The Full Frame

This is my review of the Esmeril Racing Turbo Kit for the Mazda RX8

http://esmerilracing.com/

I bought this kit during the Christmas special of 2007. I purchased the kit for $5000 without engine management. At the time of this purchase this was the single most powerful turbo kit that one could buy for the RX8.

Click Picture to begin Slideshow:

Track Review

So I did a track day today. I had to call it quits since my gauge pod came off my dash and was flopping around, making it difficult to take corners whilst trying to hold the gauge pod. I did get a good impression of the kit though.

Ambient = 60 degrees.
Session run time = max of 20 minutes.
AFRs = tuned to 10.2-11.0 @ 10psi
Tires = Azenis RT 615s, 30% thread left.
Max track straight = 1/8 mile

Well, there was a little smoking (small puff from under hood) as the heat shielding got further settled into high heat use. I did a nice warmup lap before I got her into boost before every session.

Cars I murdered on the straights (couldn’t catch me, I just kept pulling away):

C5 z06 vette
another c5 z06 vette
04 GTO
Elise
R32 Volkswagen
G35
s2000
05 M3

Watching me pull hard from a vette is truly an exhilarating experience. Truly this power/weight ratio is something to be reckoned with! (continue reading…)

After getting it out of the box the first thing that came to mind was: perfection.

All the welds look amazing, there is not one flaw in the craftsmanship of this item.

Overall it weighs about 7 lbs by my guess.

Here are a few pics to tantalize. I will install this when the weather gets better here. Granted the real test won’t be till I get a 95+ degree track day in as of right now I would feel comfortable paying much more than this radiator sells for. Truly is a work of art, from the welds, to the material, to the size and build.

Just sitting there it screams performance!

In comparison to the stock radiator:

• Thicker
• Less fin density (fins spaced apart farther)
• All-aluminum construction
• Better performing

This is a griffin source design. Griffin makes very high performance radiators for circle track and NASCAR applications. http://www.griffinrad.com/

Click on Pic to view other pictures.

FEED 4.77 final drive review:

Getting the parts required for this has taken me around 3-4 months.

I bought the FEED gear used from Murix, great guy. He said it took him 3 months to get from Japan new.

$600

Can be bought new from http://www.mazdaparts.com for $677 plus probably $50 in shipping

http://www.mazdaparts.com/ProductDet…000-1156400947

or http://www.japanparts.com for $726

Then I had to get the Mazda bearing Kit, which are the two bearings for the main pinion, the two bearings for the axles, the three oil seals, and the crush washer.

Diff bearings- 011827350A (2ea) MSRP-56.80ea Website-45.44ea
Axle seals- P04327238A (2ea) MSRP-8.25ea Website-6.60ea
Pinion seal- RA0327165A MSRP-21.50 Website-17.20
Pinion Crush spacer- R00427171A MSRP-10.00 Website-8.00
Pinion bearing #1- 060427220 MSRP-35.45 Website-28.36
Pinion bearing #2- R00127210 MSRP-61.20 Website-48.96

$202 (continue reading…)

Kind of pricey, but it promises to alleviate a bunch of overheating issues. Overall I am confident that this piece will live up to its price tag. Quality is excellent, shipping was great, and the phone service was prompt and friendly.

Install took about 1.5 hours, I went ahead and changed the coolant while I was at it. All the bolts on the water pump were 12mm, with 10mm bolts for the water pump pulley. Spillage wasn’t too bad when I had already drained the fluid out, soaked a rag that I placed underneath the opening, but no massive floods.

I would rate this install at slightly harder than the agency power pulley install, since you are dealing with spilling liquids.

Everything went smoothly, except, when you are replacing the new water pump, dont put the pulley on before the pump is in the car, if the pulley is in place you wont be able to slide a bolt into place.

Order by calling Mazmart directly:
1-800-221-5156

Magnecor Competiton KV85 wires & RX7 Spark Plugs for RX8
RX7 Plugs: They are NGK BUR-7EQ leading and BUR-9EQ trailing. They are the standard RX7 plug with a copper center element.

For the longer lasting platinum tipped plugs Just add a “P” to the end of each of the part numbers for the plugs, “BUR-7EQP”

You will need a washer to install the plugs in an RX8 due to the fact that previous plug housing reach in the RX7s and before has been 21mm. The RX8′s housing changed this to 19mm on the trailing side. The RX7 plugs are too long and the will press against the inside of the housing when tightened. Over several heating cycles this pressure will cause the housing to deform and give you low compression. You should start with a 3mm large washer, you should be able to find them at any autoparts store, or may be able to find them at places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.

Interested in something like this:

Without having to pay $80 that Mazda currently charges?

Here is the DIY: (continue reading…)