I've seen some other non-miata projects in the build threads so I figured I would bring over and keep updating my RX-8 build here as well. Figured some of you might be interested and it'll be nice to have somewhere else that the images are hosted as well.

Soon I'll start doing probably a couple of posts a day until I'm caught up.

Broad Overview of current plan:
Building for use at Global Time Attack
2005 Mazda RX-8
13b-REW Swap (600+WHP)
Nitrous
Dry Sumped
EFR9180
Adaptronic ECU
G-Force GF5-R Dog Box (5 Speed w/ Straight Cut Gears)
Terminator 8.8 Rear Diff
18x12" Wheels, 315mm Tires
Tubed Front Bumper Area (V-Mount)
Tons of Aero


Also, yes I have my triangle shaped shades on to block out all the rotary haters.

 

Well, here it is. Finally decided to start a build thread to try and help chronicle the progression of my car and share experiences at the track and also get feedback to help make the car faster.

I've learned a lot from this place (RX8Club.com) over the years and had some trial and error with the car, feel free to laugh at stupid mods or mistakes or miscellaneous rice-tastic happenings with the car.

The following pictures show two of the photos from the Craigslist ad when I bought the car in May of 2011 (this was my very first car, also yes, rice, I know) and how it sits as of November 2013, and not much has changed since then except acquiring parts and having the build plan snowball out of control. I'll do a recap of the build up to this point in the following posts, and then start with what I'm doing on the car right now. It's been on jackstands forever while I've been gathering parts and funds and motivation to work on it, which has been hard since my main distraction has been the Miata, build thread for that in signature.



May 2011:
2005 RX-8 Touring, Whitewater Pearl, 6-Speed Manual, approx 75k miles.





November 2013:

 

You can borrow my lawn mower motor if you want some torque.

Something something less torque than a hamster wheel.

Approximately the same torque output of a clothes hamper falling down the stairs.

Im not going to be able to sleep with all the nightmares I'm gonna have from seeing those wheels.

 

Subbed for completion...in 2030.

It's a race. Who will finish first. Aaron's rx8 or begi's t5 conversion.

 

So why an RX8 instead of keeping the 13b-rew in an FD where it belongs?

--Ian

 

Because he's "different". Classic millennial, careful not to trigger him.



Dem rimz doe

 

The RX8 is a better fit for the power level. Wheelbase is larger and more stable, suspension geometry is much more advanced and the chassis itself is exactly 100% stiffer and a better "blank canvas" than an FD. Not to mention that an RX8 with a blown motor can be had for only a couple thousand. FD's are expensive. It also has a lower coefficient of drag despite being larger. The only drawback is that it will be a little heavier but to me it'll be worth it.

 

Where's the Florida license plate? This build doesn't seem right without one.

 

My engine builder is from PR if that makes it a bit better haha.

 

It helps a little.

When I was a a kid (living in Hato Rey, PR) I remember going with my uncle to visit a shop where he was having an automatic transmission rebuilt for his 70s-vintage Bronco. (This was in the early 80s, and he managed a textile warehouse, so think "ultra-high-mileage beater work truck" not "I'm a Bronco enthusiast having an old truck restored.")

The "shop" was up in the mountains, and consisted of several wooden tables beneath a canvas awning, with a dirt & grass floor.

After we picked up the transmission and re-installed it, the truck ran ok, sort of, some of the time. My dad always gave Tio Jorge **** about using random hillbilly mechanics, and Tio kept right on using them.



TL;DR: Puerto Rico is a lazy, filthy, corrupt shithole, and I'm allowed to say that. I do sometimes miss the smell, though. Whenever I get a waft of that unique blend of bilge water, diesel fuel, and rotting fish, it takes me back to happy places from my childhood.

But Florida has still got PR beat.

 

Another thing about Puerto Ricans is that they ******* love rotaries.

 

And stealing the oil out of people's engines, if I recall correctly.

 

subd

 

Why not swap a BP in?

 

So this car was my first car and daily driver. I had never needed a car but for my Junior year of college I had moved back to the parents house and needed transportation. Bought this car on an impulse knowing almost nothing about rotary engines besides the very basics of the internal workings. After I brought it home I began pouring over thread after thread just taking in as much information as I could.


The mods on the car when I got it were:
Ricer autozone fog lights
19x8.5 front and 19x9.5 rear XIX X05 wheels that were painted gloss black on the lips and candy apple red metallic faces. Terrible.
Shitty chinese tires.
K&N Typhoon V2 Hot Air Intake (Worse than stock.)
Eibach Lowering Springs
Blown out original shocks
Mad tyte vortex generators


Here's a picture of me driving the car for the first time. Was my first time driving a manual car as well but I picked it up quickly. Never stalled it and to this day the original clutch and trans is still fine to my surprise.



