Hi everybody! First at all, sorry for my bad English. I live in Barcelona and I dont use to write in English, but I'll try to do it the best I can. I've owned a 2002 Civic type-R since one week ago and now I've just bought a 96 FD, specially hard to find in Spain (it's a left hand drive). It has 66000 kms on the car and a new engine from Mazda Spain with only 3000 km!. It's this one:






The previous owner had already done some mods in order to gain reliability, and I want to go on with this before hp-gain mod's. So I'd be happy if you can give me any advice for going on. The mods are the next one:

- Koyo Racing radiator
- New spark plugs
- new intake aluminium hoses
- free 3" exhaust (no cats!)
- Green air filter in stock box
- air-fuel ratio, boost pressure and battery gauges

Well, that's it. What do you recommend me next? I think I should go for two new gauges: oil pressure and water temperature, new hoses (radiator, intercooler, turbo?) and a new AST? Is it right? Or maybe I should do any other things before? Well, I'm a new rotary owner, so I have tons of questions
And one more thing. With the new exhaust boost pressure has increased to 10-12 psi and some fast and small 14 psi peaks (peak is the right word, isn't it?) Do you think I need a boost controller or maybe it's an acceptable pressure?
Well, thx everybody and I hope i can enjoy my rotary for a looooong time

 

welcome and good luck with your FD! Looks good.

 

Absolutely Gorgeous Car!!!!! I am in love Welcome to the club!!!

As far as what I think you should do next....

A metal AST is a must Or you can do the AST delete...

Do you still have the stock midpipe? If the midpipe is elimated as well as downpipe and stock catback, you will definately want to look into getting a boost controller and possible tuning asap...Motor=Pop when you drop the midpipe without a tune

Goodluck with everything!!!

Thanks,
Shawn

 

Welcome, and congrats!

 

My god, that thing is gorgeous. I would suggest a boost controller, and limit things to around 11 psi if you're sticking with the stock ecu. 14psi can be dangerous as the stock map sensor reaches its limit at 14.7psi (1 bar). Then it guesses at how much fuel to throw in....


I am very jealous right now... Again, what a beautiful car!

 

Very nice, congrats. Se ve muy bien.

 

welcome ....good luck with her...

 

I just noticed your glass sunroof.... Dammit!!!! So jealous...

 

Good idea. Replace your thermostat and ALL coolant hoses too. They are probably pretty tired at 66k.

Maintenance - good idea. Plug wires are also worth considering.

Will not improve reliability much. I personally would save the money unless I was in love with how they look.

Too much. To safely run a no-cat exhaust you should port the wastegate on the turbos and install a boost controller. I suggest you leave the stock main cat in until you have those two things done first. No cats is a very big power mod.

Standard AFR gauges are a waste. Wideband O2 sensor and gauge is veyr useful, but I don't think you need/intend to install one yet. Battery gauge is IMO a waste too, unless you're installing some high-power stereo or something. I suggest boost gauge and water temp gauge.

A new AST from Mazda is a cheap/easy solution. You need to do something about your AST if the color has changed anywhere on it to something other than solid flat black.

Also change the fuel filter, and keep in mind to change the FPD the next time someone is working under the intake manifold.

12psi is not good. 14psi boost spikes are really not good. A boost controller should solve the spikes, and hopefully also get you down to 10psi again. Too much boost = no engine.

You're asking the right questions. Much of it is answered in the FAQ here, especially in the topic under A: Advice...

Dave

 

Very nice car. What modifications are done to the car?

 

welcome and good go with the english not to bad

 

welcome to the fray, gorgeous car there, take care of her!

 

Very nice

I didn't know they made LHD FDs after 95, that's news to me.

And for the record, your english is better than most of the americans/british/australians on this site...props!

 

Bienvenido! Este sitio sera tu mejor amigo en el mantenimiento de tu RX7. Nada mas no se te olvide "buscar" primero.

 

Thanks everybody. Be sure the AST will be soon eliminated, and I think I will keep the midpipe until a new boost controller is installed. Although I have read anywhere that you can drive with a free flow exhaust and a free air intake with no problems... But I dont want to risk my car, hehehe. By the way, I have to install the cats again in order to pass de "technical inspection", very restrictive here, in Spain.
93VRtouring: my car is a 95' US RX7 imported here, but it didn't start to run since 96, so in fact it's a 95 fd
dgeesaman: Thenks for the advices, man_!! Be sure I will take them in consideration. And don't worry, I've checked the FAQ posts, but I want to be sure about how to go on with the reliability mods, and in what order should I make them.

Well, so this is what I will do next:

-New coolant hoses
-New plug wires
-New aftermarket AST (pettit?)
-downpipe with stock midpipe
-new thermostat
-water temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge and oil temperature gauge . I've seen a tachometer in eBay with these 3 gauges, hehehe.

And these are the firsts things I'll do. I'll go on also "searching" the club pages and the F.A.Q. Thanks everybody!

 

Is this just picture or did you bottom out here?

 

It just touches the floor with the bottom a little bit