aidandj

iTrader: (5)

FTFY

That dyno lolol. My dog makes more torque than that when she runs.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

I then sold the hideous red wheels that weighed 23508972385907 pounds, and got some stockers off of an Evo 8 that actually fit pretty decent. 17x8 +38 and even the hub bore matched the RX-8. Good wheels for daily driving and going to from the track.

Also more stickers because I needed more HP.




Then comes the splitter build. This worked way better than I thought it would but over time the Arizona sun has taken its toll on the ABS plastic that I used.

Car apart to measure up and make a splitter.



Rough shape cut out of the splitter. It also replaces the undertray. Used 1/4" ABS plastic that I found sitting in my garage.



Just sitting in place being held up by some wood blocks.



Started working on supports. The splitter is attached to the lower bumper lip with bolts, and then I used threaded rod and fender washers/nuts to secure it. I bent the threaded rod around a coffee can and then covered them with plastic sheathing.





Done.




As you can see over time it has gotten warped. One thing on my to do list is to build a new one out of Alumalite and to also make it bigger.

Also, the first time I had this out was actually at Arroyo Seco. Everyone made bets as to how long until it ripped off the car since it is only attached to the bumper and to the two undertray bolts towards the back of the splitter. I even had a big off at almost 70MPH that day and mowed down a considerable amount of shrubbery. No apparent damage LOL. It has taken some pretty serious impacts and offroad excursions and has seen speeds up to about 130MPH and it has never shown any signs of failure.

The next revision of the splitter will be supported by the front crash bar though since it should be producing much more downforce. This one is 4.5" beyond the bumper lip and the new one will be about 8" beyond the bumper lip.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

At this point for the sake of keeping some sense of time it's about the first or second quarter of 2012.

So after I switched to the BHR midpipe it changed the angle of my exhaust tips a little bit, I figured it was fine since BHR fitment usually has an excellent reputation but after my first track event with it on this happened and I have just left them off ever since.



Added some gauges. AEM digital. These are okay gauges, I wouldn't buy them again. The LED indicators around the ring of the gauge that sweep as the number changes are going out. There is 2 or 3 of them burnt out in each gauge now. I don't know if it's the Arizona sun doing its thing or what the hell the problem is but oh well. It still displays the numbers just fine. I'll use these until I eventually just use a RacePak dash or something similar.

Also deleted the air pump for a little weight reduction.

Racing Beat adapters:



AEM Gauges and Lotek gauge pod.



Installed:





After this there was a local dyno day coming up. Seafoamed the car for good measure the week before.

Mods for this dyno:
AEM Cold Air Intake
Agency Power Pulley
BHR Ignition
Throttle body coolant bypass
BHR Midpipe
Espelir Catback
Accessport and tune by Mazdamaniac

It dyno'd 1HP higher and 5TQ higher... I started to suspect the APV's were not opening (for those not familiar with RX-8's, the motor has 6 intake runners and the APV - Auxiliary Port Valves are supposed to open at 7250RPM which open up the 5th and 6th intake runners to the motor) and that maybe the engine was not in the best of shape (losing compression, classic rotary!) even after the new round of mods. I know these cars don't really stand to gain any power N/A but ONE HORSEPOWER? C'mon...
Started planning for a preventative rebuild before I lost the motor. Also at the time it had begun leaking oil but I couldn't tell from where.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

After figuring out that power mods were pretty much a total waste of money, the only way I was going to make this thing faster was to start taking weight out... and this is where the slippery slope got REALLY steep. I was just going to take out the sound dampening stereo and a couple other things but you can see that I got carried away, and before I knew it there wasn't a whole lot left in the car.

This was basically the turning point where the realization set in that I will pretty much never be able to sell this car and that it would one day be a dedicated track only vehicle.



Race Car Funds!



Getting a little bare in there...



Removing sound deadening with dry ice. The best way to do this is to crush up the dried ice in a thick NON SEALED plastic bag and then spread it over the area. The smaller the chunks the better.




18lbs of sound deadening removed.





Sun roof unit was heavy, so I took it out and replaced it with a plexiglass insert. I cut it out of some smoked plexi that I had laying around in the garage and secured it with aluminum angle irons, flat head machine screws that I countersunk and then sealed it up with some flowable silicone.

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

RX8 chassis are so cheap that it is ridiculous, so I have had the thought of picking one up for a long time, so I will follow this thread with interest!

