Mr. Gadget

As the title states, I am on a mission to increase the performance on one of my verts. I have a good idea what I will do, looking for others that have done so or not to give me their thoughts on my next few steps.



First and foremost for the post ***** noobs, the engine it self has more in it than most NA's on the street. Street port, balanced, new rotor housing rebuild by yours truly. Running a lightened steel flywheel with a HD clutch. RB down pipe & catback with a stock converter in-between. Functional CAI. If it carries fuel, its SS braided. If it is for vacuum, its silicone. Injectors reworked, NO, and I repeat NO vacuum leaks. Basically this car runs real well.



What I don't want to do - Turbo (props to Sonic Rat and his project!) or a Blower. Removal of weight that take away from the ascetics of the car. Carpet stays much like the spare, jack AC, and other stuff.



A few other things I have done to this car not HP related - total repaint, rebushed suspension, RB suspension package, shocks, RX8 5 speed light up **** on a Mazdatrix short shifter. Slotted rotors with HKS pads, SS brake lines, enfini Steering wheel, Turbo Hood, front lip (Mazda OEM part), rear spoiler, hell I even relocated the antenna (due to spoiler) and filled in the old hole to make this car look wicked.



I am looking at two projects to get it ripping. First of all I would like to put a better flowing cat on the car. I am looking at the Bonez Superflo ( http://www.rx7store.net/index.asp? PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=615 ).



As I read and understand this product it seems to accomplish a few things I am looking for. My only problem is fit. Has any other Vert owner installed one and what problems did you face? Did you trim the K frame or get the pipe bent to fit?



Next, I want to Extrude hone the intake. I have read a bit about it. Does anyone have a place they recommend (note, must have actually used them for this process, not just "know" the owner)?

This car is 49 state legal and will stay that way.

Mint87RX7

how about engine, tranny, and differential mounts. wont give it more power but will help hold what you do have

Mr. Gadget

All new (less than 3K). In a nut shell, this car is near showroom (or better in most cases) except for the damm leak over the drivers window when it rains.

Mint87RX7

well your not giving many options, how about standalone

Mr. Gadget

All new (less than 3K). In a nut shell, this car is near showroom (or better in most cases) except for the damm leak over the drivers window when it rains.

Icemark

My 88 vert has a hybrid S4/S5 intake that I had extrude honed. What would you like to know?

And the leak on the drivers window, check the targa seals, and front A pillar at door seal.

I also used a Bonz superflow cat set up, but used only the cat and had a custom down pipe with resonator built to fit. I think the RB down pipe for the vert will also fit with a stock sized cat, except you will need to build an small exhaust pipe spacer (as their down pipe is a little short for a stock sized cat.

Mr. Gadget

Actually, I am specific about what I want to install next (hi-flow cat, extrude). I am also specific in doing the research to insure bang for the buck.

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the props, I think a superflo will be a pretty good choice in a nice flowing cat that won't harm performance. Do you have a cold air box and the such, or possibly moving the filter up front? Also there's always ignition boxes and an S-AFC, or hell, even a cheap used standalone would be beneficial (full control of timing/fuel/etc), that should allow you to squeeze every HP you can out without changing the whole thing around!

Mr. Gadget

Thanks, I am already using the short pipe (3.5 I believe) with 1 of the stock cats. Did you cut the pipe of the cat or am I missing the boat on which one your using?

For the intake, what company do you reccomond? Any pitfalls?

MARTIN

other than wat you have and what he mentioned, you dont have any options left..

Icemark

I used the Cat replacement (and actually a Turbo one at that- left over from when I had the 13BT in the car) and a custom down pipe rather than the Non turbo down pipe and cat combo.

I used the Extrude Hone. I sent it to the Paramont CA location (which is a powerflow/AFM Extude Hone owned location-since I am in CA), but that was a couple years back now, and I think currently they want all automotive jobs to go through the corperate headquarters at the Irwin PA location (1 Industry Boulevard, Irwin, PA 15642) (at least that is where my buddy sent his about 6 months ago). www.extrudehone.com.

You might try also calling Rick Miller at the Irwin PA Extrude Hone, as he used to be in charge of the group buy stuff for clubs, and might be willing to do a group buy if enough other people here are intrested (I think it was 6 or 10 people for a group buy). I personally believe it is one of the best mods for the intake that you can do. In my case, with the mild engine port, extrude honed/matched S4/S5 hyrbid intake; I guess it to be close to 30 HP increase (but I did do a pretty agressive cut on the intake, and matched everything (including the plates to the intake). But it is expensive.. around $600 + shipping.

The only problems I had were with the VDI section, as it needed multiple cuts for my application, so I went through a couple of VDI inserts. My buddy only did a match and polish on a UIM/LIM Turbo intake, so he had a much less aggressive cut (and I guess normally the cut is much more mild than what I had done).

Bukwild

Mr. Gadjet after stand alone without a half bridge port you are about at your max if you don't want forced injection. Why don't you get better accelaration by changing to 4.60 or 4.88 gears. Last I knew tri-point engineering cut custom gears for the 7. Other than that I would have to say drop all the weight you can. You and the car

ultradef

You said no turbo and no supercharger...how about nitrous?

Other than that and the ideas mentioned above, your options are pretty slim.

Marcus_F

Random Tech makes a bolt in replacement for the FC main cat. It’s the freest flowing cat that I have been able to find – and I have checked specs. The down side is “in my case” the cat was good for all of one California smog test. 3 years after the purchase, with about 50K on the converter, the catalyst material was insufficient to pass the sniffer. Close, but no cert. The hockey puck sized catalyst has since come apart and the converter is now one large low pressure zone in the exhaust stream (see attachment). I use an RB header, so there is nothing to break up the exhaust pulses. This may have been what broke the catalyst.

One area you didn't mention was ignition. I have a Mallory VI-A and it appears to run much better at high RPM. I’ve done some homework and have found Mallory to have the highest power rating (125mJ), the lowest price (under $100), and it has a CARB number. Gas mileage has also improved.