New owner, please help!
09-17-01, 05:57 PM
#1
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Location: Caracas, Venezuela
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New owner, please help!
Hi, i´m new. I´m from Venezuela.
I have a lot of questions about our cars. I bought mine in july. I have been reading about the 3° gen RX-7 and i´m not satisfied with the order -not the quality- in which the mods were done.
Mods made by the previous owner:
Pettit 3mm apex seals street ported engine.
Down pipe. No pre-cat.
Hi flow center resonator, no cat.
Apexi I muffler. -is a big one-
Hybrid high-flow turbos. -non sequencial-
Aluminium flywheel.
Short shifter.
Boost gauge.
Pettit AST.
I think the problem here is that they only take care about POWER and not RELIABILITY. The previous owner told me that the mechanic put some chip in the ECU but i don´t know wich one , he said a 52 pin chip adaptor, a microcontroller and a Pettit chip, but the ECU needs to be reprogrammed by Pettit before isn´t it? so i don´t know what the $%#! has my car into the ECU.
Another very stupid thing is that they never modified the air intake
system, i have the stock intake box!. What do you think about it?
Now i think that my car is a crazy think, i am happy with all the power my car has but it isn´t reliable.
I think the mechanic was no so smart when he did the mods.
few weeks ago, i install an autometer temp and A/F gauges. The 5th gear synchro was repaired and the shift select spindle was upgraded because i told the mechanic to do it, i think mine is the only rex with upgraded shift select spindle. I put a K&N air filter for the stock air box.
My country is very hot, so i need a Fluidyne radiator.
I think i need a boost controller because the boost rise to 15 lbs really fast - i´m driving soft to keep it under 10-; a bigger intercooler a better air intake and maybe a FC.
Please help me, what do you think about all this?
I use unleaded 97 octanes gas.
Motul 10-30 engine oil.
Motul synthetic oil in the tranny and diff.
I would like to thanks to Steve Ciriani and to Rob Robinete´s site-i don´t know how to spell it- -to the new site owner too-
because i´m learning a lot surfing on their pages.
I have a lot of questions about our cars. I bought mine in july. I have been reading about the 3° gen RX-7 and i´m not satisfied with the order -not the quality- in which the mods were done.
Mods made by the previous owner:
Pettit 3mm apex seals street ported engine.
Down pipe. No pre-cat.
Hi flow center resonator, no cat.
Apexi I muffler. -is a big one-
Hybrid high-flow turbos. -non sequencial-
Aluminium flywheel.
Short shifter.
Boost gauge.
Pettit AST.
I think the problem here is that they only take care about POWER and not RELIABILITY. The previous owner told me that the mechanic put some chip in the ECU but i don´t know wich one , he said a 52 pin chip adaptor, a microcontroller and a Pettit chip, but the ECU needs to be reprogrammed by Pettit before isn´t it? so i don´t know what the $%#! has my car into the ECU.
Another very stupid thing is that they never modified the air intake
system, i have the stock intake box!. What do you think about it?
Now i think that my car is a crazy think, i am happy with all the power my car has but it isn´t reliable.
I think the mechanic was no so smart when he did the mods.
few weeks ago, i install an autometer temp and A/F gauges. The 5th gear synchro was repaired and the shift select spindle was upgraded because i told the mechanic to do it, i think mine is the only rex with upgraded shift select spindle. I put a K&N air filter for the stock air box.
My country is very hot, so i need a Fluidyne radiator.
I think i need a boost controller because the boost rise to 15 lbs really fast - i´m driving soft to keep it under 10-; a bigger intercooler a better air intake and maybe a FC.
Please help me, what do you think about all this?
I use unleaded 97 octanes gas.
Motul 10-30 engine oil.
Motul synthetic oil in the tranny and diff.
I would like to thanks to Steve Ciriani and to Rob Robinete´s site-i don´t know how to spell it- -to the new site owner too-
because i´m learning a lot surfing on their pages.
09-17-01, 06:19 PM
#2
Hard to tell you anything on the Pettit ecu...best bet would be to send it to them with a list of your mods to figure if it is ok....I guess that may be tough considering your location.
Think about replacing the stock air box all together. With all your other mods, you'll want better air flow.
You'll also want that bigger intercooler but FOCUS on the ECU.
You need your car tuned right before any more modifications.
97 Octane gas rocks!! probably saving you right now (only 93 in the US)
DO NOT BOOST TO 15psi...your engine will be short lived even with the 3mm apex seals. Again you need your ecu checked or replaced so you can get it properly tuned.
For now you may want to buy a Boost controller to make sure you run safe levels.
To sum up:
Get the ecu checked or replaced
Improve air intake
Bigger intercooler to decrease air temps.
With the mods you are probably running lean (depending on the ecu of course). Be very careful!!!!
Good luck!
Think about replacing the stock air box all together. With all your other mods, you'll want better air flow.
You'll also want that bigger intercooler but FOCUS on the ECU.
You need your car tuned right before any more modifications.
97 Octane gas rocks!! probably saving you right now (only 93 in the US)
DO NOT BOOST TO 15psi...your engine will be short lived even with the 3mm apex seals. Again you need your ecu checked or replaced so you can get it properly tuned.
