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While it was my first ever engine build, I had watched and read enough that I felt pretty comfortable. I still had a few issues, but nothing major. One of my corner seals turned on me and I couldn't get the apex seal all the way down, so had to pull that rotor and fix it. Since I was building by myself, I was quite proud of how I got the middle iron on with absolutely zero fuss. I had a little table I put below the engine stand, placed a trolley jack on it, with a soft rag to protect the eccentric shaft, and then gently lifted the shaft the inch or so needed while I placed on the middle iron. It's visible in a couple of the pictures.
In spite of all the warnings imaginable, I crushed the Torrington bearing that rides against the front stationary gear. Whoops.
So I set myself back a couple of days while I waited on a new one from Mazdatrix.
Pressure tested the keg and it held. What didn't hold the entire time was the tapered plug I used to plug the rotor housing coolant passage. We were eating dinner and I heard it shoot out across the garage. It landed seven feet from the engine.
Here is where I knew it was crunch time if I wanted to make DGRR. It was full speed ahead every night putting everything onto the engine and finishing up the harness.
After realizing I didn't have enough time shortly before I built the engine, I took the turbo to a shop to have it rebuilt. The finished product was fantastic. I wish I had taken them the compressor cover since it could have been cleaned too, but oh well. I had already disassembled it.
From there, I think we have the rest of the story. I didn't make DGRR in the FC. I chased down some coolant leak issues that prevented my first start and then another one that showed itself once the engine was running.
After the catalytic converter install, I turned my attention to the A/C. I had a couple of custom lines made by a nearby A/C specialist. Since metric fittings are hard to find, they cut them from my old condenser.
There was cool air after that and still is. Every o-ring was replaced this time around and it still works. The last time I had the A/C working, it stopped after about six weeks. Hopefully every o-ring being replaced will do the trick.
I think that's it. It's a fully running car again that I drive when I want to. There are still several minor issues, but none of them prevent enjoyment of the car and I will work on fixing them all in due time.
I fully plan on being there, and finally with the FC. A friend told me now that everything is running, I should wrap it in bubble wrap for the next eight months.
The engine has almost 800 miles and I performed a compression test this weekend. I have done two other tests, one at 133 miles and another at 420 miles. The first and latest were done almost immediately after a 2-3 mile warm up drive. The middle was performed about a half hour after a 100 mile drive.
Front rotor:
After 133 miles:
After 420 miles:
After 795 miles:
Rear rotor:
After 133 miles:
After 420 miles:
After 795 miles:
So, not stellar, but acceptable and hopefully still improving. To summarize and also putting them in what may be matching order:
Front rotor:
95 88 86 - test 1
95 92 89 - test 2
108 105 98 - test 3
Rear rotor:
99 98 98 - test 1
96 93 93 - test 2 (this is the "abnormal" one that shows a decrease, possibly a lot of heat soak from a long drive among other factors)
105 97 101 - test 3
Certainly getting better and a good excuse to drive it more. Out of curiousity did you do a compression test before you even fired it up for the first time?
R3? looks clean. I love my FC, and i wouldn't trade it for an RX8, but I also have an S1 RX8 that i wouldn't trade for most FCs. Its a different driving experience for sure.
It's a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition with 18,715 miles when I took ownership. I just got back home after driving it from Connecticut. It's been quite a few days.
It's a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition with 18,715 miles when I took ownership. I just got back home after driving it from Connecticut. It's been quite a few days.
Congratulations! Looks like you snagged one of the better RX8's out there. I forget, is 2008 a series 2 RX8? If it is, it has a bunch of improvements over the S1 RX8s
The 2008s were the last of the Series 1s, so no improvements on this one. But I am able to install an OMP adapter if I so choose, and I already have one waiting to go on the car. I'm going to do a bunch of maintenance items (plugs, coils, wires, oil, transmission and differential fluid, coolant, air filter, cabin filter, etc.), that may or may not need to be done purely to establish my own baseline and so that I know everything is fresh and when it was last done.
After driving it back from Connecticut, I am extremely pleased with the purchase. It is in fantastic condition for its age. They cared for it pretty well, never drove it in snow, always garaged, often covered even. The airbag cover on the passenger side looks practically brand new, which is a testament to how well it was taken care of. Now I get to shake some cobwebs off and have some fun.
The 2008s were the last of the Series 1s, so no improvements on this one. But I am able to install an OMP adapter if I so choose, and I already have one waiting to go on the car. I'm going to do a bunch of maintenance items (plugs, coils, wires, oil, transmission and differential fluid, coolant, air filter, cabin filter, etc.), that may or may not need to be done purely to establish my own baseline and so that I know everything is fresh and when it was last done.
After driving it back from Connecticut, I am extremely pleased with the purchase. It is in fantastic condition for its age. They cared for it pretty well, never drove it in snow, always garaged, often covered even. The airbag cover on the passenger side looks practically brand new, which is a testament to how well it was taken care of. Now I get to shake some cobwebs off and have some fun.
the 2006-2008's had a bunch of improvements over the really early ones. Mazda updated a TON of stuff for 2006, starter, engine mounts, brake pads, coolant, coils, oil level sensor, the ecu programming, etc etc
its been my experience with Rx8's that the factory maintenance schedule is pretty skimpy, so even if the car has had stuff done when its supposed to, its not good enough
the really nice thing about the Rx8 though is that most of the stuff you need to do is amazingly easy, car is built like a lego, and everything comes apart and can be cleaned/fixed, especially the interior plastics!
This would appear to be quite the improvement, and in a way it is. However, I finally remembered to keep the throttle wide open during the test. So, this skewed all my numbers to a bit lower than they were. I did some back to back tests and WOT does improve the numbers. Whoopsy.
I seem to be having a starter issue, which is disappointing since it is brand new. It left me hanging at a gas station a couple weeks ago and wouldn't start this morning. I kind of thought it was going to be electrical, but have the starter a few taps with the dead blow hammer. Turned right over after that. I still have the OEM starter hanging around the garage.
08-02-22, 07:01 AM
