My new car!

[RX-7 Chris]

I like the wheels.

When I upgraded the fuel pump, I basically ran the same setup with the rewiring. Worked like a charm.

[speedjunkie]

I got a Kenne Bell boost-a-pump. It only kicks on under a certain boost pressure and it delivers up to 50% more fuel (IIRC it's 50%), depending on what you set it on. And when it's unplugged from power the fuel pump still works so that's all good haha. Nifty little device actually. I did see that rewiring writeup though, better you than me HAHA.

[chickenwafer]

I've been looking at the Kenne Bell BAP (Boost-A-Pump). I've heard they work best with Denso/Bosch pumps and Walbro pumps have issues with them. Not a big deal, since I'm considering the Supra/Denso pump anyways.

I'm not yet at a power level where I need it, but once I get some more parts I will consider it.

[GR-8]

You sir have a nice taste in wheels.

[speedjunkie]

Yeah I have the Supra pump. I have a Walbro but it's not a drop-in replacement and I didn't want to deal with the hassle so I just bought a Supra pump anyway. Then I wanted to make absolutely SURE I had enough fuel delivery for later so that's why I got the BAP. Which I highly suggest if you're planning on doing to the FD what you did to the 8, and I know you will. LOL

[chickenwafer]

Eric- I've heard a mixed bag of reviews on the Kenne Bell BAP. Some say it works...others say they didn't notice a difference. Next round of gauges I'm putting in a voltage gauge that will be wired directly off the fuel pump, so I can see exactly how many volts are being pushed into the fuel pump.

So, I took the wheels off and back into Discount. Guy re-balanced them, said only 2 were about a 1/2 oz off. He said I must be super anal LOL. I said it's a lightweight car so it probably amplified the minor unbalancing. I also ordered a set of hubcentric rings so hopefully that will help...the guy at Discount said they would.

So now I am debating about my next round of mods:

-Alpine deck (factory CD player is busted), dual 52mm DIN gauge pod (goes under the deck), AEM Analog coolant temp gauge, AEM Analog voltage gauge.

OR

-'99 Spec front lip, No Alpine deck, remove factory CD player (it's in a separate DIN opening of the radio so it can be removed on it's own), install dual 52mm DIN gauge pod and the AEM gauges.

-'99 Spec front lip, Shine low profile rear lip spoiler, convert to '99 spec taillights

Last option, -Save for Apexi Power FC with Commander, FC Datalogit tuning box for the PFC, Banzai OMP-delete block off kit, Banzai emissions block-off plates. I would need to save for a few more weeks for this...

[speedjunkie]

I'm planning on going with a different gauge mount setup so I may be getting rid of my triple gauge DIN setup (if you chose to use 3 guages instead of 2), and I have a 99 spec lip on my old bumper. I might be willing to part with these pieces. I usually hang onto everything, but I should probably start selling stuff. I always think I MIGHT go back to that someday so I need to hang onto it HAHA. I'd be more willing to let go of the gauge piece than the lip, but anything is possible haha.

There was a PFC and datalogit set on 7club not long ago for a good price, but it's gone already. No surprise, it took me forever to nab mine, you gotta be quick on those.

[chickenwafer]

I think I'd prefer to purchase a new PFC, just so I don't have to potentially spend hours fixing up someone else's idea of a "good" map or restoring the thing to factory settings. Not to mention, with electronics in particular, you take a big risk of it not working...

I can find triple DIN gauge pods all day long on EGhey for like $15 bucks, but I don't think I want three gauges. That will be 6 gauges total in the car, plus a boost controller eventually, and of course the Commander of the PFC. It's gonna look like the StarShip Enterprise LOL.


So, I got the wheels back on, filled up the FD and went for a short drive. No more vibration!! Couldn't tell if it was the re-balancing of the wheels, the new hubcentric rings, or both. I can say the hub rings were a TIGHT fight. I think they are going to be prema-pressed into the hub of wheels LOL. They might have been 0.1mm too large.

The only bad news was on the drive my water/meth wasn't working! Since I did the fuel pump re-wire, I was running wires through the foot well area near my water/meth system so I thought I might have damaged the wiring.

When I pulled the car in the garage, I decided to check to make sure the switch I put on the water/meth controller was on...it was off, LOL. All that worry for nothing...I must have knocked the switch when rooting around there.

[chickenwafer]

Well, ordered the '99 Spec lip. Best price I found was from Rotary Performance (rx7.com) if anyone else is looking for one.

Next up is a PFC with Commander and Datalogit. Prepping for the winter where I'm going to remove all emissions BS, go simplified sequential, probably polish some stuff, and build a custom dual oil cooler kit with Earls -10AN ProLite braided nylon hose, AN fittings, and dual 19 row aluminum Earls coolers.

[speedjunkie]

You do know that APEX'i stopped production of the PFC for the FD right? Probably about a year and a half if not two years ago, IIRC. Someone MIGHT have one they've never installed, and some companies might still have some they didn't sell, but I'd definitely call them first to check on stock before buying it from them. They were hard as hell to find already before they stopped making them, now they're even harder to find sometimes.

And just what are you trying to say about having 6 gauges and the Commander?! I have 6 gauges, going to have a 7th for EGT, and the Commander! LOL

Glad you got the vibration thing taken care of though, and that the water inj was an easy fix.

[chickenwafer]

Yeah, I'm aware Apex'i stopped production of the PFC. I seen them for sale, brand new, on websites all day long right now. Banzai has units brand new, never used, in stock right now for $950 with the Commander.