For now you may want to buy a Boost controller to make sure you run safe levels.
To sum up:
Get the ecu checked or replaced
Improve air intake
Bigger intercooler to decrease air temps.
With the mods you are probably running lean (depending on the ecu of course). Be very careful!!!!
Good luck!
09-17-01, 06:43 PM
#3
www.silverbulletrx7.com
It sounds to me like you are well on your way to becoming an educated Rx-7 owner. Good job on your research so far! I must agree that the mods on this car aren't what are commonly done to start with nor would I ever do some of them but that is just one guys opinion. So since you have taken the time to look around before posting some sort of stupid general question and actually posted a good many good questions I'll reply the best I can.
Pettit 3mm apex seals street ported engine.
Most people agree that 3mm seals don't seal as well and really don't offer more protection against detonation. Street porting is fine if it is what you like. It offers more power but causes drivability to suffer a little. You are stuck with your engine though so just remember this stuff for the future.
Down pipe. No pre-cat.
A must have. Many consider it a first must do mod after a boost gauge.
Hi flow center resonator, no cat.
A mid pipe or "Hi flow center resonator" will increase your top end power but decrease your bottom end. They can also lead to boost creep, which you might be having problems with. A ported waste gate is one of the only good solutions. I recommend getting a stock or high flow main cat but again that is my preference.
Apexi I muffler. -is a big one-
Well there are so many darn cat backs that I'll just say you are on your own if you don't like this one
Hybrid high-flow turbos. -non sequential-
I would actually like high-flow twins but really like the sequential system despite it's complexity. This mod combined with the free flowing exhaust you have is probably the main cause of your over boosting problem. A boost controller is a good idea to fix this.
Aluminum flywheel.
Short shifter.
Boost gauge.
Pettit AST.
Good mods. If the gauge is Autometer consider replacing it with a quality unit.
...don´t know what the $%#! has my car into the ECU.
Good question and you are right by being concerned. Improper computer modifications can lead to engine failures. However it might just be a Pettit chip in there. Try contacting Pettit and having them send you a chip based on your mods if it is. You might also try taking a picture of it and posting it on here to see if it is a standard Pettit chip. Take out the computer and carefully open the box and take pictures.
Stock Air Box. What do you think about it?
The box is ok, the duct leading to it sux. I like the RB duct even though it isn't the best. Replacing the stock intake is normally one of the first mods done.
few weeks ago, i install an autometer temp and A/F gauges.
Very good job! A temp gauge is a must have and many people still ignore it.
My country is very hot, so i need a Fluidyne radiator.
I think i need a boost controller because the boost rise to 15 lbs really fast - i´m driving soft to keep it under 10-; a bigger intercooler a better air intake and maybe a FC.
Again, you are on the right track.
Lastly get a tune up including new plugs, wires, all fluids, and fuel filter. Keep reading web sites and this forum. For general questions do a search using the search function at the top. You might try "reliability mods". Also you might find my site useful so take a look. (Shameless plug.)
Pettit 3mm apex seals street ported engine.
Most people agree that 3mm seals don't seal as well and really don't offer more protection against detonation. Street porting is fine if it is what you like. It offers more power but causes drivability to suffer a little. You are stuck with your engine though so just remember this stuff for the future.
Down pipe. No pre-cat.
A must have. Many consider it a first must do mod after a boost gauge.
Hi flow center resonator, no cat.
A mid pipe or "Hi flow center resonator" will increase your top end power but decrease your bottom end. They can also lead to boost creep, which you might be having problems with. A ported waste gate is one of the only good solutions. I recommend getting a stock or high flow main cat but again that is my preference.
Apexi I muffler. -is a big one-
Well there are so many darn cat backs that I'll just say you are on your own if you don't like this one
Hybrid high-flow turbos. -non sequential-
I would actually like high-flow twins but really like the sequential system despite it's complexity. This mod combined with the free flowing exhaust you have is probably the main cause of your over boosting problem. A boost controller is a good idea to fix this.
Aluminum flywheel.
Short shifter.
Boost gauge.
Pettit AST.
Good mods. If the gauge is Autometer consider replacing it with a quality unit.
...don´t know what the $%#! has my car into the ECU.
Good question and you are right by being concerned. Improper computer modifications can lead to engine failures. However it might just be a Pettit chip in there. Try contacting Pettit and having them send you a chip based on your mods if it is. You might also try taking a picture of it and posting it on here to see if it is a standard Pettit chip. Take out the computer and carefully open the box and take pictures.
Stock Air Box. What do you think about it?
The box is ok, the duct leading to it sux. I like the RB duct even though it isn't the best. Replacing the stock intake is normally one of the first mods done.
few weeks ago, i install an autometer temp and A/F gauges.
Very good job! A temp gauge is a must have and many people still ignore it.
My country is very hot, so i need a Fluidyne radiator.
I think i need a boost controller because the boost rise to 15 lbs really fast - i´m driving soft to keep it under 10-; a bigger intercooler a better air intake and maybe a FC.
Again, you are on the right track.
Lastly get a tune up including new plugs, wires, all fluids, and fuel filter. Keep reading web sites and this forum. For general questions do a search using the search function at the top. You might try "reliability mods". Also you might find my site useful so take a look. (Shameless plug.)
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