Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: adamk on December 13, 2007, 06:45:32 PM

Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 13, 2007, 06:45:32 PM
Hi everyone,  Im Adam (27yrs), new to the club so "Hello all" Ive had my silver FD rx7 1993 for about 3 months now and have a few little (big) problems. Im a keen home mechanic and have resonable knowledge of turbocharged cars (Ive had a 5 turbo for 9 years NOT A CHAVVY ONE LoL)
So please be nice with my questions you probably all have had before (hey everyone starts somewhere)
 
Can anyone help or point me in the right direction please.
 
My car is standard besides a free flow front section de-cat and a induction kit. (both were on car when I got it)
 I have just got a 3" free flow exhaust and was told (on rx7club.com) that I needed to get a boost controller.. so I did! its an HKS EVC 3 (crap im also told :( )
However..... The thing is I dont want to turn up the boost I would like a standard 10 8 10. (Both of the above items I have not yet fitted).
 
Ok so can I fit the exhaust and controller leaving the boost standard and be ok? someone told me I need to get a better ECU? as mine is standard.
 
what do do? please help I dont want a big bang.
 
Also what are the clunks when the car starts, it does about 3 small clicks? solonoids??
And the car breather/ boost system is quite oily, Do I need a better catch tank and is this common with the FD.
 
Many many thanks
 
Adam :Viking
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: Ricco_04 on December 13, 2007, 11:56:16 PM
If you run stock ecu and decat this is a big no no as the car will overboost and you will quite possably kill your engine.  For now try and stay off the loud pedal untill you get something sorted, just try and keep the boost minimal - no giving it the bean\'s just yet!  Not too bad as road condition is very poor at the moment!

If you use standard twin turbos and are able to get an Apexi PFC ecu then this will controll the boost fine (some people still like to use the controller additionally though)  You will need to get the ecu mapped aswell.

Oh and welcome to the club :cool
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: m4drx on December 14, 2007, 12:01:43 AM
pictures are required of the old whip before questions are answered :)
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: peterwolds on December 14, 2007, 06:16:29 AM
welcome,there are no stupid questions about the RX, as said apexi ecu & mapped is vital, profec boost controller seems most common on the RX & an oil catch tank wont go amiss.Sure you know about watching coolant/temperatures dont go by the standard gauge its not that good at least if you have the apexi ecu you can set the screen to watch water temps (or get an aftermarket standalone gauge).
any pics of the car ?
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: G@NDY on December 14, 2007, 08:35:24 AM
Hooorrahh ! Another local rotary:Thumbsup! Welcome Adam.
I agree with the above, i think you would be safe with either running an exhaust or filters, but together and you should be thinking about a mappable ECU.
Also get yourself registered on our brand new local forum, you can be member number 22:) Its just a bit of fun really.
//www.Team-awesomeness.co.nr

Regards Andy:Thumbs-up
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: trotter on December 14, 2007, 08:50:45 AM
Welcome to the club matey. :Thumbsup!

Echo whats been said above, by all means stick things on, but stay off the giggle pedal until its all mapped up!

AFAIK boost controllers aren\'t a neccesity? When mine was in at WGT for its mapping sesh, Pip told me that he\'s not a fan - \'cos it encourages people to whack the boost up to silly levels....

Maybe someone can clarify?
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 12:09:46 PM
I shall sort some pictures asap, Its nothing special, just a standard fd in silver with some 17" wheels!
 
Sorry to go on! But just to clear things up:
I *CANT* fit a free flow exhaust without a aftermarket ECU?
Even with a ECU fitted im best not running the full system, I *MUST* keep the centre section?
I will *NEED* the standard wastegate porting (whio can do this and how much ish)?
Oil catch tank will be good!
Then I can go like stink and all is happy?
 
Thanks guys your being great :)
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 12:11:28 PM
Why do my posts say "guest" when Im a full member 30 pound N all????
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: m4drx on December 14, 2007, 01:28:32 PM
hasnt been updated yet but the admin team will get round to it.
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: Matt_K on December 14, 2007, 01:46:29 PM
Welcome! pop yourself on lincstorque.com too, always good to have more local peeps from the lincoln/lincolnshire area.

this wouldn\'t happen to be you would it? - http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43404 I\'ve followed a silver FD twice now near Retford. Bit out your way, but you never know.

*No, fit a apexi PFC then you can fit your exhaust and have it remapped to cope with the extra fuel demands it\'ll make
*Once your PFC is fitted it doesnt matter what bits you replace (backbox, de-cat, full system, etc) as you can always have it re-mapped.

*Not sure about your wastegate question, sorry

For most people on here, you\'ll notice the PFC is pretty much the first step in tuning. running a standard ECU with a free flow exhaust can cause boost spikes = death to your engine
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: neil_jdmr on December 14, 2007, 02:26:27 PM
AFAIK On the standard ecu a cat-back is safe enough and maybe a pair of uprated filters ( although pushing it in these sub-zero conditions).
 
 
Anything more than that, i.e a Cat-replacement pipe or upping the boost etc *MUST* be done via a pfc or another mappable aftermarket ecu.
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: peterwolds on December 14, 2007, 02:51:49 PM
Quote from: adamkI shall sort some pictures asap, Its nothing special, just a standard fd in silver with some 17" wheels!
 
I will *NEED* the standard wastegate porting (whio can do this and how much ish)?

