Just a simple question really. I need as much help as i can get. I just got my 86 Gxl and i want more power. It has a little. But I would like to know how to gain a little more. Anthing i ould do to the engine or exhaust would be helpful and somwhere ballpark of 1,000$. Thanks

 

dude send me your money and i'll GIVE you my k&n kone filter.

just kidding. dude search a little bit there are a ton of things you can do. and even some things that don't cost $$. but i'll help.

1. cone filter or intake system whatever.
2. exhaust. there is a ton of stuff. to be legal get a catback and a header. it gives you about 30 hp considering what you get and if it's tuned. otherwise get a header, downpipe, presilencer, straight pipes and mufflers. that'd run ya about 800 for a good one. racingbeat or rx7.com or even mazdatrix have systems like i've said.
3. intake mod. search for threads on this and buy a newer 2nd gen n/a intake manifold and do a little modding yourself. fun work but so worth it when you're done.

well there are a couple for ya. have a good nite.

 

Well there are things that you can do yourself, like:

cone filter, TB mod, porting the intake, wire open the 6-ports, etc...

and there are things that you need to have a shop install, like:

a full exhaust, different tranny for closer final ratio, lighter flywheel and upgaded clutch etc....

 

OH POO ON YOU ACE!!! buddy don't have a shop do it! it's cheaper/more fun and you learn more when you do it yourself.

i did my full exhaust in less than 2 hours. that was my 1st time ever doing an exhaust on anything-i'm a computer geek. and with all the help on this forum you can do anything by yourself if you ask the right questions and the right people answer. shops doing work on the motor is ok. anything outside the motor you can do yourself :-)

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

 

marlaman, I dunno what exhaust you're talking about, but I've never seen any exhaust give 30 HP gains.... Eventhe mazdatrix true duals w/ RB mufflers was only 15-20...

 

What exactly will you learn by installing an exhaust ? Other than to correctly un-tighten and re-tighten the bolts required to hold it in place ?

On the other hand, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, from breaking off a brace, to not having a correct gasket, to not being able to bend a piece of the exhaust slightly to put it in place, to......

For the cost of the exhaust, any exhaust shop will install it for you. Faster, better, and easier.

Doing yourself all the other mods that I mentioned, will actually let you learn something about your car....

 

first thing:
60K tune-up do it all!
Get a real compression test done, see if the motor is worth modifying or if it will survive the mods
Get a coolant system pressure test, replace all your hoses
get your injectors professionally cleaned.
make sure your oil cooler fins are clean and clear

spend your money on the basics first before all the NEATO FLASHY GO FAST CRAP that won't mean **** when you have a blown engine.

 

EXACTLY...why make a car go faster if it CAN'T...

 

is there a FAQ or website giving instructions(preferably w/ pics) on the "do-it-yourself" mods like TB mod, porting the intake, wire open the 6-ports, etc... ???

 

Dude: b4 you delve into all thoses "nice to have mods"
Get your car running solid. We would be doing you a dis-service telling you how to do all those mods if your engine / car is not up to it. Respond to us with the compression numbers and the maintenance that has been performed. I understand your enthusiasm, but get the BASICS RIGHT!!!

 

Well I don't think a cone intake will do anything but help the engine breathe. That said, remove weight. Get rid of everything you can/want to. Its free

 

Ok sorry i figured getting expirence was the same as learning. i wasn't really thinking with all my power last night. and i have access to a few more fun tools than the avg. joe i guess because my dad used to be a machinest-sp? so i guess if i really dicked up he'd help me out or show me what to fix since we have tons of metal fab type stuff in our garage. Sorry i didn't mean to mislead or anything. that was just my .02. i feel like god after i do everything myself and i'm like a proud fater when i drive my car. i guess not everybody feels that way though. but whatever :-) do what makes ya happy and if you never take a chance on doing your own work will you ever really get good at it?? i dunno if that makes sense but yeah.. that's all for now. i value expirence more than the 150 i'd have to drop for an install on somthing stupid like an exhaust.

And the Mazdatrix true dual actually added like 35-40
i know there are dynos of it running around but i don't have access to that YET. and if you break anything on that system you're a superman. the damn thing weighs so much it's built like a brickshithouse. i actually had to kick a bracket to loosen somthing up that i screwed on wrong and it took it pretty good for being a welded on part.-note- i can squat a quarter of a ton so that's a little power behind me :-)-

Tuned single i heard can yeild up to 60hp if tuned well with other little mods-so i've heard. but unsure on that one. so don't hold me to it

that's what agent_d said