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

I like this guy. We keep shoving it in further and further, and he keeps right on working.

krissetsfire

iTrader: (1)

I dig it. I'm in Arizona too and the sun pretty much wrecks anything with paint on it and I was replacing vacuum lines on all my vehicles like every year it seemed till i got smart with silicon.

you were all... "i pretty much figured out that power mods were"... a waste of money/time whatever.... and i thought you were going to be like so.....

but then you started removing insulation...

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Don't worry the ridiculously expensive quest for 600+WHP comes later...

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

So at this point, probably around the middle of 2012, my driving is starting to improve very rapidly. I was now driving in the advanced group, HPDE4, and started participating in the UMS Tuning Time Attack Series, the class in which I was in is limited to 15.0lbs/HP power to weight ratio or greater, DOT approved tires and those are just about the only major constraining rules.

Track event at Firebird International Raceway Main Course:





I also moved up into NASA Time Trials after earning my TT License, and was competing in TT-C. There was only one other competitor in TT-C the weekend that I "tried out" during the last session, but I edged him out by a couple tenths of a second and since it was a new configuration for our region, I set a track record. The track was Inde Motorsports Ranch in Wilcox, AZ.





And hey, look at that, I was starting to get some podium finishes in my Time Attack Class. When you podium you get a "cookie" as the prize lol. The pink piggy is unrelated if anyone was wondering.



It was smoldering hot outside and I was seeing super high temps on track. Coolant was always 235+ and oil was 250+. I decided some hood vents could help and was not afraid of cutting up my stock hood since the paint was in terrible shape. The clear was flaking off and the color had started yellowing, I suspect the car had some sort of minor damage to the hood and the previous owner bought a new one and had it sprayed on the cheap since there are no accidents on the cars record.

Flaky Crap:



So I sanded everything down and ordered a louver kit from Gen Right Offroad, these are normally meant for Jeeps but they are very versatile, just cut and rivet them on. I was afraid of the hood losing structural integrity and when I cut the holes it got really flimsy but as soon as I riveted the louvers on it was just as strong as stock once again.

Traced and ready to cut:



Holes cut and sanding off all the crappy paint:




I also fabbed up an HID light rig that attaches to the tow hooks for an upcoming night event and also added some cheapo foglights since I had taken the original Walmart specials out that the previous owner had fitted. The track I was heading to (Arroyo Seco Raceway in Deming, NM) is in the middle of nowhere, and only has a couple light bulbs near start finish. The rest is absolutely pitch black. More about this later.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

So, new mods are done. Meet up with some buddies and it's off to Arroyo Seco Raceway (ASR) in Deming, NM. A 5 hour drive from Phoenix, AZ.



I'm going there to participate in the Night Attack event which is part of the ASR Super Lap Series of time attack events that are held there. The ruleset is the same as the UMS Tuning Time Attack series I am already participating in and the car was sitting at 17.8lbs/hp which was a little outgunned (the limit being 15.0lbs/hp) but I was hoping my extra lighting would allow me to go just as fast during the night as I was during the day.

So I loaded up my wheels and my buddy's wheels:



Met up with my buddies for the 5 hour drive:



And then promptly got stuck in grid lock traffic IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, adding about 2 hours onto our already miserable drive time while we all sat cooking in race cars.




I finally made it out there and this is where the picture that has been in my (RX8Club) signature for awhile was taken, during one of the practice sessions right as the sun was setting.





Now the fun part was coming. To give you guys an idea of how unbelievably dark it was out there, here is a video of my friend Tim who is one of the officials of the ASR Super Lap series and knows the track like the back of his hand. He has a WICKED fast Evo 9 that he dominates unlimited class with.

Also keep in mind, that the traffic on that highway is moving at 80MPH and he's blowing past it like it's standing still.




To my surprise, the lights paid off. Driving that track in the dead of night was still absolutely terrifying and I went almost 2 seconds slower than during the day, but the guys that were beating me that couldn't see into the corners very well at night slowed down a bit more than I did and I barely scraped by with a win, the competition was close.

This was my first win at a Time Attack competition, and instead of just a sticker, I got a sticker AND A SWEET MUG!



Yeah buddy!

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

So after Arroyo Seco I had the car down for a bit for some safety and driver comfort upgrades since I was starting to get faster and faster. I was absolutely sick of practically falling out the stock seat now that I was on R compound tires that produce considerable lateral grip. Also was sick of banging my head off the roof all the time since I'm so damn tall.

