2004 Mazda RX-8Engine:LQ4 6.0
BTR Hot Rod Cam
LS1 Intake Manifold
Custom Intake
Aluminum Radiator
Oil Cooler
Oil Filter Relocation
Weiand Swap Oil Pan
CX Racing Swap Mounts
Long Tube Headers
AEM Wideband
2.5” Exhaust
Transmission:CD009 6 Speed (Nissan/Infiniti)
T56 Bellhousing
Collins Swap Adaptor
Steel Bar Crossmember
Rear:Ford Explorer 8.8 Rear Diff (Welded)
Custom Swap Driveshaft
Wheels/Suspension:TEIN Coilovers
This is bought instead of built, but it needs work so I'll make a build out of it.
I thought I was done with these. I had three before then finally got my first RX-7 which is what I always wanted so there was no reason to get one again.
My brother got this RX-8 not long ago.
The sale post looked good.
2004 Mazda RX-8
LQ4 6.0
CD009 6 Speed
BTR Hot Cam
8.8 Rear Diff
TEIN Coilovers
Needs Tune
No AC
No Powersteering
No Third Gear
He didn’t really do anything do it or with it besides rip it around now and then.
I got a message:
“Think i might list the rx8 soon if you’re interested.”
I said:
“I have all of the interest.”
Later it goes up for sale.
The details carry over from the original sale post, which I don’t have.
I go check it out for the first time.
I load it up and take it to the shop.
We are going to go through it and see what all it needs.
The original sale ad said it needed a tune and that was never addressed.
Overview:
The oil filter is relocated up front near the oil cooler.
Radiator is aluminum and looks to be in the factory location.
Depowered Steering Rack
Swap Oil Pan
Flat Steel Bar was a transmission crossmember.
So, the oil filter was required to be relocated with the pan.
CD009 transmission mated to a T56 bellhousing with a Collins adaptor.
-6an fuel line.
X-Pipe.
A lot of exhaust leaks.
TEIN Coilovers.
8.8 Rear with swap axles.
An IRS doesn’t usually do that, it must be welded.
CX Racing Swap Mounts.
Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge just chilling in the engine bay.
That Master Cylinder doesn’t look too effective.
Gauge pillar pod barely holding on.
Factory gauges don’t work and every light that can be on is on.
Issues:
Starter needed to be changed.
The fuel pump wiring was spliced and exposed.
The Mass Air Flow sensor was facing the wrong direction.
One ground in the engine bay from the block to the strut tower which is painted.
We added more on just to see if it fixes the ground issues.
A freeze plug is where a block off plate should be.
The power cable that leads to the relocated battery is a jumper cable.
The ground was the other half of the jumper cable.
I picked some new cables out of a BMW.
There is a monstrosity of madness behind the dash.
The power cable runs directly from the battery to a cut off switch in the dash.
It looks like the wires were shorting out on the dash bar.
But all that will be corrected.
It’s not well sorted for sure, but I will say: It was priced at $6000 and not at $15,000.
The current build list is still a pretty good value for the cost of the car.
A running and driving swapped RX-8 for $6k, I think that’s a win.
