Best performance mod for the money?
Thread Starter
The infamous number guy!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute, IN.
I'm surprized at all the replies i've gotten, i forgot to mention every accessory on my car has been removed, only belt i have drives the waterpump and the alternador. some moron rigged up an electric fan in my car, i was running it hard one day the wires got crossed and caught on fire so i'm going back to the stock clutch fan, it's far more reliable and i want to keep my engine as cool as possible, losing a few horsepower to me is worth it insted of ruining my engine due to getting hot, i've already got a full exhaust set up and cold-air intake, perhaps getting a 3rd gen throttle body to fit my car if it mechanically will work fine, i'm not worried about port matching and the holes not lining up.... i've got drills.
Unbelievable...wow....look, this easy...you go to eBay and put together..
nnnaaaawwwwssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Seriously, nothing will get you the same bang for the buck, not even close...
nnnaaaawwwwssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Seriously, nothing will get you the same bang for the buck, not even close...
Thread Starter
The infamous number guy!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute, IN.
...bringing this old thread back, okay, what's this rat's nest thing everyone is talking about, i've got an SE so does this make a difference or something? is it the series of vaccum lines under my TB or what? and how is this removed, i did a search and couldn't really find much.
paradox
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Junking the stock cats on a STOCK 1st gen is the single biggest mod you can do to get more horsepower.
If smog is not of any concern then the rats nest can go as well as the airpump.
On an SE leave all that under the hood alone.. it needs to be there to run, unless you go turbo with aftermarket computer, etc.
If smog is not of any concern then the rats nest can go as well as the airpump.
On an SE leave all that under the hood alone.. it needs to be there to run, unless you go turbo with aftermarket computer, etc.
Waiting for the RX-9
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Removing the air pump renders the catalyst ineffective.
FD owners can test the effect by unplugging the electrical connector and running before and after 40-80MPH 3rd gear tests.
I dont remember if 1st gen uses an electric clutch.
Anyway you can reroute a new belt with no air pump and see if the difference is really worth changing your emissions to where you pollute as much as 500 late model cars.
I have a lotta mods but I still pass strict emissions with flying colors!
FD owners can test the effect by unplugging the electrical connector and running before and after 40-80MPH 3rd gear tests.
I dont remember if 1st gen uses an electric clutch.
Anyway you can reroute a new belt with no air pump and see if the difference is really worth changing your emissions to where you pollute as much as 500 late model cars.
I have a lotta mods but I still pass strict emissions with flying colors!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 1
From: up to my ass in alligators
1. Exhaust. Remove emissions if possible.
2. E-fan, lighter crank pulley/dual pulley/yoohoo belt, etc...
3. Pineapple racing sleeves in 5th & 6th ports. Make sure ports are working, or wire them open.
4. 2nd gen intake and throttle body.
Now the only bottleneck in the system is the little 2.5in. AFM, and I don't know any cheap way around that.
This is also more for the SE's, the carbed guys have a lot more choices when it comes to fuel...
2. E-fan, lighter crank pulley/dual pulley/yoohoo belt, etc...
3. Pineapple racing sleeves in 5th & 6th ports. Make sure ports are working, or wire them open.
4. 2nd gen intake and throttle body.
Now the only bottleneck in the system is the little 2.5in. AFM, and I don't know any cheap way around that.
This is also more for the SE's, the carbed guys have a lot more choices when it comes to fuel...
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 37
From: Ottawa, Soviet Canuckistan
Someone was wondering if removing the rats nest makes any performance increase...
Well the nest alone, no. However, when you remove the nest, your emissions go to **** anyway, so you tend to remove the air pump at the same time (as per Rx7Carl and Pratch's tutorial). This frees up hp.. And since you're producing more emissions and not pumping air to the cats, you probably straightpipe those too..
So just "removing the rats nest" for me, also includes air pump and cat straightpipe, since it makes no sense to keep either of those after the nest is off. This would lead to a substantial, and pretty damn cheap, gain if you hadn't already done the exhaust thing (which unlike many others, I noticed in your 1st post!).
Other than a good header/exhaust, removing the rats nest, air pump and cats.... The next thing I would say is a street port. You *could* get a carb if you're running a 12a, but it won't get you anything much until you do the port... And a simple streetport I would imagine is such a satisfying experience because it rebuilds your engine, and a good shop will even clean the exterior so it'll shine nicely
To whoever asked about 13b's and rats nest - doesn't exist. The "nest" is on the 12as and is tightly tied into carb stuff... I know, a leak in that damn nest of vacuum tubes is currently causing me more than just one headache as my car only runs at 3000rpms or more... grrr... Damn I wish there was a local Rx7 car guy who knew his stuff and would be willing to lend a hand in the afternoon for free beer
Jon
Well the nest alone, no. However, when you remove the nest, your emissions go to **** anyway, so you tend to remove the air pump at the same time (as per Rx7Carl and Pratch's tutorial). This frees up hp.. And since you're producing more emissions and not pumping air to the cats, you probably straightpipe those too..
So just "removing the rats nest" for me, also includes air pump and cat straightpipe, since it makes no sense to keep either of those after the nest is off. This would lead to a substantial, and pretty damn cheap, gain if you hadn't already done the exhaust thing (which unlike many others, I noticed in your 1st post!).
Other than a good header/exhaust, removing the rats nest, air pump and cats.... The next thing I would say is a street port. You *could* get a carb if you're running a 12a, but it won't get you anything much until you do the port... And a simple streetport I would imagine is such a satisfying experience because it rebuilds your engine, and a good shop will even clean the exterior so it'll shine nicely
To whoever asked about 13b's and rats nest - doesn't exist. The "nest" is on the 12as and is tightly tied into carb stuff... I know, a leak in that damn nest of vacuum tubes is currently causing me more than just one headache as my car only runs at 3000rpms or more... grrr... Damn I wish there was a local Rx7 car guy who knew his stuff and would be willing to lend a hand in the afternoon for free beer
Jon
Originally posted by Ultralights
i am surprised no one has mentioned a Lightened Flywheel, change this when changing your clutch (they do wear out eventually)
i am surprised no one has mentioned a Lightened Flywheel, change this when changing your clutch (they do wear out eventually)
Originally posted by rotaryaddiction
If i remove my air pump wont my cat melt down
If i remove my air pump wont my cat melt down
nnnnaaaawwwwssssssssssssssssssss!!!..yea, buddy!!
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Originally posted by Mills
Make sure ports are working, or wire them open.
Make sure ports are working, or wire them open.
good call, often overlooked by -se owners. i know it made a huge difference in mine just to open those back up and get them working properly. DEFINITELY the best bang for the buck. . . 5-10 more hp when i need it for free :o)