In order to be safe with fixed back seats, I needed to have a roll bar since in the event of a rollover, the stock seats can recline backwards but in a fixed back you can be crushed, as well as needing a place to attach a 6 point harness. (If you're considering a 5 point, buy a 6 point instead and your family jewels will thank you later.)


I took the car to my buddy Junior at Fathead Fabrications here in Arizona to fab up a 6 point time trials legal roll bar. I will probably later expand this into a full cage if I get going much faster... but for what I'm doing with the car a full cage is not required.











Anyways. I got some Crow Enterprizes 6 point harnesses with sewn in shoulder pads. Purple is for the RX-8 and blue ones are for the Miata.



Sparco Circuit II seat with Halo head restraints, for the big and tall driver...



Seat installed, it's just bolted on a set of two plates of metal that were welded in, attached to standard side mount seat bracket and that's it. As low as you can get in this car. Steering wheel setup needs to be adjusted but I can still push the clutch down all the way. Great for weight distribution when you're practically driving from the back seat lol.



New seating position. I am 6'5" and big... I can now barely see over the dash or out the side windows. AWESOME!



NRG Gen 2.0 Quick Release, it's the tallest one they have to move the steering wheel closer. Purple and Neo-Chrome for extra mad tyte JDM ricer points. Also ordered up a Momo Hub Adapter and Momo Mod.08 Suede wheel which has a 90mm dish and 330mm diameter if I remember correctly. I am going to also have to add another like 1" or 2" spacer to move the wheel even closer as well as putting spacers on the steering column to move the wheel downwards more.



Installed:

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Kind of a little side adventure here, but getting around at the track in the pits was getting annoying just being on foot all the time, especially at larger tracks. I would see everyone zipping past me on small pit bikes and gopeds and bicycles etc, so I picked up a non-running GoPed Sport that is very portable and easy to use for 80 bucks from a friend. After putting about 160 bucks into it (I got a little carried away) it was set to go. All you have to do to start it is jump on and push since it is a direct drive spindle driven type, if the motor is running the wheels are turning.

Also makes for great entertainment during drunken pit vehicle races and burnout competitions at the away tracks while camping/partying at night.

This thing is from 1992, still has the original motor and still runs like a champ. The only grief it gives me is at higher elevation tracks where it runs too rich, the jets in the carb are just too big even after messing with the adjustment needles. Maybe needs some new exhaust or something... LOL.

Stuff I bought/Modded:
New HP Carb
Velocity Stack
K&N Filter
Sprayed Deck with Truck Bed Liner
Black Magic 0.650 Extended Spindle
DDM 3rd Bearing Support
New Gas Tank and Lines
New Spark Plug
DDM Sticker for Extra HP

Before:



After:

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

So anyways, I've got all these new mods in, can't wait to try them out. Next track day is set. October, 2012 at Inde Motorsports Ranch.

I've been running on second hand tires for awhile now at this point, anything I could get my hands on. I finally decided to treat myself to some new meats for what was shaping up to be another glorious track weekend. Got everything set to go, got the new seat and harness to try out, the new steering wheel setup, brand spankin' new tires, and new pimped out pit transportation. I was ready to slay TA-A class in the UMS Tuning Time Attack, I've never gotten a first place before and the competition was going to be fierce.

What I was used to:



New meats, NT01, size big.



Out on track. Driving with the new seat and harness was wicked. After a track weekend my arms and shoulders and sides would all be sore from hanging off the wheel all weekend but driving was now effortless. The biggest difference was how much better I could feel the car. I could drive right up at the limit with confidence now and know exactly when I pushed the car too far and could feel everything that the car was doing. The rollbar also helped stiffen up the car and was very noticeable.





The Evo from the previous night video, belongs to my friend Tim. He also has a supercharged 1.6l Miata. Super clean as well.




And here is my car sneaking into this picture in the Time Attack impound while everyone anxiously awaits results.



Reading the results they start from last place and work their way to first, and we had made it all the way to third place and I still hadn't heard my name. When they announced the second place winner, it still wasn't me and I knew I had gotten my first win in the UMS Tuning Time Attack Series.

Some of the time attack family from an event a ways back. I'm the tall guy in the middle.



Now for the bad news. The reason I posted that picture above with the hood open. You see that faint line about halfway up the hood on the inside? It's kind of tough to see, but that's oil. Oil was everywhere, splattered all over the engine bay. When I had come off track there was a decent amount of smoke coming out of my passenger side hood vent and it was oil smoking off of the header heat shield. I later found out that the front main seal would leak oil like mad if you took it over 6000RPM and the e-shaft pulley and trigger wheel would fling it everywhere. This is when I knew the engine had to come out. I wanted to do a preventative rebuild and try to regain some of my power back with a fresh build so I could be more competitive.



