2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Looking For Some Minor Modification Tips?

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Old Dec 11, 2010 | 02:40 PM
  #1  
Vader85's Avatar
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88 vert for sale 5-8-11
 
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From: New York
Hey ppl I have a 88 vert N/A just looking to do some nice subtle mods before all of the major stuff ie, pulling the motor, turbo, trans, rebuild, and all else,

first thing is i wanted to change the buzzer, I dont want to remove it completely, but i would like to make it a lil more custom maybe,

custom carpet, seats (probably racing), and dash and center console mods, storage area, and doors fab.

i already have a steering wheel, white face gauges, shifter ****, and e-brake lever

Its the little things that count. The Car is mainly gonna be a cruiser with ballz so im really trying to make it nice on the inside because its definitely getting a power upgrade. any suggestions, comments, or ideas. ill update when i can..

this was my fisrt vert




http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1444202_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...2_173792_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1666688_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6941159_n.jpg

also any tips on dye for carpet? good idea or no?

Last edited by Aaron Cake; Dec 16, 2010 at 02:29 PM. Reason: Merge 4 posts
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 01:39 PM
  #2  
blackrotary23's Avatar
snap crackle brap
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mods for hp:

install electric fan and get rid of the clutch fan and shroud

remove egr and use block off plate

remove bac and use block off plate

remove air pump, power steering, a/c compressor

remove air cleaner box and replace with cone filter (k&n)

use all leading spark plugs

remove air control valve and use block off plate

remove the lower intake manifold and take out the intake port sleeves then use 2 dimes (yes, money) and jb weld them into the holes where the actuator rods go through.

remove all the solenoid valves that the colored connectors hook up to and vacuum cap off any nipple that the lines go to.


you will need to adjust the idle once all the emissions are gone.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 03:39 PM
  #3  
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Wow...
Ghettoriffic.

E-fan and plugs don't add HP. Using the wrong plugs will make him replace them more often as they get gunked up.
All those block offs and removals have very little or no impact on HP, besides the many annoyances they may cause.
A cone filter without a replacement for the stock cold air intake will make you lose a little HP.
Congrats, you told the OP how to lose a couple HP and make his car run like s***.

The best bang for your buck is to replace that restrictive cat. The most legal-ish way to do this is with a high performance cat. Next on the list for more money and less gains are the mufflers. But at least you can get those used. Racing Beat and I think Borla (search forums to confirm) make some nice sounding & nice looking but not too loud mufflers so you don't draw attention from cops. A cone filter and cold air intake probably isn't worth the time and money on a budget for just a couple HP (no, really, 2 HP). A drop in K&N filter for your existing filter box might be the simplest option. Or if you have some free time you can make a cool looking cold air box for a cone filter just to give people something to look at. Search the forums for dozens of examples.

Is the 88 vert an s4 or s5? The forum FAQ might help you figure it out. If it's s5 you're fine from there. If it's s4 and you mess with the exhaust you need to verify that the auxiliary ports are functioning to avoid losing as much HP as you just gained. See www.aaroncake.net for more info on these. The s5 relies on the air pump to activate the auxiliary ports while the s4 uses the exhaust.

All I know about interior and exterior improvements is that they are crazy expensive. You could probably find things like used racing seats in the forum classified section for a decent price. It's custom fab that's expensive. I've never heard anything about dying around these forums, you might want to find others who specialize more in dying things. Or rx7club has an Interior / Exterior / Audio section you could check.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 03:51 PM
  #4  
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From: Good Ol' Ky
88 vert = S4...
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 08:01 PM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by blackrotary23
mods for hp:

install electric fan and get rid of the clutch fan and shroud

remove egr and use block off plate

remove bac and use block off plate

remove air pump, power steering, a/c compressor

remove air cleaner box and replace with cone filter (k&n)

use all leading spark plugs

remove air control valve and use block off plate

remove the lower intake manifold and take out the intake port sleeves then use 2 dimes (yes, money) and jb weld them into the holes where the actuator rods go through.

remove all the solenoid valves that the colored connectors hook up to and vacuum cap off any nipple that the lines go to.


you will need to adjust the idle once all the emissions are gone.
Really?? Lay off the crack.

