Do I need PFC for these mods?
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Sacramento, CA
Do I need PFC for these mods?
Hello all,
I'm finally dumping some money into the RX7 after keeping it stock for over a year. I'm trying to do all the safe, reliability-enhancing mods rather than just cranking up the boost. Here's what I've purchased so far, opinions are wanted!
Greddy SMIC
Sake Bomb Garage's dual oil cooler kit (upgraded, thicker coolers as well)
Koyo N-Flow Dual Pass Radiator
Petit AST
Bonez downpipe
Racing Beat catback
I've been reading that by opening up the exhaust like this I need to start worrying about boost creep, and that since I want to keep the stock fuel system the added boost is going to possibly cause detonation, leading to a very bad day.
Would it be worth it to get an Apexi PFC, or could I get away with just doing a boost controller to make sure boost stays at 10 psi?
It's important to me that whatever I do is a "set it and forget it" kind of setup. I don't want to be fiddling with anything whenever I drive it. I won't be tuning it, a local shop would be, as I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy around.
So bottom line... If I have those particular mods, and want to keep boost at stock level, would I be best served by an apexi pfc or a dedicated boost controller?
Thank you for the input!
I'm finally dumping some money into the RX7 after keeping it stock for over a year. I'm trying to do all the safe, reliability-enhancing mods rather than just cranking up the boost. Here's what I've purchased so far, opinions are wanted!
Greddy SMIC
Sake Bomb Garage's dual oil cooler kit (upgraded, thicker coolers as well)
Koyo N-Flow Dual Pass Radiator
Petit AST
Bonez downpipe
Racing Beat catback
I've been reading that by opening up the exhaust like this I need to start worrying about boost creep, and that since I want to keep the stock fuel system the added boost is going to possibly cause detonation, leading to a very bad day.
Would it be worth it to get an Apexi PFC, or could I get away with just doing a boost controller to make sure boost stays at 10 psi?
It's important to me that whatever I do is a "set it and forget it" kind of setup. I don't want to be fiddling with anything whenever I drive it. I won't be tuning it, a local shop would be, as I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy around.
So bottom line... If I have those particular mods, and want to keep boost at stock level, would I be best served by an apexi pfc or a dedicated boost controller?
Thank you for the input!
That's a nice, reasonable list and quality parts. And I think it keeps to your goal of reliability. Kudos.
To your questions....
*As long as you keep a main cat you don't have to worry about CREEP. You'll be fine with that downpipe and cat-back.
*You do NOT need a PFC. As long as you keep it at stock boost levels, the stock ECU is fine. Stock boost = Stock fuel needs. There are other advantages to the PFC, like it tends to erase much of the 3k hesitation in the stock sequential system, and you can directly monitor things, but they're expensive and can be a bit fiddley.
A couple things I didn't see on your reliability list that you should already have or should get....
*An aftermarket temperature gauge. Coolant or oil, but coolant is easier to install.
*A boost gauge.
*IIRC, with the Greddy SMIC, you can still use the stock airbox. There's a 'Cheap-bastard' mod that can be done to it to source ambient air from the nose rather than scavange it from the IC duct. IMO it's worthwhile and as the name suggests, very cheap. You're in CA. and a side benefit is that it's also invisible for visual emissions inspection. Search in the 3rd Gen. Section for details or contact a member named 'adamc'. He sells a kit. The only downside is that with your SMIC it MAY allow some boost SPIKE and you may need a BC.
*If you're a little more ambitious, the S5 fan thermoswitch is also worthwhile mod. The switch is a minor pita to access, but it's plug-n-play and lowers the threshold for the fans to turn on from 108 C. to 95 C. A nice compliment to that radiator for cooling.
To your questions....
*As long as you keep a main cat you don't have to worry about CREEP. You'll be fine with that downpipe and cat-back.
*You do NOT need a PFC. As long as you keep it at stock boost levels, the stock ECU is fine. Stock boost = Stock fuel needs. There are other advantages to the PFC, like it tends to erase much of the 3k hesitation in the stock sequential system, and you can directly monitor things, but they're expensive and can be a bit fiddley.
A couple things I didn't see on your reliability list that you should already have or should get....
*An aftermarket temperature gauge. Coolant or oil, but coolant is easier to install.
*A boost gauge.
*IIRC, with the Greddy SMIC, you can still use the stock airbox. There's a 'Cheap-bastard' mod that can be done to it to source ambient air from the nose rather than scavange it from the IC duct. IMO it's worthwhile and as the name suggests, very cheap. You're in CA. and a side benefit is that it's also invisible for visual emissions inspection. Search in the 3rd Gen. Section for details or contact a member named 'adamc'. He sells a kit. The only downside is that with your SMIC it MAY allow some boost SPIKE and you may need a BC.
*If you're a little more ambitious, the S5 fan thermoswitch is also worthwhile mod. The switch is a minor pita to access, but it's plug-n-play and lowers the threshold for the fans to turn on from 108 C. to 95 C. A nice compliment to that radiator for cooling.
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