Fast forward a couple months to August 2011. I had done some basic things like an Axial Flow short shifter and JDM clear corners. Here I am at my first NASA Arizona event at Firebird International Raceway West Track. My new friends that I had just made in the Arizona Mazda Club kept insisting that I come out to a track event, so I signed up and was pumped. I had never really known that road course type events even existed at an amateur level that anybody could participate in so the whole experience was mind blowing to me.
I had no idea at the time but this was the initial push down a very slippery slope. After seeing all the cars out there and making some awesome new friends, I was hooked.



Here's me out at Firebird again on their skidpad participating in my first SCCA Solo autocross event. It was fun but left me craving more track time (runs were only about 45 seconds), the amount of seat time compared to a normal road course event is almost nothing, but it was fun and good practice. I only participated in one more autocross a bit later after this and then went to driving pretty much only road course.

 

Some of the first modifications to the car were BHR Ignition Kit (Yukon D585 Coils), New Plugs, and Agency Power Dual Resonated Midpipe.

One of the stock coils was going bad and causing the car to run a bit rough, but since I'm super dooper smart now from reading all these awesome threads on 8Club, I knew that coils plugs and wires needed to be replaced since the previous owner had no idea when they were last serviced.

I also got the midpipe because I was scared of the life expectancy of the catalytic converter since the ignition had been in less than stellar shape. I pulled it off and put it aside to use for emissions just in case, and thankfully it looked like it was in OK shape.

Plugs that I pulled out with unknown mileage:





Next up was the first "big" round of upgrades.

The tires and brake pads on the car barely made it through my first track event... the chinese tires were chunking to pieces and the brake pads were pretty much down to the backing plates. Also the blown shocks and slamming off the bump stops the whole time and body roll needed to be addressed as well.

I purchased some Powertrix Coilovers that orignally came with a requested 10k/7k spring rate, I love these things as a super budget friendly coilover setup that is track capable, but in the future will be considering switching out to something that is more of a "track only" setup.

I also purchased Progress Tech sway bars and whiteline spherical endlinks from a local 8Club forum member and installed those after the brakes and coilovers. Awesome upgrade.

And for a track set of wheels/tires I got some 17x9" +45 Enkei RPF1's with Dunlop Direzza Star Specs with almost all the tread left from another for sale thread in the 8Club classifieds.

Pictured:
Powertrix Coilovers (10k/7k Spring Rates)
Hawk HP+ Brake Pads
O'Reilly's Brand Blank Rotors
Agency Power Stainless Braided Clutch and Brake lines
ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid

You'll soon learn that I am excellent at rationalizing additional upgrades with the "While I'm doing this, I might as well do this too" line of thinking.



Installed:



New ride height that was initially too low:





Now it was time to hit the track. I had advanced quickly from HPDE1 to HPDE2 in my first event, then the next event I advanced again from HPDE2 to HPDE3. I was learning quickly and had great instruction on track from close friends that helped me a lot.



This is my second and last official autocross event. Fun stuff but just not for me, always left me starving for more seat time. And it didn't help that my favorite part of driving on track is sketchy high speed sweepers. At our local autocross I was never able to get out of 2nd gear.

 

Started modding the car a tiny bit more, and started getting more serious about the track. My good friend Todd (Flashwing on 8Club) gave me his old Espelir JGT500 catback exhaust and I did a couple other small odds and ends.

So after this I went in to get a Dyno to get classed for the UMS Tuning Time Attack Series. Power mods were:

BHR Ignition
K&N Typhoon V2 Hot Air Intake
Agency Power Midpipe
Espilir Catback

Here is the dyno sheet, very disappointing to say the least.



But oh well, I was having a good time. Next steps were taking some weight out and of course adding stickers to try and make up for that lost horsepower.

On the way to Sevenstock 13 I believe it was:


Firebawlz back at Firebird West Course again:



Putting on some new 11k/8k springs that Powertrix hooked me up with when I was able to meet Charles at Sevenstock:





Next tried to regain some power...
Went to BHR Midpipe, AEM Intake wrapped in DEI Gold Reflect (which actually dropped intake temps 6 degrees closer to ambient. Intake air is now only 5 degrees above ambient when moving instead of 11), and got an Accessport with tuning from Jeff at Mazdamaniac.





Also, cheap e-bay catch can just in case.



Brake master cylinder brace (really helps with pedal feel while threshold braking).

 

what happened to the other build thread for this car?

 

There was never one here. You might have found it on 8club or 7club. I'm catching up right now then new content will start soon.


Felt like cross posting it here because why not. Also I like that the images get backed up to the website so I have them in more than one spot.

The reason I started posting is because thanks to networking via this forum, I'm once again employed full time and about to get a promotion that will enable me to start pumping some cash into this project. When it starts to cool down I'll be able to put in some real work. The car has been inoperable for the better part of 4 years now I believe.

 

Good to hear it. It makes me happy when people spend money on their cars!

Yes, the link in your sig went to a different site. I read the whole thing, so I was like wait, what?

I look forward to the developments!!!