Ok, well this is somewhat way in the future but I am going to buy and FD if I have to sell my left lung or something. Anyway, what is the first mod that should be performed on the car.....To me it seems like cooling should be the way to go....but I really dont know about FDs all that much.....never had one.....Info would be great, I love info. Oh yeah and has anyone every had an FD burn to the ground....(past experience with other car...) Keep on spinnin..

Jason S

 

Boost guage.

 

Hmm.. there are lots of things you need to do as first mod: boot gauge, AF gauge, DP, bigger radiator, AST, ...

 

i suggest a tune up... new plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil, tranny fluid, and rear end fluid.... its best to eliminate these variables before starting to mod an fd....then i would say a boost gauge, followed by a down pipe....

 

Personally I think the AST should be the first to go, then a Boost gauge, then DP...IMO

 

1 DP
2 Boost and temp gauge
3 Vacum hose
4 Fuel filter
5 AST

 

I am going to go out on a limb here and look like a jack ***, but what is an AST.....nothing is popping into mind for me right now....thanks again!!!

Jason S

 

Air Separation Tank, a fluid container hooked up in parallell with the radiator to allow air bubbles in the coolant to escape from the system. The stock one is made from plastic and has been known to split in half from age/heat/pressure, dumping most of your coolant and causing engine overheating.

Normally people either eliminate it or replace it with an eftermarket one made from aluminum.

 

learn how to drive

 

how is learning to drive a mod? Everything that has been mentioned needs to be done in some order or another. That is just up to you. I highly recommend replacing all fluids and filters then moving to the upgrades.

 

you dont need a boost gauge first!! if you have no mods the worse that could happen is 10 or 11 psi or you are getting less than the normal boost pattern which can't hurt anything but might make it better on the motor.

get a water temp gauge and ast that's all you really need

then get a downpipe and just chill.

 

Downpipe worked for me. AST seems like something I'd only do if mine broke. And an intake is a good one too.

 

I (respectfully) disagree. First fluids and filters, then boost gauge. If you don't have a boost gauge then you might have a boost or vacuum hose leak and never know it. Don't get a downpipe without getting a boost gauge first. I just installed my downpipe and I'm getting big boost spikes. If I didn't have a boost gauge I could've blown my engine.



I woudn't wait for the AST to break before replacing it with an Al one. If it breaks, you could loose enough coolant before you notice to overheat (and thus kill) the engine.



Another good first mod is to linearize the stock temp gauge, or just get another water temp gauge.

 

According to Brian Richards (Mazda Specialist) who helped out Sport Compact Car Magazine with their project Rx-7:

1. Vital fluids
2. Boost Gauge and Turbo Timer
3. Radiator Upgrade
4. ...

 

that's a good one.

 

Turbo timer is not essential but helps so you don't have to wait around in your car forever to let it cool down. Radiator and AST are much needed along with downpipe and boost gauge. Boost gauge IS important!

 

anything that will lower the underhood temp is a must... so as long you have the $$$$$$$... there would be not problem... if no $$$$$, then dont buy the FD...

 

Boost gauge, temp guage (<-- This saved me from a new engine), filters, and DP. Other reliability should come soon after, especialy if you are planning on mods.

 

Large street ported motor (change all fluids and filters while motor is out and linearize temp gauge, then remove air pump, and double thottle, and all the other junk that goes with the NS conversion. ), Stage III upgraded twins (NS), power FC, 1300 secondaries (send injectors out to get clean/bal/cal), upgrade fuel pumps (and maybe rails) upgraded SMIC, Intake w/ hard pipes, efini y-pipe, pullies, dp, mp, cb, bigger radiator, aluminum AST, boost gauge, fuel pressure gauge, oil temp gauge, and a "Type R Badge ". Then think about what kind-of suspension you want to run.

 

downpipe...