It seems that a lot of people are using AzeKnight's soleonoid rack to replace their rats nest. Wonder if this rack can work in a Series 8 FD, i.e. to replace the 96+ spec black box. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Yeah it would providing you don't mind removing your air pump, ACV, FPR solenoid and the double throttle system.

 

Thank you for your response Ceylon. Have you done it yourself or seen anyone done it?

 

Be easier just to buy and wire a new s8 solenoid box and not use the ones you're deleted wouldn't it? The solenoids are pretty sturdy when new, I thought.

 

Indeed, a new s8 solenoid box would be a satisfactory option and a more oem fitment, however the AzeKnight solenoids supposedly help for a smoother transmission when the second turbo kicks in. Plus the relocation of the solenoids hypothetically would make them last longer as they would suffer less heat.

 

Why would I have to remove the air pump? Can you elaborate on why I have to remove the above functions? I thought the rack works fine with all the oem functions.

 

this is wrong info.. you can keep all the above intact.. you are just replacing and relocating the turbo control solenoids..
no need to eliminate them

 

My reply was on the assumption you wanted to remove the black box in favour of these solenoids (as per the OP's question), not run the two side-by-side.

 

So you would have to run the two solenoid boxes in parallel in order to keep the above functions working? That is deafiting the purpose though, isn't it, which is to relocate the box in order to avoid heat and prolong its life. I would be interested to see the setup of anyone who has actually done it and hear his feedback (if it worthed it or not).

 

The "Black Box" replaces the earlier arrangement of steel vacuum/air tubes, check valves, solenoids and filters affectionately known as the "Rat's Nest".

You can take it apart and service it or break-out individual components to use in your own "Rat's Nest". It is like the vacuum manifold and solenoid/check valve/filter holder all in one.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...dm-fds-895416/

Like Ceylon says, the "Black Box" has all the emissions and driveability control as well as the turbo control (minus the wastegate and precontrol solenoids which are still on the UIM front).

The AzeKnightz solenoid rack only replaces 4 of the turbo control solenoids, there are 10 solenoids total in the USA system- 5 control the twin turbo operation (AzeKnightz apparently does not control wastegate/boost).

I have marked the Twin Turbo controls below with TT

USA solenoids
A) Fuel Pressure Regulator
B) Relief (air control valve/airpump venting)
C) Switching (air control valve/airpump discharge area switching)
D) Exhaust Gas Recirculation
E) Turbo Control (big flapper in exhaust manifold for 2nd turbo) TT
F) Charge Control (big valve in intake/turbo Y pipe for 2nd turbo) TT
G) Double Throttle
H) Charge Relief (2nd turbo recirculation valve) TT
I) Wastegate (on UIM controls wastegate/boost pressure) TT
J) Turbo Precontrol (on UIM controls pre-spooling 2nd turbo/boost pressure) TT

 

Blue TII thank you for the detailed answer and the very clear explanation. Would you know if there is an aftermarket solenoid box that can replace entirely the black box? Or perhaps if there is an aftermarket sequential system that is more reliable that the Mazda oem one?

 

Would you know if there is an aftermarket solenoid box that can replace entirely the black box?

Never have seen anything of the sort.

Or perhaps if there is an aftermarket sequential system that is more reliable that the Mazda oem one?

The later "Black Box" is considered the more reliable/simplified sequential system compared to the earlier system.

The aftermarket industrial solenoid kits like the AzeKnightz kit are an attempt to make more a more reliable sequential system through higher quality/durability components.

Like most FD "reliability mods" they could be more reliable or they can be less reliable due to hacked in installations.

 

Build your own, I don't see any reason why you couldn't make a rack from aftermarket solenoids like AzeKnightz did but with 7 solenoids instead to replace all the functionality of the black box.

Personally I'd just run a black box, they seem to be pretty reliably providing you don't snap any of the nipples off.