. would like pulleys help and stuff? let me know

did you read this thread any or did you just reply to it? :banghead: Try Searching

btw your TC had 162 lb/ft the 8 has 159lb/ft, so yes it may be "quicker" off the line. But now when you drive around ppl wont think your are a 16 yr old highschool boy, or a girl

relax mate i was just wonderin if someone could give me advice. and at the time, i was a 16 yr old and now 17 with the rx8.

www.racingbeat.com for prices. You'll find you'll be over $1K in parts and labor will be probably another $1K if you're not going to do it yourself for the power adders. The most expensive piece will be flywheel install Basically if you're going to do the flywheel do the full exhaust at the same time since the tech will be under the car with everything he needs to take off for the exhaust to get at the flywheel anyway. That should save you some money.

This is not what I would do first though...

thanks man, yeah i was thinking that im just gonna do pulleys, and an intake. i already got the mazdaspeed exhaust on it. i wish there was something invented to help gas mileage, definitely not the best on gas, but then again, didnt get it for gas. its just so damn fun to drive.
while i got someone who knows what theyre talking about, any suggestions on good tires? gonna need some soon. right now i have basically track tires on it, falken azenis i think. i need something thats still good in the rain and has a decent tred.


soon to add: enkei EM5 bronze rims, petitt racing intake, gold/bronze pinstriping,

Even though you said w/o FI, I'd go look over all the FI options anyway. It really is what you want. Doit.

The AP will help with power and gas mileage as well as you can tune to take advantage of the intake and other mods. So honestly I think it's the best bang for the power buck because you can create new tunes and adapt your PCM to your new mods to get the most out of them. Even use it to go turbo some day. I would buy that before pulley and FW.

I like the BFG KDW-2s as the best rain tires. They have been good to me on track days and are awesome in the rain due to the boat hull tread design. They overheat a bit on the track but they are ultimately designed as wet weather/performance street tires so that's to be expected.

Alright ill definitely look into those tires. And when you mentioned AP. Are you talking like a chip or like piggyback or something. Haven't really gotten too involved with that stuff yet. What route should I go

AP= Cobb AccessPort. Checkout their website and read up on the unit on the forum. It plugs in to your OBDII port and allows you to upload a new program to your car's PCM. You don't need a piggyback and the inherent limitations of that solution. The AP allows you access to your car's computer so it can be reprogrammed and tuned by a qualified tuner.

Japanparts replies
 

226-009-021

Part links above; we give a 10% Discount off our website Parts pricing to RX-8 Club members...

PM to followup, let me know if you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help!

GW
JapanpartsLLC
* Since 1996 *

hell why dont we just put the car together for you... like they have said research and read on what is out there... you mihg tfind better prices on one site then another site.. its the internet the info is out there. just SEARCH..

If anyone is really after power adders (anything above 220 RWHP) they will end up with FI. Some try to throw all the little stuff at the car and end up with marginal gains, I went that route. In the end you will put on FI. So save yourself the time and money and only out on parts that you can also use with FI. Midpipe, catback, tunning (cobb Access port from MM so you can get a FI tune latter), igntiion upgrade (small gain but bigger gain when you go FI latter) and flywheel (personaly I wont replace it until I need a clutch, its my way of saving money. Underdrive pulleys are overrated and some intakes are good but a waste of money if you install FI latter.

Short shifter is a great upgrade.

If you know how to drive or if you are going to learn then suspension upgrades are good too. If you are mechanical and willing to tweak and adjust your suspension then get a set of coilovers. If you dont know anything about suspension and just want it lowered and stiffer then get something like the tokico d-spec. You can adjust the firmness and its a mild drop. Racing beat sway bars are also good. Bracing and strut tower bars have a very small improvment for 99% of drivers. Only the extreme drivers in certain situations will get an improvement.

Whatever you do, dont get a cheep set of custom wheels. If they are cheep they are heavy and you will screw up the handling. Good wheels and tires go a long way.

Well thats my opinion and there is plenty of info if you search.

Ah just get the 55 shot;)

+1 nitrous is the best bang for the buck for FI.