Hello All.
Probably covered, but I'm having trouble finding what I'm looking for; so apologies in advance.
1985 S model here (12a, 5 speed); approximately 85,500 miles. I've owned the car a little over 12 years, and have kept things mostly original - new shocks, springs, bushings, brakes, etc. about three or four years ago. Other than that, pretty much standard maintenance.
At this point, my exhaust is definitely in need of replacement.
Is Racing Beat still the go-to exhaust option for these cars? I'd like to drop the factory manifold and replace with headers, and I'd like to retain the factory appearance of two exhaust outlets. What are my options?

 

i'm for racing beat. they will stand up to the heat better, and basically a bolt on and go setup. i currently run the streetport system.

 

Thanks for the reply. I've always heard that Racing Beat is the way to go; however, I've also read (granted on the internet - so there's that) that their newer inventory isn't as robust as what they used to sell. Perhaps related to available supplies or something else - that part I don't know. So I'm looking for recent experience - did you recently add the Racing Beat setup?

 

There were some issues when they switched from the Italian manufacturer to a new one but that was a few years ago. Mostly folks were not happy with the sound and thought the fabrication wasn't as good. I'm not sure how valid that was TBH.

I think now they are back on track to being a nice sounding exhaust again. Hopefully someone will post that has gotten one in the last year or so to confirm.

 

What part of the exhaust system NEEDS to be replaced, vs. what you want to replace? If the rear muffler is in good shape, you could add a RB header and Presilencer and see if you like the sound. If not, then add the RB muffler. The midpipe is NLA and you'll be reusing your stock part, unless you want to upgrade to RB long or short street pipe setup, which replaces the entire system from the header to the tips.

I've been running a RB header, PowerPulse Presilencer and Muffler on my SE for over 25 years, and that vintage of parts is rock solid. You might call RB and let them know your concerns about quality and sound and go from there. Good looking 7, and congrats keeping it on the road!

 

I appreciate that. The entire exhaust system is original; however, the muffler definitely needs to be replaced and the cats are pretty much shot. So at this point, I was thinking "might as well replace everything". Good idea on calling RB directly; although I am hopeful to get some recent real world comments in terms of currently available parts.

 

I bought the Racing Beat exhaust system (https://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1975-...ems/16410.html) around June 2021 for my 79 RX7. Once it was back on the road with a mild street port rebuild I've not been very happy with the sound. Cold and at low RPM it has a very tinny sound that only gets a little better once warmed up and at higher RPM's. I've heard that they have recognized this and the latest version fixes some of that. In the new year I'll give them a call and see what I can do to improve the sound. Also the "chrome" finish was flaking off from the start but since I had the header ceramic coated before I put it in service I did not care.
Very nice looking car!

 

https://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1975-...ems/16423.html

this is the system i run on a streetported 13b from a 74 rx4. the system is the older version so it's 40+ yrs old, and back when the muffler tips were angle cut. has a fairly deep tone and not too loud. i also have another system that's basically the same just without the dual presilencers in the middle. it's really loud and does have a tinny sound. i ran this system for many yrs. i was very surprised how much quieter adding the 2 presilencers made it sound.

 

More about sound and power than reliability, but hopefully this will be useful. have an 81 S, engine pretty much stock with upgraded suspension, brakes etc like yours. Over the last three years I switched the stock exhaust for Racing Beat header, pre silencer and cat back. (No cats). So far so good, but not enough time to tell if any durability issues. The job was straightforward, could do the whole thing in well under a day if no seized bolts. It’s defn louder than stock, and has a raspier note, so it’s fun to listen to when driving hard... but you will also sound like racer boy in your neighborhood. I did the job in two stages. First did the cat back which didnt make a huge difference to power or sound, then the manifold and pre-silencer with cat delete which made much more difference. I also replaced the stock hydraulic fan with an electronic fan, and frankly makes as much difference to the sound as the exhaust did. That stock fan made me sound like a UPS truck! RB manifold and cat delete also had a noticeable increase in power, there are a few highway hills locally where I no longer need to shift down to maintain speed.

Here is a Youtube link to the exhaust sound inside the cab with windows down. Wasnt really hammering it as twisty road, greasy after first rains of the season, but gives you an idea. Ignore the little buzz each time the engine passes around 4000 rpm, I had a loose heat shield. Tightened the shield up since the video was made and noise went away, so not the exhaust buzzing.


Edit: Dont forget to heat wrap the manifold or build/buy a heat shield for under the carb. I fell into a rabbit hole of research about this and ended up going for the simple solution, heat wrap.

 

here's a short drive video i did from 15 yrs ago when i was running the streetport system without the dual presilencers.

 

No oil pressure, no water temperature, no sound only noise and rattling🫣

 

temp and oil are seperate gauges.