Apexi RX6???
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apexi RX6???
Just did some research on the Apexi RX6 kit, seems like a lot people have problem with the wastegate that comes with the system. Potentially it can overboost and cause engine damage right? Buying another wastegate can solve the problem but they are not cheap, any recommandation?
Is it possible to set the boost to 10 and 15psi? Do I just change the spring in the wastegate? How can I do it? Thanks.
Is it possible to set the boost to 10 and 15psi? Do I just change the spring in the wastegate? How can I do it? Thanks.
#3
Ghost Ride the Whip
FYI, I have the version that allows you to retain the airpump. The older RX6 kits do not allow you to retain the airpump but the newer one (the one I have) has a shorter exhaust manifold, so the airpump can be retained. I got mine from Tony at www.rxecret7.com call him for more details, as I believe I am the only one thus far that has this kit so I don't know how he got it but needless to say, i am pleasantly surprised.
as far as the wastegate goes, there are two routes you can take if you want to play with it:
1.) do what maxcooper did and buy the hks ss wastegate, it fits pretty well right on to the apex'i manifold. pm max for more details
2.) do what XSPower recommended on the forum. Take the wastegate apart and have the valve guide honed .003 bigger.
I went with the latter route, since $20 machine shop bill was cheaper than $500 for a new wastegate. Since then I have taken it onto thunderhill raceway in 95 degree weather and ran the car at least 3-4 hours at high rpms and had no problems whatsoever.
as far as the wastegate goes, there are two routes you can take if you want to play with it:
1.) do what maxcooper did and buy the hks ss wastegate, it fits pretty well right on to the apex'i manifold. pm max for more details
2.) do what XSPower recommended on the forum. Take the wastegate apart and have the valve guide honed .003 bigger.
I went with the latter route, since $20 machine shop bill was cheaper than $500 for a new wastegate. Since then I have taken it onto thunderhill raceway in 95 degree weather and ran the car at least 3-4 hours at high rpms and had no problems whatsoever.
#5
Or you can leave your wastegate alone and install a pop-off valve as a safety, right?
For what it's worth, the local shop that's putting my RX6 on is happy with the quality of the Apexi wastegate. They've done 7 kits and and have not had any trouble out of any of them. But then again, I'm not sure how many singles really show up to the track. I know maxcooper had a failure, but have others? Not sure how isolated a case this is and if it's just gotten blown out of proportion. It would seem Apexi would be liable if their products were known to fail causing catastrophic engine failure.
For what it's worth, the local shop that's putting my RX6 on is happy with the quality of the Apexi wastegate. They've done 7 kits and and have not had any trouble out of any of them. But then again, I'm not sure how many singles really show up to the track. I know maxcooper had a failure, but have others? Not sure how isolated a case this is and if it's just gotten blown out of proportion. It would seem Apexi would be liable if their products were known to fail causing catastrophic engine failure.
#6
Rotorally Challenged
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The problem with the wastegate appears to be associated with prolonged high output conditions (such as on the track). It is just my opinion but I would strongly urge the use of a pop-off valve whether you modify the wastegate or replace it with a Tial, HKS or anything else. It is just a $100 and makes for great insurance in the event of any number of possible failures which would result in an overboost situation.
#7
Ghost Ride the Whip
All of the Apexi kits now let you retain the airpump. It doesnt really matter, on Oct 1st nobody will be able to afford the kit
The problem with the wastegate appears to be associated with prolonged high output conditions (such as on the track). It is just my opinion but I would strongly urge the use of a pop-off valve whether you modify the wastegate or replace it with a Tial, HKS or anything else. It is just a $100 and makes for great insurance in the event of any number of possible failures which would result in an overboost situation.
Trending Topics
#8
Perpetual Project
iTrader: (4)
I've seen the new Apexi kit (meaning allows retention of the stock air pump) installed as early as March of this year, when mine went in (mine is of the previous type, cannot put the stock airpump back on).