Apex'i also released a new Commander I heard about, but have limited information on. I heard it has a new OLED screen that may be color, but I'm not sure, but it's has more than 10x greater resolution than the previous version. Good news there, considering the Commander hasn't been redesigned since the EMS was introduced in 1999.

That's my only other worry with the PFC- it was introduced in '99 and hasn't really received any updates since. Aftermarket standalone EMS technology has made lightyears worth of advancements since then, and the PFC is pretty lacking.

The only real benefit to the PFC for the FD is the large pool of people using it. The AEM Standalone has a metric shit ton of more features and is technologically- hardware and software- over a decade newer than the PFC. But for some reason, not many FD owners seen to embrace the AEM....

[speedjunkie]

Like I said, check with whichever company before you buy. I've seen on many websites that they still say they have some for sale, but when was the last time the website was updated, ya know? SR Motorsports still says they have some, but I'm not even sure those guys are in business anymore after all the shit they've pulled on customers.

I thought about the AEM unit too, but I think the only reason people don't use it is because they can't find many tuners to tune it, and no one in our community really knows about it. It's almost a herd mentality I think, no one really steps out to be different. It's either PFC, Haltech, or Motec usually, not much else. I think price might have something to do with it too, considering you could get the PFC and commander for around $1000, and the AEM is, what, $1500-2000 or so? I'm not sure on Haltech and Motec though.

And they do have a new commander. There is a GB going on for it right now actually. I think they're asking $250 or $300 for it. The screen is MUCH easier to see, and it's displayed reverse from what it is on the old model...the screen is black and the letters are white or whatever. My old model is still working though and I don't look at it all that much anyway so I figured what is the point of getting a new one.

[chickenwafer]

Well the AEM EMS V1 is only $1200 right now for PnP with the FD. So only $250 more than PFC with Commander, but you a Datalogit to tune the PFC so there's another $300. So the AEM is actually less expensive and exponentially more powerful.

I completely agree with the "herd mentality" of FD owners and 7club. It's only been very recently that aggressive wheels have become acceptable...most people on 7Club think you've "ruined the car" with wheels with an offset lower than +50 lol. Everyone is so conservative...no body kits except for OEM '99 Spec, no aggressive wheels, you must get these parts with these parts, etc etc.

What they don't realize, is A) It' THEIR car, not their own, and, most importantly, It's people who rock the boat and innovate that push development of the platform. I guess all people with FD's should be rolling around with streetported GT35R setups, 880/1680 old school Bosch injectors, RPF1 wheels with the largest rubber on them that will fit and no offset less than +50mm, an OEM '99 Spec Mazdz front end and side skirts, and then shell out obscene amounts of money for OEM RZ/Spirit R seats and steering wheels, etc.

The only real way the PFC excels over the AEM is the way it controls the factory twins. It replicates the OEM twin turbo boost control system perfectly. The AEM excels in everything else- idle control, cold starts, warm starts, timing maps, fuel maps, plus added benefits like a build-in boost controller with the AEM solenoid, progressive nitrous controller, 2-step launch control, internal datalogging, serial data output/input, and more.

The new EMS V2 should be launching soon for the FD and has other features, such as greater internal datalogging memory, password protection for tunes, more advanced internal boost control, auto-tune features, and a cool new feature that will warn you when changing parameters in a map if it conflicts with something else.

[speedjunkie]

Damn, the AEM stuff sounds pretty good. Truthfully, I don't look at the Commander much as it is, and I don't change my boost settings much either, so I could use the AEM unit. I do like looking at air temps every now and then, but I could do without that I guess. You almost have me convinced to go with AEM haha.

Have you been watching the FD pics thread on 7club? They're completely railing that dude with -30 offset wheels on the rear. I admit, it does look a bit ridiculous going THAT wide, but I'm sure mine looked as ridiculous to some when I did it. To me that's just too much, but I'm not gonna be all over the guy's back for it, it's his car. Actually one of the guys that chimed in there, he was all over Zico for having Carbon Fiber on his CYM, and that guy has two CYMs. It's not like Z can't make it all CYM again if he wants, gimme a freakin break. He was telling me in PMs how much he loves my rear wheels and tires, and I told him I was Zicos roommate (all this was several months ago) and I haven't heard from the guy since HAHA. He's in Vegas btw.

[chickenwafer]

Yeah, I think it's funny how they are so quick to judge other people. It's a style, get over it. They really railroaded him.

The Charlier Baynes or whatever guy doesn't seem very nice...

But that's how most FD guys were- we have a big advantage here Eric, LOL. Most FD drivers are under 6"...most are actually >5'9". So with you being 6'4" and me 6'6" we are probably some of the tallest FD owners out there. It cracks me up, there was a thread on 7club about how some guy "couldn't fit" in his FD, he was 6'3". People were saying he was too tall for the car...I got 3-4" on the guy and I fit...so I don't know.

Back on topic...I'm still on the fence about the AEM. The biggest issue is the base map is basically trash- only good to get the car started, idling, and drivable to your tuner/dyno. That's not a huge deal for me, since I plan on tuning on my own.

So probably the biggest deal is the lack of support group. Not very many people are using the AEM on the FD so little is known about it, and thus not many people to help out with tuning, troubleshooting, etc.

I also know the PFC will simply ignore any sensor that isn't plugged in...helpful for when going single turbo or simple sequential...not sure what the AEM will do when a sensor isn't plugged in.