 
Thanks guys your being great :)
Wgt ported mine as wasnt getting rid of gases quick enough cant remember how though
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: Jit on December 14, 2007, 02:56:54 PM
As neil said, i wouldnt go for more than filters and cat-back exhaust on a stock ECU. I personally dont like air filters anyway..much prefer the standard airbox and im not a fan of loud exhausts either on a rex... i much prefer the way they sound on the stock exhaust or the mazdaspeed exhaust...have tried both and they sounded far nicer than the apexi hayabusa which my rz used to wear and the blitz nur spec which the white car used to wear....and dont even get me started on the trust what came with the purple car!
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 05:25:34 PM
Quote from: Matt_KWelcome! pop yourself on lincstorque.com too, always good to have more local peeps from the lincoln/lincolnshire area.
 
this wouldn\'t happen to be you would it? - http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43404 (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43404) I\'ve followed a silver FD twice now near Retford. Bit out your way, but you never know.
 
*No, fit a apexi PFC then you can fit your exhaust and have it remapped to cope with the extra fuel demands it\'ll make
*Once your PFC is fitted it doesnt matter what bits you replace (backbox, de-cat, full system, etc) as you can always have it re-mapped.
 
*Not sure about your wastegate question, sorry
 
For most people on here, you\'ll notice the PFC is pretty much the first step in tuning. running a standard ECU with a free flow exhaust can cause boost spikes = death to your engine

No But I do see this car, it heads towards Rampton, its the spitting image of mine!!
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 05:31:10 PM
Right power commander it is then, I shall not fit the exhaust untill I have one fitted and set up! and port the Wgate
 
Again many thanks to you all, Im slowly getting my head round the systems ill get there one day.
 
Forgot to say, I got the 5X studs,  2Xbolts and 5Xnuts for the standard turbo to manifold fittment (long story)
 
£117..........OUCH OUCH Mazda!!!
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: James B on December 14, 2007, 05:44:30 PM
Obviously a LOUD free flowing exhaust is part of the fun of an FD .......... I think the over run sound I get on my HKS when lifting off warrants owning the car alone.

I fitted a racing downpipe, a straight middle section and a big rear box with a standard ECU and shortly after my car was backfiring like crazy with no power when trying to boot it and I guess running short on fuel ......... nasty ....... at the time I and the guys at Jap Village  ( whom I bought the car off ) couldn\'t figure what was wrong and we fitted a smaller exhaust which didn\'t change it ( strangely enough ) .......... fitted an PFC and job done.

On the subject of oil in the induction system, I used to loose about a ½ litre verey 20 minutes in to the system on track ..... always thought this kept the turbos lubricated :spank  but must be a bit of a fire hazard ........ I now have a catch tank and a further overflow bottle which has sorted it.

J.
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: RobbieRX-7 on December 14, 2007, 05:44:44 PM
Quote from: JitAs neil said, i wouldnt go for more than filters and cat-back exhaust on a stock ECU. I personally dont like air filters anyway..much prefer the standard airbox and im not a fan of loud exhausts either on a rex... i much prefer the way they sound on the stock exhaust or the mazdaspeed exhaust...have tried both and they sounded far nicer than the apexi hayabusa which my rz used to wear and the blitz nur spec which the white car used to wear....and dont even get me started on the trust what came with the purple car!


You can\'t beat the stock airbox. it draws cold air from outside the bay and the filter stays cleaner for longer. Only problem is, it\'s bloody huge. I used to have twin K&N induction filters on mine but i replaced them with a stock box, much quiter, much cheaper and more efficient
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 06:58:40 PM
Yes I had the same thing with my little renault 5 turb, The original air box is effectively like a baby ram air!
 
I have never seen a standard Rex box in the flesh however, from photos they do look "Hu ha Mungus ley" massive!!!
 
My Mrs is in the Rex tonight so no photos yet! Unless you would like to see a lovely red 106 1.1? ibut ts not a normal 1.1 its a look Plus (ding dong) LoL. My everyday motor! bless :InLove
 
 
Check out "RX7 crash" on Youtube, a guy on the sand flats! very nasty but good roll cage!!!
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: adamk on December 14, 2007, 07:00:26 PM
Where do I fit the catch tank? (god im a pain)
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: Martiny on December 15, 2007, 02:52:56 AM
Quote from: RobbieRX-7You can\'t beat the stock airbox. it draws cold air from outside the bay and the filter stays cleaner for longer. Only problem is, it\'s bloody huge. I used to have twin K&N induction filters on mine but i replaced them with a stock box, much quiter, much cheaper and more efficient

Hooray! Another vote for the stock air box!

The main problem I see with aftermarket kits are that they draw HOT air from the engine bay. The stock box draws from the front of the car.
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: elford_tim on December 15, 2007, 08:29:40 AM
... and another vote for the stock airbox. With an K&N in my case, and a Racing Beat duct to increase the airflow at speed.

Personally I don\'t like noisy induction kits anyway, plus the fact that you get the hot air that\'s potentially been through an FMIC and the radiator into the engine as Martiny says.
Title: Fresh member with stupid questions! please help
Post by: Martiny on December 15, 2007, 12:03:06 PM
Quote from: elford_tim... and another vote for the stock airbox. With an K&N in my case, and a Racing Beat duct to increase the airflow at speed.

Personally I don\'t like noisy induction kits anyway, plus the fact that you get the hot air that\'s potentially been through an FMIC and the radiator into the engine as Martiny says.

...and when you\'re stationery, its going to draw hot air directly from around the turbos and exhaust!