Don't do any of that. A lot of this stuff was engineered to make the motor better, like the 6 port actuation.


Really, what you should do is paint it. Make the body nice. I wouldn't change the interior at all. Unless it just needs to be replaced. Hire a good detailer to clean the inside really well. Replace cracked things (if you can find them) or fix with glue if it doesn't look bad.

As far as HP mods go, do things that you can swap over to your turbo motor. Turbo swap will be the best bang for your buck. Get a good cone filter (K&N, Apexi, NO EBAY!!) and a cat back exhaust. Those will give a bit more throttle response and make it a little louder. Then save for turbo swap. Make sure you get yourself a fuel cut defender. Do lots of research also.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 08:28 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by incubuseva
Really?? Lay off the crack.

Don't do any of that. A lot of this stuff was engineered to make the motor better, like the 6 port actuation.


Really, what you should do is paint it. Make the body nice. I wouldn't change the interior at all. Unless it just needs to be replaced. Hire a good detailer to clean the inside really well. Replace cracked things (if you can find them) or fix with glue if it doesn't look bad.

As far as HP mods go, do things that you can swap over to your turbo motor. Turbo swap will be the best bang for your buck. Get a good cone filter (K&N, Apexi, NO EBAY!!) and a cat back exhaust. Those will give a bit more throttle response and make it a little louder. Then save for turbo swap. Make sure you get yourself a fuel cut defender. Do lots of research also.

+1 +1 +1!!

I detail but that doesn't help you. Start off with making sure everything is in tip-top shape. Vacuum hoses, tune ups, coolant blah blah but Pineapple racing makes aux port sleeves, maybe 8 hp. But other than that, start saving for your turbo swap haha. Check the 2nd Gen FAQ and read it all. Juicy info.
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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 02:27 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by blackrotary23
mods for hp:
install electric fan and get rid of the clutch fan and shroud
No real HP gain, but it does make the engine bay look a little cleaner and if done correctly, works fine.

remove egr and use block off plate
Why?

remove bac and use block off plate
No, just no.

remove air pump, power steering, a/c compressor
You can't just pull off the air pump and expect the car to work properly afterwards. Air pump removal requires cat removal, as well as a series of blockoff plates. The A/C doesn't drag down the engine unless it is in use, so it represents no power loss and only a weight penalty. The ECU shuts off the compressor at full throttle anyway. No point removing the power steering unless weight is a major concern.

remove air cleaner box and replace with cone filter (k&n)
Only with a proper cold air box, because otherwise you turn the stock cold air intake into a hot air intake.

use all leading spark plugs
No, not on an NA.

remove air control valve and use block off plate
Not unless you've also removed emissions, air pump and cats.

remove the lower intake manifold and take out the intake port sleeves then use 2 dimes (yes, money) and jb weld them into the holes where the actuator rods go through.
Please pass the crack pipe.

In other words, "NO!". This is probably the WORST thing you can do.

remove all the solenoid valves that the colored connectors hook up to and vacuum cap off any nipple that the lines go to.
you will need to adjust the idle once all the emissions are gone.
You need to stop giving advice. Twice now in the last few days have I seen you give dubious and incorrect advice. Please stop. Otherwise, you'll start getting infractions which will eventually lead to a vacation from this forum. Please reread the forum rules regarding misinformation.
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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 02:35 PM
  #8  
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snap crackle brap
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i have only given advice that was given to me at a rotary shop. not trying to **** people off, just trying to pass on the advice that was given to me. otherwords, aaron, maybe you can send me a pm with some advice of what i can do to my car that probably was wrong info given to me......?
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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by blackrotary23
i have only given advice that was given to me at a rotary shop.
Did your rotary shop also change your head gasket and adjust the valve lash on your engine? Jesus Christ.
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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 06:28 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by hazard15301
did your rotary shop also change your head gasket and adjust the valve lash on your engine? Jesus christ.
lol
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 09:42 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by blackrotary23
i have only given advice that was given to me at a rotary shop. not trying to **** people off, just trying to pass on the advice that was given to me. otherwords, aaron, maybe you can send me a pm with some advice of what i can do to my car that probably was wrong info given to me......?
I think we would all like to know the name of that shop so it can be added to the list of shops which are to be avoided.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 10:20 AM
  #12  
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snap crackle brap
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From: indianapolis, indiana
aim tuning, gasoline alley, indianapolis, in.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 02:13 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
I think we would all like to know the name of that shop so it can be added to the list of shops which are to be avoided.
Awesome lol. I thought that was a racing state?
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 05:25 PM
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Why does everyone immediately think that removing everything they can get their hands on will lead to massive power gains?

