1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

79 engine

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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 09:00 PM
  #1  
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79 engine

I have a 85 with a 12a can i put a 79 12a in my car, and is there anything I need to do to accomodate this transfer? thanks for help
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 09:31 PM
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yeah sure you can put the engine in, however the 79 has a thermal reactor, and the 85 uses catalytic convertors. The carb is slightly different as well. So answer your question, you can but realisticly, you can only use the bare block, and bolt everything from the 85 on it.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 09:38 PM
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Yes you can, as long as you don't have to pass emissions.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...al#post2807501 explains the differences handily.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 09:44 PM
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Originally posted by hornbm
yeah sure you can put the engine in, however the 79 has a thermal reactor, and the 85 uses catalytic convertors. The carb is slightly different as well. So answer your question, you can but realisticly, you can only use the bare block, and bolt everything from the 85 on it.
The ACV in the '85 manifold wouldn't be able to direct air to the exhaust ports, though, since the SA engine does not have the air injection passage there under the center intake ports.

The SA carb seems to run better than the later junk. I never understood why Sterling was so horny for making the accelerator pump shot bigger and bigger, until I went from using an '80 carb to an '85 carb. Whoa Nellie, big difference there!

Search is slow as hell lately... here's another link:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ns#post2849828
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 11:39 PM
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Use the 79 carb and intake, its higher flowing and has bigger ports. Trash that 90 lb piece of **** thermal reactor. its a heavy waste of perfect iron.
The 79s had catalytic converters in addition to it's thermal reactor though. Oh, and you can use 85 exhaust headers instead of that reactor. They are lighter and a bit more freeflowing.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 11:54 PM
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I thought it was a heat exchanger and NOT at cat.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 12:32 AM
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Originally posted by shm21284
Use the 79 carb and intake, its higher flowing and has bigger ports. Trash that 90 lb piece of **** thermal reactor. its a heavy waste of perfect iron.
The 79s had catalytic converters in addition to it's thermal reactor though. Oh, and you can use 85 exhaust headers instead of that reactor. They are lighter and a bit more freeflowing.
They did not have a cat, it's a heat exchanger.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 01:35 AM
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Woops. looks kinda like one, though.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 06:59 AM
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I have a picture of the Heat Exchanger/Catalytic Converter, whatever it is.



It is on my newly bought '79(I'm a newbie), so is it a cat or not? My car has got a new header installed by the previous owner, så I guess the Thermal Reactor is gone - if the box in the picture in fact is a heat-exchanger, can I remove it with no effect on emissions?

thanks


Alex
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 07:18 AM
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That's neither a catalytic convertor nor a heat exchanger...

It's a muffler.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 07:27 AM
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Oh! Thanks for clearing that up.
That's good news, I guess will replace it with some straight pipe then. The existing pipes look awfully twisted and rusty IMO.


Alex
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