I am going to work around this by installing a LS1 electric airpump, and use the original pump harness to trigger a relay to turn it on and off. I kinda like this idea better, as that it takes one more thing off the belts (more aesthetic then anything else), and I can tuck the air pump away elsewhere.
Some people here have said that you cannot run the LS1 airpump for an extended period of time (or it will burn up), but friends that build and race Camaros/Firbirds say it will be fine. I'll be the test subject I suppose, as I really do not like stinky exhausts...
Here is a pic of the previous kit on my car. As you can see, the turbo sits roughly where the airpump went.Maybe 1F'titeFD can post a pic of his to so how it now sits.
I am going to work around this by installing a LS1 electric airpump, and use the original pump harness to trigger a relay to turn it on and off. I kinda like this idea better, as that it takes one more thing off the belts (more aesthetic then anything else), and I can tuck the air pump away elsewhere.
Some people here have said that you cannot run the LS1 airpump for an extended period of time (or it will burn up), but friends that build and race Camaros/Firbirds say it will be fine. I'll be the test subject I suppose, as I really do not like stinky exhausts...
Here is a pic of the previous kit on my car. As you can see, the turbo sits roughly where the airpump went.Maybe 1F'titeFD can post a pic of his to so how it now sits.
#9
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pembroke, Massachusetts
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also have the newer kit that allows the airpump to be retained. I can also get them, and have one for sale new in the forsale forum. As far as the kit I havent heard any problems with people using the kit that arent using it for prolonged periods of time at high output
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there any problem if I want to set the boost to 10 and 15 psi? I heard the wastegate only works from 15 and above. How much are you want the kit for? PM me only if its the newer kit. Thanks.
#11
Ghost Ride the Whip
Here's a picture of my engine bay:
http://www.pbase.com/image/3657519
you really can't see the turbo, but notice how it's not where dclin's is. If I didn't have my intercooler pipe going through it, I can run an airpump if I wanted to. When I first got the turbo from tony, I didn't know that I would be able to keep the airpump, but after installing it, I found out I had the newer version. It didn't matter to me considering I was going to toss the airpump and run a straight pipe anyways
http://www.pbase.com/image/3657519
you really can't see the turbo, but notice how it's not where dclin's is. If I didn't have my intercooler pipe going through it, I can run an airpump if I wanted to. When I first got the turbo from tony, I didn't know that I would be able to keep the airpump, but after installing it, I found out I had the newer version. It didn't matter to me considering I was going to toss the airpump and run a straight pipe anyways
#13
My wastegate would stick open a little on the track (giving poor low end response, but it didn't matter much on the track). On the way home from the track, it stuck shut and I had a mega-overboost. I think it was more than 30 psi, perhaps more than 40 (my fuel pressure gauge was holding a peak of 85 psi, and it reads 40 psi at zero manifold pressure with the stock regulator). It broke the tires loose and spun them like mad in second gear. It was really fun for a few seconds!
I replaced the wastegate with an HKS SS Racing wastegate, which is easy to adapt. Search for my thread on the subject if you want details.
The wastegate seemed to be fine on the street. It would probably be fine for AutoX and drag racing, too (but this is just a guess, as the engine is under load for a much shorter time -- be safe). It seemed like it was just the road racing that would make it stick. Once it cooled, it seemed to un-stick itself. If you don't plan to road race, the wastegate will probably be fine, but it might be a good idea to get a pop-off valve just in case. The same is probably true for any aftermarket turbo setup, as they are subject to less testing than OEM setups and sometimes take some "sorting out" to route the hoses. I should take my own advice, but I still don't have a pop-off valve.
-Max
I replaced the wastegate with an HKS SS Racing wastegate, which is easy to adapt. Search for my thread on the subject if you want details.
The wastegate seemed to be fine on the street. It would probably be fine for AutoX and drag racing, too (but this is just a guess, as the engine is under load for a much shorter time -- be safe). It seemed like it was just the road racing that would make it stick. Once it cooled, it seemed to un-stick itself. If you don't plan to road race, the wastegate will probably be fine, but it might be a good idea to get a pop-off valve just in case. The same is probably true for any aftermarket turbo setup, as they are subject to less testing than OEM setups and sometimes take some "sorting out" to route the hoses. I should take my own advice, but I still don't have a pop-off valve.
