My current and future plans for the RX-8

[GR-8]

What's up everyone. I have not posted about my RX-8's in a while. Have had the blue one over 10yrs now. I just finished an "upgrade" to the Blue RX-8 and thought I'd post that up and all the future plans I have for it in one place.

I just completed installing the larger Canadian Windshield Washer Fluid Tank. I had to plug up a hole about 1" on the bottom and a smaller hole to the side of the tank. Those were there because the Canadians have Headlight Sprayers and who knows what else. In total there are 3 holes where we have only 1.

If you are wondering what the purpose of the larger tank is.... it is for more fluid capacity. I want to be safe and make sure I have enough fluid for the Water Injection kit and for my windshield. I tapped the old tank so both would work and I have done the same with the new one. I used a Tank Tap from Devil's Own this second time around. I believe this new tank can hold at least a gallon of fluid were the old tank would hold a little more than 1/4 gallon.

I used some Fiberglass cloth and JB plastic weld to close up the holes.





Here is a comparison shot of what the tanks look like next to each other. There is a huge difference in capacity.





Here is a shot after I Plasti Dipped the tank and left a strip so I could see the fluid level easily. and also the tank installed. No leaks!

[GR-8]

My next upgrades to the car will be as follows in no particular order.

• Install new Double Din Stereo. Someone broke in last year and stole my other one. I waited till the newer more advanced models came out this spring.

• Install new PLX ODII Gauge to replace my Aeroforce Scan Gauge.

• Re-tune the car. I always end up tuning in late fall. I have a feeling that this gives me issues in the summer heat so I figured it'd be best to tune when in the summer.

• Some interior upgrades..... I'm going to repair my Gauge Pod I made and have it hydro dipped so it is a black wood grain. I am going to go from that center dash piece, to the stereo face plate, to the ashtray.

• I'll probably do the same black wood grain on the door locks/handle surrounds, Trim piece that goes across the center console, and the steering wheel button surround.

My hope is that this will give the car a newer, more modern look to the interior. It still looks great for a 10yr old design but I want something a little different and a bit "classier". I think this will bring the interior to a more current state.

If you guys have not heard of Hydro Dipping do a google search. It is amazing. People do their wheels, Bikes, Helmets, guns..... You can hydro dip anything. I learned about it from wanting to mod my Xbox and PS controllers.

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[D Walker]

A couple of my friends have hydrodipped thier guns and itis a bit hit or miss

[GR-8]

Update

- I will be building a custom kit with Dave (Chiclenwafer) this fall.
- Move current turbo setup to the grey 8 after said kit is done. Low boost in the grey car. 5-8psi. Something to give it more pep and a substantial gain in torque.
- Eventually re-do the interior in the blue 8.
- Re do the door panels in both cars as soon as possible.

[Shadowden]

I often wondered, but never asked: Why do you have two of them? Was one purchased with the intention of DD and the other to mod as you will or did you get a sick 2-fer-1 special?

Just curious.

[Huzer]

I think the gray one was an accident/insurance buyback from another member here. Fixed up and used as a daily, while he played with the turbo on the blue one. Unless he's sold it, he should still have the 4th RX8 Cobb AP made. Mine was serial number 4.

[RX-7 Chris]

Tim is right.

[GR-8]

I often wondered, but never asked: Why do you have two of them? Was one purchased with the intention of DD and the other to mod as you will or did you get a sick 2-fer-1 special?

Just curious.

Tim is correct. The second was an insurance buy back. My original intention was to keep the Motor and Trans for the Blue 8 and part the rest out. I decided to fix it. Airbags for $70 at the junkyard $30 for the Airbag control module, a strut, a couple control arms and it was good to drive. Body work I had done last year. The damage did not, to me, call for a total loss of the vehicle. But the side curtain airbags did blow.

And yes miT, I still have the Accessport, #4. Looking for a deal on a second one for the grey one.

[kingtut]

Tim is right.

Tim is correct..

Tim is rarely wrong.

[GR-8]

Just an update FYI......

The new WWF tank holds about 1.5 gallons. The old US OEM one held about half a gallon!

[RX-7 Chris]

that's a huge difference. What was behind the old tank taking up that space under?

[erod550]

Was wondering that as well.

[GR-8]

that's a huge difference. What was behind the old tank taking up that space under?

Absolutely nothing but air! I don't know why they didn't just manufacturer the larger tank for all the cars. Just one part instead of 2. Just don't cut out the sections for the headlight sprayers.

[RX-7 Chris]

well that is strange. On my RX, that is exactly what they did, one tank option.

[Brigdh]

Absolutely nothing but air! I don't know why they didn't just manufacturer the larger tank for all the cars. Just one part instead of 2. Just don't cut out the sections for the headlight sprayers.

I don't feel like researching the part numbers right now to definitively find out, but I'm guessing that the small tank was already designed and used for another vehicle, so re-using it for the RX-8 was basically "free" where as designing the tooling and everything for a version of the large tank that didn't have the headlight sprayers would constitute an increased cost. Reusing parts between models is nothing new for Mazda.