An STX RX-8?! Chiketkd's 2010 STX thread!!!

[Chiketkd]

My 2010 STX set-up is listed below. Details of individual mods to come later...

Model: 2006 6MT RX-8 base (sport package)

Suspension:

• Bilstein PSS9 coilovers
• Hotchkis 27mm MX-5 FSB (3 way adjustable)
• Eibach 16mm MX-5 RSB (2 way adjustable)

Brakes:

• OEM pads and rotors

Engine/Exhuast:

• RB intake
• BHR ignition kit
• RB mid-pipe (with Davesport cat and Vibrant 12" resonator added)
• Corksport catback

Wheels:

• 17x9 +45 Enkei RPF1's
• 255/40/17 Hankook RS-3's (full tread)

Body:

• OEM front lip and rear spoiler

Alignment:

• Height F 13.5" / R 13.5"
• Caster 6.5
• Camber F -2.3 / R -2.0
• Toe F 0 / R 0

Other:

• Optima Red Top Battery

[Chiketkd]

SUSPENSION

Coilovers-
This would be the primary focus of my STX build, and as my funds were limited, I wanted to get the best coilovers available for under 2K. Even better, would be to find a modular type coilover that I could upgrade later as funds allowed.

After speaking with Strano for over an hour one evening and e-mailing Tech Support at various suspension companies, I went with the Bilstein PSS9's. While their single adjustable (adjusts both compression & rebound), Strano had very positive things to say about the quality of their damping, and they could be easily upgraded later to handle stiffer spring rates and even converted to a double adjustable shock.



My friend Shawn helped me with the install, and we were done in ~3 hrs.



These coilovers have 9 adjustment settings for shock damping (1 firmest, 9 softest). The lower springs perch can also be moved up or down to adjust the ride height of the car.

The standard springs rates are kinda soft and will need to be changed in the future:

Front: 340lbs/in (linear)
Rear: 240lbs/in (progressive)

I plan to complete 5-6 events on the stock PSS9 coilovers and then switch out the front springs to some stiffer (400lbs/in) Swift coilover springs which I've already received in the mail.



Swaybars-
I kept my 3-way adjustable Hotchkis MX-5 front swaybar:



From the Hotchkis suspension website, the effective spring rate of each of these different settings are as follows:

Softest - 520lbs/in
Middle - 615lbs/in
Firmest - 735lbs/in

I purchased a 2-way adjustable Eibach MX-5 rear swaybar:



From calling Eibach directly, I obtained the effective spring rates of the two settings:

Softest - 100lbs/in
Formest - 120lbs/in


ENGINE/EXHAUST

As I wouldn't have the funds to do engine management right away, I decided to get all of my intake and exhaust mods in place, so that when the funds were available, I could get a tune right away.

Intake-
As the stock intake worked well, gains with this upgrade are only minimal (3-4hp/tq). But I was still, looking for a performance increase wherever possible. I went with a Racing Beat intake, which is a company known for quality products in the rotary community.



Ignition-
Due to the high revving nature of the engine and the heat the rotary powerplant puts out, this is a weak point on a stock RX-8. Black Halo Racing (BHR) has developed a very reliable ignition kit for the RX-8 using coils from a GMC Yukon.



Midpipe-

Gains from a decent highflow cat can be significant in the RX-8, so I wanted to devote a lot of my funds and attention to this area.

I went with a Racing Beat stainless midpipe, Vibrant 12" resonator and an all-metal high-flow cat used on rally cars that run anti-lag.



I took these exhaust pieces to svxfiles who welded everything up for me and then coated them in some lovely 2,000F thermal resistant exhaust paint.

Here's a pic I snapped as svxfiles was adding some tack welds on the front of the high flow cat.



Catback-
I kept my Corksport catback from my B-stock days due to it's light-weight and free flowing characteristics:

[Chiketkd]

WHEELS & TIRES

My wheels consideration was quite simple. I wanted the lightest wheel possible that fit within my budget (~1K max). 18x9" wheels were a possibility, but most that were close to my budget weighed in the 19lb range.

My RX-8 could fit 17" wheels, so I decided to go with a set of 15.9lbs Enkei RPF1's in a 17x9 +45 size.



My tire choice was much more of an agonizing decision. After reading 4-5 different tire comparison articles, and speaking with numerous friends/contacts in the world of autocrossing, I decided to focus on dry performance/grip and go with the new Hankook RS-3's.



These are now mounted and ready to go after a trip to the tire store in my wife's new 2010 Lancer Sportback.

[Chiketkd]

My 2010 season will now be officially under-way this coming weekend, when my local Blue Ridge Region hosts a Test-n-Tune on Saturday (3/20) and Points event #1 on Sunday (3/21).

Gary Krichbaum, an experienced ESP camaro driver from my region, will be co-driving with me both days.



Gary should be able to offer me invaluable assistance in making some initial suspension adjustments on the car.

[92_LSL]

love the rim choice !

[Chiketkd]

Thanks! I haven't even had them on my car yet, but that will change by this weekend.

I'll be sure to update this thread with plenty of pics from the T&T and Event #1.

[SilverSpear]

Good luck Chike

[Mr. Pockets]

Chike and I have been talking RX8s since we each bought one. I run mine in STX, as well.

I look forward to running in the same class as Chike at a National Tour event.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by SilverSpear

Good luck Chike

Thanks Danny. I hope to have many more updates as my season progresses...

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

Chike and I have been talking RX8s since we each bought one. I run mine in STX, as well.

I look forward to running in the same class as Chike at a National Tour event.

Very true. I'm looking forward to running with you as well Nick.

I'll have to see how my season goes - the Peru NT is still not a definite for me. Might just do local/regional stuff this year until this car is decently sorted (on both asphalt & concrete).

[Sov13t]

Eww. Bolt-Ons Galore.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally Posted by Sov13t

Eww. Bolt-Ons Galore.

That's pretty much what the ST* SOLO classes were made for, to attract kids with bolt-on modifications to their cars. It turned out to be pretty fun, and of course if you give any set of rules to competitive people, they'll take it seriously pretty much no matter what those rules say.

My RX8 is similarly prepped, with bolt-ons, and it's an awful lot of fun to drive. I'd much rather spend the money on parts and learn how to prepare the car than throw the same amount of money away on tires in a stock class.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Sov13t

Eww. Bolt-Ons Galore.

LOL. I'll take that as a compliment...

[SVXRide]

Chike,
What were the other two tires in your final 3? Did you consider the "Stars"?
-Bill

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

Chike,
What were the other two tires in your final 3? Did you consider the "Stars"?
-Bill

Who said I had a final 3?

My final choice was actually between the RE-11's and the RS-3's. The RE-11's are good in the dry & the wet, while the RS-3's are an exceptional dry tire and a little more "sketchy" in the wet. In the end, I wanted to have the absolute best dry tire and from my research the RS-3's were the ones for me...

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

Who said I had a final 3?

My final choice was actually between the RE-11's and the RS-3's. The RE-11's are good in the dry & the wet, while the RS-3's are an exceptional dry tire and a little more "sketchy" in the wet. In the end, I wanted to have the absolute best dry tire and from my research the RS-3's were the ones for me...

Chike,
I was just going out on a limb and guessing that there were at least 3 tires that were at the top of your list. Did you read the tire test that was in Sports Car mag a couple of issues back?
-Bill