Performance-wise, there really isn't that much that can be done to an NA without opening the engine up. A nice free-flowing exhaust (header, resonator/presilencer, cat back) is the #1 upgrade, but a header can be an insta-fail for smog tests. Quality mufflers (yes, I mean 2) and a good resonator will be essential to keeping the noise down.

Second, get an SAFC and a wideband, then pull a little fuel from the top-end to free up a little power. You can also use an Rtek 2.0 or standalone to do this plus a little tweaking of the timing maps.

Third, once you upgrade the exhaust you'll likely have the aux. port actuators stop working (if they worked at all in the first place). This is bad news for power, so you can use an RPM switch with the stock air pump to make them function again: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/activating-aux-ports-vdi-rpm-switches-907824/.

Lastly since this is an '88 vert, find a 4.1 NA LSD. You'll need to change the speedometer gear on the cable in the transmission, but you'll gain a little acceleration and you'll ditch the open diff. S4 GXLs and GTUs had them, as well as S5 GXLs (viscous type LSD).
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 06:33 PM
  #15  
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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen yes yes yes i have seeeeen all that **** dun to a car and there was not much of a differences other then the fan thing that lets u gain some power at high end but u will only fell it on the freeeee way
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 08:36 PM
  #16  
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88 vert for sale 5-8-11
 
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yea i work at a detail shop so the car will be maintained nicely,
i definitely had my eye on some headers, and i thought about an electric fan, i also wanted to get the cool color matched pully set, aftermarket radiator and hoses, wanted to paint my manifold too.
any specific brands for plugs, special oil or royal purple synthetic is fine?





Last edited by Vader85; Dec 17, 2010 at 08:40 PM.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 08:43 PM
  #17  
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its an s4 also
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 09:38 PM
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Try searching, this topic has been covered hundreds if not thousands of times.

My advice is to follow Aaron Cake's advice and not remove junk, just make sure everything is working properly. Replace vacuum lines, hoses, plugs, belts, fluids, etc. Give it a nice tuneup then put some monitors and a Playstation in the trunk.
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 04:10 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Vader85
any specific brands for plugs, special oil or royal purple synthetic is fine?
I wouldn't use synthetic, and I'm sure a lot of others would agree with me... But that a whole other debate. Just use conventional for now. And NGK or stock replacement plugs are fine.

Originally Posted by TheAbsence
Give it a nice tuneup then put some monitors and a Playstation in the trunk.
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 04:59 AM
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autozone has some sick magnetic decals
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 09:12 AM
  #21  
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I would suggest:

New Top
Good winter tires (if daily driver, fixing to need these in NY)
a good tune up: (ie: oil, plugs, fuel filter, wires, injectors serviced/replaced, new O2 sensor, clean all of the grounding points, antifreeze, trans fluid, differential fluid, replace all coolant hoses, and vacuum hoses with new).

I would address these things before fooling with the interior, unless you have seats badly shredded then throw some seat covers on them for the time being.
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 10:32 AM
  #22  
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You can use synthetic if you'd like.

That fan is too small.

That radiator won't fit an FC.

If those pulleys are underdrive, avoid them for street use.
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 06:59 PM
  #23  
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yea i want to get as much as i can be for i do the tune up but all that is very valid
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 07:27 PM
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wheels and coilovers
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 08:03 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by iani1.1
wheels and coilovers
Coilovers aren't going to be much good for street cruising in New York (City or state), some good shocks and RB springs would make more sense on that kind of pavement.

Thats what I'd do.
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