rx8 s2 track survival advice request

[eyeballs]

For those of you familiar with the series 2 renesis platform, what extras are required to keep things cool and comfy for 20-25 minute sessions? I just picked up a low mileage specimen over the weekend and need it to survive 4+ hours of track time each event.

[Blackbird]

Engine swap.

[eyeballs]

Well of course that's the obvious solution! Motor swap is not in the budget, so might as well try to keep this one going. Plus I like the feel and sound of the renesis so far. Just got off the phone with a local rotary race shop mechanic and he thought the radiator and oil coolers would need upgrading to survive double track duty. This thing is no miata! The kids are super excited about being able to ride in it though.

[markn]

Mike Haag @ Haag Performance in Sacramento is your guy. He campaigns a rx8 in lucky dog running the EC class. He might have some good input.

[ucfbrett]

Massive heat exchangers for coolant and oil.

[thepass]

...so might as well try to keep this one going.

Key operating word here.

[jqsti2015]

Lol...........

[robburgoon]

You may need more than an ebay racing radiator. I tried that and it wasn't enough, but that car might have had other issues. Hard to know for sure.

Car would be PERFECT for the track if the temp issues and power issues could be cheaply fixed. The temp issue is maybe solvable, the power issue, probably not.

I gave up and got the s2000.


I think if there was a cost effective solution for the temp issues, this would be a GREAT entry level dual purpose car.

[fatbillybob]

There are guys running the rx8 very successfully in scca T4. T4 is nearly a stock class with very very few allowable mods. Maybe oscar j. Knows some T4 rx8 guys to talk to.

[Red_5]

Well of course that's the obvious solution! Motor swap is not in the budget, so might as well try to keep this one going. Plus I like the feel and sound of the renesis so far. Just got off the phone with a local rotary race shop mechanic and he thought the radiator and oil coolers would need upgrading to survive double track duty. This thing is no miata! The kids are super excited about being able to ride in it though.

I've seen LS swapped RX-8s in the $10k range. I had started looking into these awhile back, they're incredible bargain but from what I hear even in stock form are expensive to track/race. Even the LS swapped cars for $10k, why not buy a C5? At least that's my thinking. I'll likely stay with Miatas.

[eyeballs]

I didn't get a c5 because this one cost me $4900, only has 30k miles on the odometer, and (once I get the bumper straightened) is in phenominal condition. I'll probably start slow and alternate sessions with my wife on a normal 7 session day with the stock cooling system. My recent research tells me the koyo and csf radiators are decent. Rx8 performance makes a sweet dual pass radiator but it doesn't exactly drop right in. The series 2 cars have bigger radiators and oil coolers, as well as run higher oil pressure than the series 1 cars. I'll get an ultraguage and keep an eye on the water temps. Thankfully the first couple of events will be in cool weather.

[jrx13]

My buddy used to track day one but not race. He added a big radiator and a oil temp gauge. We bought a banjo bolt with a NPT adapter to make it
super easy to add the sender.

You can drill your own banjo bolt but I liked the Corksport one because it had a shoulder that spaced the sender from blocking the oil passage.
I can't seem to find it on Corksport website anymore.

Keep your stock cat for emissions - they burn up and cost $$$$. So run a high flow or a midpipe/cat eliminator.

You can also reprogram the PCM to turn the engine fans on sooner and/or inject more oil than the factory settings.

[Force McCocken]

I might fix and flip it. A dual-use family car you might enjoy is a first gen TSX in that price range. I know, I know, FWD, but I like them. An e46 sedan would be another. The L6 BMW motors are great on the elevation changes around AMP and RA.

[eyeballs]

My buddy used to track day one but not race. He added a big radiator and a oil temp gauge. We bought a banjo bolt with a NPT adapter to make it
super easy to add the sender.

You can drill your own banjo bolt but I liked the Corksport one because it had a shoulder that spaced the sender from blocking the oil passage.
I can't seem to find it on Corksport website anymore.

Keep your stock cat for emissions - they burn up and cost $$$$. So run a high flow or a midpipe/cat eliminator.

You can also reprogram the PCM to turn the engine fans on sooner and/or inject more oil than the factory settings.

I made sure to do my research. I ordered a BHR midpipe the day after I drove it home. I already pulled the airpump and installed a blockoff plate in anticipation of the catless midpipe. Also got lower temp thermostats for the radiator and oil coolers. A local rotary race mechanic will be doing a tune with mazdaedit to enhance reliability (fan settings, etc.) and power. I also got some budget friendly firehawk indy500 tires to throw on the stock wheels for the first couple events with stock suspension. I like the idea of an oil temp guage. Do you know what radiator your friend used?

I might fix and flip it. A dual-use family car you might enjoy is a first gen TSX in that price range. I know, I know, FWD, but I like them. An e46 sedan would be another. The L6 BMW motors are great on the elevation changes around AMP and RA.

FWD just doesn't do it for me on track, though I do enjoy it for autocross. The maintenance costs worry me on the bmws, and the entry fee on the rx8 was just too good to pass up. I figure with this one being a series 2 and only having 30k miles on it, I've got a good chance of getting 20-30k more before it needs a new motor if I maintain it properly. If I keep it that long, that should be at least 4 years.

[Force McCocken]

Your logic is invalid if you are worried about maintenance costs of an e46 versus an RX8. There are reasons some cars become spec racers and others don’t.