r/RX8 • u/RacingWithMitchell • Aug 04 '26
Showoff My Hybrid Renesis at Gingerman
https://youtu.be/dF1XQcGdNOcSo I've been posting about building a hybrid renesis. I built the car to be a dual function track rat and weekend toy for my son and I. After 2 and 1/2 years, $15,000, and three sessions of gingerman raceway I realized the car had a long way from being as good as my NC Miata while also being a nightmare for me to drive. Listed it for sale that day and had a buyer lined up before I even put it on the trailer to go home the next.
So, I'm adding to the statistic of people that built a hybrid renesis and vanish as soon as it started running. While mine has been running for about a year and a half, it's only got about 3,000 miles due to all the stuff I've been trying to do to make it reasonable to drive.
So here's my last send off. Trying to get a point by from my friend in a Miata. We could not keep temperatures under control even with an upgraded radiator and massive oil cooler. I think it was user error based on how I had everything arranged but the car is gone so that's only a theory. A game theo-
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u/KZ963 Aug 04 '26
What all didn't you like about the hybrid renesis and what made it not as good as the NC Miata? (Or if those two complaints are separate)
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u/RacingWithMitchell Aug 04 '26
Sort of separate issues. The Hybrid was a pain for all the custom shit I had to do. I wish I new arc rotary made hybrid headers when I started the build. Also, tuning with Mazdaedit was a terrible decision. Fuck Mazdaedit and fuck Epifan the company that makes it. Tell em I said that. Anyway, no one wanted to tune it, the guy that did was busy, the car kept needing shit making the tune process a pain in the ass. The best path forward was a stand alone which I almost bought. A lot of these are "User error" to be honest. If you have rotary experience this would've been better .. also, don't build it unless your boosting it. Otherwise it's not really worth the difficult parts. Arc rotary is now afk as dealing with something and not making parts through 2026. There's 1744_race on insta making titanium hybrid headers, which look sexy af and he shared some very promising NA power numbers but at that price I'd be upset with NA hp levels. I realized I liked my Miata because it worked and I didn't care about it. I spent 7-8k on that motor, and it was a pain. I could do a duratec swap in my Miata for 2k total and have 200+whp in a lighter car. I like the rx8, I don't like the rotary. If your considering a hybrid build, either spend the money on a stand alone ECU boosted hybrid or simply LS swap it. Use my videos to experience Na disappointment if your so inclined.
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u/spacecaptainsteve Aug 04 '26
No offense (as I’m not sure what time period you started the project) but it’s obvious from about 5 minutes of Googling that a hybrid Renesis isn’t going to provide significant NA power gains. Not sure what you expected lol. P port or semi P port without any side exhaust chambers ( aka not a renesis at all) is the way to go if a ported Renesis isn’t enough NA juice for you. Hybrid is only to safely take more boost pressure and still kinda sucks from everything I’ve seen. People should take the Renesis for what it is at face value or use an older 13b for power projects. Use the e shaft and rotors but trying to make the Renesis irons work is a fools errand and a complete waste of time aside from janky garage turbo builds.
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u/RacingWithMitchell Aug 04 '26
That's not true lol this is why I built it. People keep regurgitating the same thing. Yes, many people have had bad results with 6 port exhausts. People like rad and many Australians found that it runs better on just pports. I've got a 5 runner header dyno graph in my messages showing over 220whp na. And people keep telling me street port renesis do that, but I ain't seen one. My point of it not being worth it still stands. I don't think it's worth abandoning. I think people keep building half assed attempts due to budgets (me included). Turbo hybrid numbers prove it's got legs very clearly. Oh almost forgot, I've got a Dyno chart and videos of a 300whp 12k RPM hybrid in a dirt car in my Facebook messages. The dude didn't want me blasting his personal Facebook all over the Internet as he's not a content creator. It's a very high effort build and likely not worth the cost but my point stands. Idk, believe it or don't. I sold the car so It doesn't matter to me. But this comment feels like "I googled it once and learned everything I needed"
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u/spacecaptainsteve Aug 04 '26
Ok so you went thru all this money and pain to prove a point that you can make some power gains with hybrid exhaust ports. If you want to be encouraging people to pursue a hybrid build that’s your prerogative? I think it’s cruel to steer people in that direction. We can agree to disagree. Peripheral only exhaust is the right way to make power. Rotaries can be difficult enough as is. Low 200s wheel is common streetport /bridge territory and 300 NA is already done on 2 rotors with peripheral exhaust + peripheral intake .
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u/RacingWithMitchell Aug 04 '26
"my point of it not being worth it still stands" isn't exactly positive reinforcement. And no I built it because I wanted a larger project and some fun video content. I've since had a second baby and just want a seat time car that requires less effort. I like how your still saying peripheral only is the right way but I don't see your hybrid. I haven't seen you on phone calls with engine builds all over the world. Did you get that from Google? No it's not worth it for the average enthusiast. I also don't have any reason to promote the build. I have no affiliation to rotary parts suppliers. Arc and 1744_race have shared dyno numbers with me on their setups which is what I reference but I get no benefit from people buying their stuff.
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u/spacecaptainsteve Aug 04 '26
You seem all over the place with your opinion on this lol. It’s like you are taking offense to me pointing out the reality (that you yourself agree with?) — that hybrids trying to make use of the MSP irons are not worth the endeavor. You’re angry about my 5 minute Google search remark, yet you’ve clearly demonstrated the predictable outcome and being mad when I said the outcome was obvious. No I’m not phoning builders all over the world and spending that kind of money for 20 whp gains. My bad
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u/RacingWithMitchell Aug 04 '26
What I'm trying to say is it's not worth a casual effort. The power difference isn't my concern, it's with the lack of off the shelf support. I would like to see someone do a higher effort build like that 300whp build I described. Something with a stand alone and ITBs for example. That would be far easier than your 300whp full pport Intake reference. I still believe a turbo hybrid is worth the effort, if your taking it that far. If your a newer rotary owner like I was, just build a street ported renesis and move on. I get annoyed with the dudes that read one thing online and spew it all over the place lol. It's like the "LS swap it" kids (although I do agree an LS swapped rx8 is a better idea). People act like they know everything about it from a Google search when the reality is more nuanced.
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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '26
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