325Pilot

Hi all, I'm trying to help a friend with his 88 rx-7 non-turbo coupe. I am actually visting from the Roadfly E30 boars of which I am a very active member, which is why my name is "325Pilot" We have done the basic work on the car, tuned it up, it all runs good, no major problems with the car, or any engine problems as far as I can tell, however I am not used to working on these engines. I am wondering if the same basic things apply to a rotary car as to an standard internnal combustion; IE, opening up the intake and exhaust for better breathability, getting more cold air in, and performance software.

1. First, software, does the entire computer need to be replaced, or is it a swappable chip? My e30 has a chip that can be swapped, really easy. Who makes the best software? How much does it normally cost? Where is the best place to buy this software?

2. Do headers do much for a stock non-turbo engine? Will a good cat-back make any difference with no other modifications? I know they don't do crap on a stock engine on my car.

3. What are the best ways to open up the intake? Does adding free-flow filter on this car make sense? sorry to refer to my car again but that's where all my knowledge is, but on mine, The stock intake breathes cool air where a cone needs a very extensive heat shield to see any benifit. Would a panel filter or cone be best? Are there any other reasonably priced aftermarket high-flow intake parts that would make a differnce on a stock engine?

4. What is the differential ratio in this car? Can it be swapped to lower gearing for more kick from the engine?


Basically, I'm looking for reasonably priced ways for him to make a little more, power with few or no other modifications, where does the best bang for the buck lie?

Thanks in advance
Brian

325Pilot

Oh also, He knows little about where to start browsing for parts, are there any catalogues that are reccomended for flipping through to get ideas?

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

It has a 4.1 rear-end, not much can be done for low-end kick since rotaries just don't have torque. Yes, exhaust (header/catback) is the #1 increase for an N/a, along with a nice intake (replace the piping and use a K&N cone filter or similar with a nice cold air feed) and you should be pretty good. Other than that there's the TB mod which will clear up some restriction in the TB, and you can port the intakes and things like that. Check out the FAQ at the top of the main page.

nates7

If you had straight pipes and silencers in mind for an exhaust you are going to need a way to operate the 6 ports. Faulty 6 ports will result in a nasty hesatation after around 3500 rpm. Finding a thread on this will be no prob but just giving a heads up. I would gut the first two cats leaving the main cat intack with an aftermarket cat-back to save some money. Other solutions would be a high flow cat , electric ativation, air pump activation, or a custom job or course. Bonez makes a good high flow cat and also has a staright pipe with silencer (race pipe) that has a nipple to operate them. Beware of the race pipe though because a free flowing cat-back will result in faulty 6 port ativation. When I first got into the fc scene I dident pay attention to detail so I am not stuck with no 6 port activation. I went and got the race pipe with borla cat-backs and it does not create enough back pressure. So if you go with the race pipe some type of chambered cat-back will be a must. Racing Beat has a good slection of exhaust setups that work around the 6 port problem so check them out. Sorry for unloading on you but like I said before my 6 ports dont work now and it sucks big time.