FC Zach's '87 Sport

[infernosg]

Neat idea with the gauges. I wish I thought of something like that when I was still trying to figure everything out. I went with the "expensive" option of upgrading the ECU to a PS1000 and using a RacePak display.

I don't see the issue with "plugging the bypass port." Doesn't it go to the intake manifold or something? I got rid of mine because there was no place for coolant to go with everything else I'd removed.

[C. Ludwig]

No issue with plugging that port. The lines runs from the rear iron, through the intake for the thermowax cold idle function, and then to the water pump. Plug the pump and the rear iron and you're done.

[FC Zach]

Yeah mine has been plugged for some time now, I just remember talking with a reputable rotary guy in the local community where he went on about the importance of having the two ports tied together. . something about air pockets that "could" be trapped in the rear iron. .

The theory made sense by the way he explained it but it never worried me much. I was more so stating it as a disclaimer to avoid any shaming

[FC Zach]

So I got an emissions test done on the Mazda today. Although I didn't expect it to pass I definitely didn't see it doing worse than when it was carbed. . . The car hasn't been tuned much so more will be needed (which is why I didn't expect much), I was just hoping it was running a little lean but that is definitely not the case. A separate tune for emissions will be needed.

Here's the EFI results:


And carbed results from many years ago:

[FerociousP]

Rotaries run rich at idle (to idle well), especially ported ones. and my RX8 with no cat still smelled like my FC.

You need a cat or an extremely lean tune with barely running bc of retarded timing to pass emissions... (and know a guy who is gonna say "yep, looks like a cat under there").

EFI will get you precision and repeatability/consistency, but it'll still smell and kill the environment

[FC Zach]

What I really enjoy is that neither of my cars have cats and they've never questioned me. Hell, the celica shits daisies with absolutely no emissions (JDM engine).

[FC Zach]

Originally I had planned to make some type of intake but with OEM parts laying around I figured I'd try them first. I am really liking the OE look. One day I'll try a custom intake to see what power differences are made when I get to a dyno.

[TitaniumTT]

Couple things here....

1) Kudo's for Chris for being man enough and responsible enough to admit when he made a mistake. So many people here wouldn't fess up to it and I feel like that goes a LONG way to describe his character, ethics, morals and business practices

2) That is actually pretty genius with the gauges.... damn... I'm going to have to remember that!

3) It's not impossible or nearly as hard as people think to get a rotary to pass emmissions. I went through that horseshit a few years ago and even made a thread about it somewhere with the results of my sniffer test. I WAS running a cat through, and I didn't alter the tuning that much either. I pulled a little fuel out at cruising because I generally run my cruising a little richer than most anyway, usually ~.87L as opposed to the .92-.95L that most people run at. So I leaned it out to I think .92ish before going for the sniffer test and that was that... done... hopefully never have to go through it again because I would need to build more exhaust bullshit and blah blah blah because now 4" exhuast... does anyone even make a 4" cat?

So Zac... are you running a cat or trying squeak through without one? Maybe try adding an RX8 airpump right into the exhaust?

[FC Zach]

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Couple things here....

1) Kudo's for Chris for being man enough and responsible enough to admit when he made a mistake. So many people here wouldn't fess up to it and I feel like that goes a LONG way to describe his character, ethics, morals and business practices

Yes, you are 100% correct! I've heard horror stories dealing with other harness "builders" from different car friends. Chris was determined to resolve the issue/s and has been a big help along the way.

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

2) That is actually pretty genius with the gauges.... damn... I'm going to have to remember that!

I thought it was a great idea as well, it was something I wanted to eliminate having too many gauges yet still be able to monitor different areas. For something that makes so much sense, I couldn't find any diagrams/how-to for doing this. Chris was a big help with this! He made a diagram (color coded and easy to read for me) for the different gauges, showing connections to either a DPDT or SPST switch.

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

3) It's not impossible or nearly as hard as people think to get a rotary to pass emmissions. I went through that horseshit a few years ago and even made a thread about it somewhere with the results of my sniffer test. I WAS running a cat through, and I didn't alter the tuning that much either. I pulled a little fuel out at cruising because I generally run my cruising a little richer than most anyway, usually ~.87L as opposed to the .92-.95L that most people run at. So I leaned it out to I think .92ish before going for the sniffer test and that was that... done... hopefully never have to go through it again because I would need to build more exhaust bullshit and blah blah blah because now 4" exhuast... does anyone even make a 4" cat?

It is definitely doable, no doubt! The problem I have is that I am not confident (AT ALL) with making any changes to the Haltech program especially without guidance. It's a slow progress but it'll get done and like you say "and that was that... done... hopefully never have to go through it again" that's my thoughts on the tuning. . Once it's done I should never have to adjust it again (except for season changes I have been told and of course modifications). Once it's tuned I'd like to make a separate file just for emissions testing where I'll upload while sitting in line at the facility

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

So Zac... are you running a cat or trying squeak through without one? Maybe try adding an RX8 airpump right into the exhaust?

No cat, just presilencer (I passed visual inspection like this). I planned to have it tuned till barely running, maybe adding some alcohol as well but worse case I haven't ruled out the idea of running a pump, I just want to see if I can do without one first so I don't have to install/remove a kit yearly.

[FerociousP]

Originally Posted by FC Zach

No cat, just presilencer (I passed visual inspection like this). I planned to have it tuned till barely running, maybe adding some alcohol as well but worse case I haven't ruled out the idea of running a pump, I just want to see if I can do without one first so I don't have to install/remove a kit yearly.

On my '87 Sport, i passed TN emissions on stock ecu with no cat by turning the CAS as far as i could retarded and putting in a bunch of ISO heet (think 8ish bottles) into the gas tank. That idea has been around for a while, and honestly i'm surprised it worked. The car came into the bay doing the TPS idle bounce (prob bc ecu was freaking out)... honestly i think i got lucky, guy may have even pulled one of the probes (dual exh) out early to help.

On my vert, I had a stock air pump running with the outlet hose going to a o2 sensor location directly in front of a working aftermarket cat.

If I had to do it all over again, i'd spend the extra money putting a real cat on there temporarily as its almost a "sure thing". You seem to be ok with multiple attempts so you can mess with tuning and such, but it will be a long road IMO. Especially with being ported. My guess is you will need some sort of air injection, and hopefully can still bolt up a NA air pump easily if you still have one.

[FC Zach]

Originally Posted by FerociousP

and hopefully can still bolt up a NA air pump easily if you still have one.

I've never had one on the car. Most definitely the first thing I threw away ten years ago. Not that it would be a difficult part to get my hands on. . I just want simplicity and to me a separate tune (if possible) is much easier than installing and removing parts yearly IMO. Also, I'm not opposed to using a cat either but this is another part that I will be removing yearly as I don't want that staying on the car.

If it's going to be a difficult "long road", it may be in my best interest to get an antique auto tag (temporarily, however long that may be) so I can drive legally while this tuning work progresses.

[rx7 vinnie]

Race car has antique tags....... I drive it all the time I just keep a repair work order in it if I get pulled over.

[FC Zach]

Jeff and I were talking about that earlier, I may do this. . That and if the daily is "down" I guess I could technically drive it legally too.

[rx7 vinnie]

Yea that would be the cheapest route.

[FC Zach]

Great news, car is tuned and running very well. Installed my new plugs I've been sitting on, waiting on this day to come to install them. And the best news, I got the car registered (legally! !) but with an antique auto tag. I'm ready for DGRR 2016!