-Max
#15
For the record, I just got back from a weekend at MADS, and didn't have any wastegate problems. I only got the car back Thursday night, and didn't have a chance to get a new wastegate or popoff valve, so I just went for it. I'm still breaking the engine in, so I kept boost at 9psi, but toward the end of the weekend I was staying in it for extended periods of time. Fortunately there weren't any problems. I think I'm going to go the route of getting a popoff for safety, but leaving the wastegate alone until it actually fails.
On a side note, what are you guys doing with your dump tube? I didn't think to check beforehand and thought it would dump back into one pipe that goes to the cat/midpipe/whatever. Custom exhaust job? This thing's just a liiitttllle loud for the street! I really don't need any extra attention when I'm at high boost!
On a side note, what are you guys doing with your dump tube? I didn't think to check beforehand and thought it would dump back into one pipe that goes to the cat/midpipe/whatever. Custom exhaust job? This thing's just a liiitttllle loud for the street! I really don't need any extra attention when I'm at high boost!
#16
Perpetual Project
iTrader: (4)
Originally posted by TailHappy
On a side note, what are you guys doing with your dump tube? I didn't think to check beforehand and thought it would dump back into one pipe that goes to the cat/midpipe/whatever. Custom exhaust job? This thing's just a liiitttllle loud for the street! I really don't need any extra attention when I'm at high boost!
On a side note, what are you guys doing with your dump tube? I didn't think to check beforehand and thought it would dump back into one pipe that goes to the cat/midpipe/whatever. Custom exhaust job? This thing's just a liiitttllle loud for the street! I really don't need any extra attention when I'm at high boost!
Will probably have to have a flange to split it, since it's going to the cat. Any hiperf shop with welding experience can handle the job, and maybe even the local muffler shop if you have not choice.
#18
Thanks for the reply. Looks like I'll be making a stop by my local muffler shop. One-man operation who did a totally custom exhaust for one of my other cars and it was truly a work of art.......
But first I have to set off a few more car alarms, break a few more windows, and make a few more babies cry
But first I have to set off a few more car alarms, break a few more windows, and make a few more babies cry
#20
HARRRRRRRRR
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Marietta GA
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by dclin
http://www.geocities.com/valspeed/
Click on 'Engine' in the left menu, and you can see pics of the WG dump routed into the dp.
http://www.geocities.com/valspeed/
Click on 'Engine' in the left menu, and you can see pics of the WG dump routed into the dp.
#22
Originally posted by ttpowerd
Jeez, you have done a lot of work to that car! I was wondering, I see the altenator...what happened to the waterpump? That is the most custom work and one of the coolests cars I have ever seen!
Jeez, you have done a lot of work to that car! I was wondering, I see the altenator...what happened to the waterpump? That is the most custom work and one of the coolests cars I have ever seen!
-Max
#23
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Problem related to the wastegate seems cause by the bushing. Apexi uses some kind of rubber or copper bushing inside their wastegate. So when operating in extremely high temperture for a period of time the bushing tends to stick and stay close. When the temp. drop down it's back to normal again. Apexi is aware of problem and came out with the fix (I was told). In their newer kit they now uses SS instead of the old material. You can check your wastegate by looking inside, if you see silver bushing, congraduation you got the newer style. If it looks black or brown then get a pop-up valve to protect you investment. Cheers.
-OY
-OY
#25
Yeah, niner, that one's mine. It's not super clean but I'm a big fan of the "sleeper" mentality. Looking at the outside you'd never know what hides within!
Was your car there? I saw a midnight blue FD and a montego one when I was picking mine up. Plus the silver one, but I know who's that is.........
Was your car there? I saw a midnight blue FD and a montego one when I was picking mine up. Plus the silver one, but I know who's that is.........