Fast forward a couple months and we have this:








Also I broke the god damn nipple on the radiator that everyone breaks. It seriously disintegrated when I moved the hose just a tiny bit. Whatever, I wanted a new radiator anyways.






Unfortunately this is also where the story basically grinds to a halt for years. Life, work, lack of funds, lack of motivation and the fact that I could drive the Miata at the track now all contributed to me letting the car sit in its depressing state in the garage.

But the good news is, I've finally amassed all the parts I wanted so the RX-8 can hopefully make a comeback to the track. So the next posts will be outlining some plans and then we are pretty much caught up to present time.


By present time I mean about December 2013 since I'm copy pasting all this stuff.

(Also that was optimistic since the car is still sitting right meow in 2016.)

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

So now that we're all caught up (to January 2014), here's a run down of how the car sits, and then a run down of all the parts and modifications going into this iteration of the ongoing Time Attack Build, as well as a couple of pictures of some of the more interesting parts that I've amassed.


As it stands:

Engine and Exhaust:
AEM Cold Air Intake Wrapped in DEI Gold Reflect
BHR Midpipe
Espelir JGT500 Catback Exhaust (2.25" after split)
Agency Power E-Shaft Underdrive Pulley
Black Halo Racing Ignition Kit
Oil Catch Can
Z-Enterprise Grounding Kit
Air Pump Delete
Throttle Body Coolant Bypass
RX8Performance Poly Motor Mounts
Ingalls Torque Dampener

Fuel System and Engine Management:
Idemitsu Premix
Cobb AccessPort
Tuned by MazdaManiac

Suspension, Wheels, Tires and Brakes:
PowerTrix Race Coilovers Custom Spring Rates
Progress Technology Sway Bars
Whiteline Adjustable Spherical Endlinks
Hawk HT-10 Brake Pads
Cheap Blank Rotors
ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid
Agency Power Stainless Braided Brake Lines
Agency Power Stainless Braided Clutch Line
Axial Flow Brake Master Cylinder Brace
17x9" +37 5Zigen ZR+520 (Street)
17x9" +45 Enkei RPF1's (Track)

Interior, Exterior and Electronics:
Interior/Stereo Completely Stripped for Weight Reduction
Custom Plexi Sunroof Insert
Sparco Circuit Plus Driver Seat
Crow Enterprizes 6 Point Harnesses
Momo Mod.08 Steering Wheel
Momo Steering Wheel Hub Adapter
NRG Gen 2.0 Quick Release
Fathead Fabrications Custom 6-Point Roll Cage
AEM Digital Gauges (Water Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pres.)
Racing Beat Oil Plate and Water Line Adapters
Lotek Triple Gauge Pod
Custom Oil Cooler Grilles
GenRight Hood Louvers
Custom 4" ABS Functional Front Air Splitter
JDM Clear Corners w/ Stealth Bulbs
Removable Light Assembly (HID Angled, LED Bar Center) For Night Events
Mad Stickers Yo

Drivetrain:
Axial Flow Engineering Short Throw Shifter
8-Ball Style Weighted Shift **** (Neo-Chrome)
2" Shift **** Extender
Synchro Saver Plate






Modifications on deck (Or so I thought at the time. Plans changed again, project snowballed out of control... again... as it will multiple times moving forward...)

Engine and Exhaust:
Rebuild with all OEM Mazda Parts
New Oil Pump
Racing Beat Header (Ceramic Coated)
Racing Beat Non-Resonated Midpipe (Ceramic Coated) 3" Piping
HKS Hi-Power Single Exit 3" Piping
A/C Belt Lip Milled Off of Agency Power E-Shaft Underdrive Pulley
RotaryFX Lightweight WP+ALT Pullies
CSF Racing Aluminum 52mm Radiator
Racing Beat Radiator Screen
SAMCO Silicone Hose Kit (White)
Racing Beat Street Port
Mazmart Oil Pressure Regulator
RX8Performance Electric Water Pump Adapter Plate
Meziere 55GPM Electric Water Pump
Mishimoto 169F Race Thermostat
SOHN Adapter

Fuel System and Engine Management:
Dyno Tune by Jeff @ MazdaManiac (Will have two tunes, max power for Time Trials B Class and a Time Attack A Class Kill tune with a completely flat horsepower curve for hopefully the entire power band via closing the drive by wire throttle body based on RPM.)

