Going for reliability?

[probedb]

Hi all,

This will probably the first post of many whilst my car is off the road for a rebuild

I\'ve decided I\'m going to build my car for reliability for at leats the next couple of years while I do things like buy a house and stuff Because of this I have a few questions about what to buy etc and have listed my thoughts below....

I\'m going to be doing the following:

Engine rebuild...using standard Mazda OEM parts
Street port (so I don\'t have to tear down the engine again )
Full exhaust system from SMB exhausts (3" all the way through with metallic substrate convertor)
Apexi Power FC (been sitting around for about 6 months)
Clutch/flywheel (again so don\'t need to mess around)

What else should I be doing? I\'ve been thinking of getting an uprated standard radiator (but which one/where from?), an uprated SMIC (again which one/where from)....would I be best doing any fuelling upgrades other than getting the injectors cleaned?

After this lot get it mapped once the engine is run in.

I\'m not intending to run anymore boost as with this little lot it\'ll be way more than it is now anyways as it\'s not holding boost properly on the second turbo which I need to sort.

So anything else I should be doing reliability wise?

Cheers

[Jit]

Depends on what level of power you want. The most reliable setup is always gong to be stock

[probedb]

Not really going for power, as I want reliability so more like replacing parts with better quality etc

[Jit]

hmm perhaps...reason i went with the stock thing is because i dont want anyone tuning my ecu other than a company with a huge reputation to lose (like mazda!!)...its the tuning where my main worry is! I know its an unlikely scenario...but everytime i see that disclaimer you have to sign when having your car tuned (the one where if your engine blows on the dyno..tough luck), i just cant do it!!!

[vxer]

Not really going for power, as I want reliability so more like replacing parts with better quality etc

As others have said, you\'d be better off stricking with all stock mazda parts as they have undergone very thorough testing. So, no porting, stock ecu, stock radiator etc etc...

Cheers, Paul.

[probedb]

Well I guess it\'s more reliability for now with an eye to more power later on

Aftermarket high quality radiators and the like are actually cheaper than Mazda OEM and better made etc, plus even on the standard map from what I\'ve read normal cars run better with the Apexi.

[vxer]

Mazda OEM and better made etc, plus even on the standard map from what I\'ve read normal cars run better with the Apexi.

Depends what you mean by better! It uses way more fuel, and personally if i had to choose one or the other for a totally stock car, i would go for the stock ECU because it can retard ignition timing based on knock.

Cheers, Paul.

[Jit]

is the apexi base map not simply a richer stock map? if thats the case, then i cannot see why the cars would run better on a richer version of an already rich map!!?

Aftermarket rads are definitely a good upgrade. Ill be getting myself one of those. Make sure you change things like hoses etc that are easy to do while the engines out.

Im not sure as i havent read any feedback on them but im also going for the stainless OMP lines. I havent read any uk feedback but from what I understand, it cant be a bad thing! If youre gonna use silicone to do the rats nest, make sure its good quality stuff....i think you can use good quality high temp rating (they all have diff temps ratings...some silicone is purely cosmetic). I used viton hose as its been proven to have far better characteristics for use in the rats nest. its a tenner a meter for the viton from Tim @ rx motors.
Get a new waterpump..theyre not expensive and if youre 10 year old one fails and yure not running aftermarket gauges (ill come onto that in a min!), then youll end up warping your new engine.

Aftermarket oil pressure and water tmp gauges are a must if you want to accurtely monitor the 2! make sure if youre gonna use an oil filter sandwich plate that is decent quality and isnt gonna leak oil...ive seen many a honda one leaking oil! You might also want to try a oil temp gauge as it can give you a decent indication of whens a good time to give it the boot! the water temp gauge is not! especially not the stock one!
Also replace the o2 sensor, just for peace of mind....they do eventually fail. When choosing ign leads, stick with mazda...there have been issues with the fitment of aftermarket leads inc magnecors which in my experience usually fit well....apparently not on rx7s. My advice would be buy the genuine stuff. Test stuff like your coils and ignitors using a multimeter and checking the resistance.
Depending on your application and what you plan for the futur, poss consider a stud kit?

Im also running new fuel lines on the car as well and relocating the fuel filter to somewhere workable.....maybe close to the bellhousing where they come up anyway.

[Jit]

also thing is with the stock ecu....its not gonna continually retard ignition under knock....if like me you have a chipped seal and the knock sensor is sending high readings to the stock ecu due to pre-ign, eventually the stock ecu will just ignore it....also if youre getting proper deonation, its all irrelavant as your engine will be dead before the stock ecu has much to say in it!

[probedb]

Definitely going for the relocation of the fuel filter while the engine is out and replacing as much piping etc as possible.

I also need the PFC as running air filters, and an almost straight through exhaust/downpipe won\'t last long on the stock ECU.

Never thought about the water pump! Might investigate electric ones.

[Jit]

wouldnt bother with an electric tbh...a new one is bout 30 quid

[ScuttleRX]

If your keeping the stock intercooler system a WI kit might be a good investment. As your main concern is reliability just a simple boost activated one would suffice (not one that you\'d map to), an injector near the throttle body would greatly decrease the chance of detonation and keep the charge temps cool.

[Jit]

although on the elctric water pump theme...??
Water injection....damn! i  knew there was something i was forgetting! thats the last piece im running on my jigsaw!!

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30624

[ScuttleRX]

Should be standard on all rotarys I think

[BlitzBoy]

Yep WI is a must