Suspension, Wheels, Tires and Brakes:
17x10" +38 Enkei RPF1's, need some more of these.

Interior, Exterior and Electronics:
More weight reduction, gutting doors, cutting out rear speaker deck, etc.
Sparco Evo 2 Passenger Seat
Works Bell Steering Wheel Extension (Not sure on size yet)
GenRight Fender Louvers
Custom 8" Alumalite Functional Front Air Splitter With New Chassis Mounting Design
Brooks Motorsport Composites Swan Neck Mount Wing (68" Span, 13.5" Chord)
Even More Mad Stickers Yo

Drivetrain:
Quartermaster 5.5" Twin Iron Disk Clutch (5.6lbs)
Mazdatrix Race Flywheel (4.75lbs)
Mazda Automatic Transmission Counterweight
Mazdaspeed 5.12 Rear End Gears



The big ****. Most of the mount will be inside the car, it bolts directly to the chassis inside the trunk area. It will go through the rear quarter panels.
Also that is not a love seat, it's actually larger than a full size couch...




Here is the midpipe coated, ignore the parts on the top, those are Miata exhaust parts.




Header coated. Will probably extend the runners later.






Mad Tyte JDM:




CSF Radiator vs. Stock. Almost twice the thickness. Dual row single pass.




Quartermaster 5.5" Twin Disk Clutch, weighs 5.6lbs and holds 600ft/lbs torque.




Flywheel and assorted hardware as well as the clutch unstacked. Entire clutch and flywheel assembly together is 10.35lbs.






New addition to the light bar for night races. This thing is retarded bright...



Got some more louvers from GenRight.com for the fenders. They're pretty pliable so I'll be able to bend them in order to get a good contour. These are the same type as on my hood. I was also thinking of adding more to the hood as well.

Here's a picture of one sitting on the fender.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

^ I seriously wanna give this guy honorary subscriber status just for having the ***** to persevere in the face of adversity.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Ha. Honestly I thought it would attract more trolling in the form of LS swap try hards and hate for rotary engines.

Just bare with me, I'm not to the cool parts yet.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Oh, don't get me wrong. We all recognize that rotary engines are somewhere between child molesters and people who talk at the theater in terms of having a special place in hell reserved for them.

I just love how you don't give a ****.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

This has been his plan all along. The hate makes him stronger.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

This emoticon is my spirit animal.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Alright so I'm back from a nearly 4,000 mile round trip to Ohio and have had some time to work on the car... this is what I helped my friend pick up. A '95 NSX (yes it is a complete car, just in pieces, it will be a caged wheel to wheel car very soon.)



I got the electric water pump plate that I bought from a fellow 8Club member (VICEdOUT) and there was even something extra in the box! I've never gotten bonus parts gifted to me before LOL! It was a set of stock fuel rails that have been modified to use an external regulator and -06 AN fittings. Might be able to put it to good use, we'll see later on down the road.






The first thing I did when I was back was install the Brooks Motorsport Composites wing since it was taking up so much damn space in the house.

Taped off the cuts, the paint still chipped but whatever, it's a race car.



Made both sides symmetrical with some strings and stuffs.



Drill holes, cut in between, then used a file to fine tune it so it fit the upright perfectly.



First upright dropped through the slot.



Just bolted into place for now. I'm going to reinforce that trunk area with some aluminum diamond plate I have sitting around so it will be much stronger. I am also going to secure the upright to that vertical metal panel you see in the picture, and possibly a forward tie that goes to the cage.



Here it is just sitting in the slots, it's not bolted down or lined up yet in this picture. Also, NSX lurking in the background awaiting final delivery to my buddy's place.




Installed and bolted down. It is SUPER strong vertically but horizontally has a little too side to side flex. I have a solution to strengthen it horizontally, I'll post about it when I try it and if it works. I also took the stock spoiler off, I think it looks much better that way. Also I don't like the way this thing looks in pictures, it's much better in real life and will probably look much better once it's cleaned up and I use a real camera instead of my cell phone.










Stupid bolt...





Well I came up with my own technique after the big impact wouldn't do it on its own... 1" Drive Impact Wrench that weighs 40lbs and produces 2,000 ft-lbs peak torque, and a monkey wrench with 3 foot cheater bar after heating the bolt with a MAP torch.

At the same time.

What a nightmare... onwards with the build.