i just ordered headers for my 79 12a. am i right in saying that i take off the thermal reactor and bolt them up right there? also, there is another pipe coming off the engine that goes into the exhaust pipe. what do i do with that? all info on header install is welcome, thanks guys!

Noel

 

Thermal Reactor/Exhaust manifold, whichever. The headers just mount straight to the engine. Don't forget the new manifold gasket...

I think you can just plug the hose off at the carburetor for the other pipe with an old spark plug and a worm clamp. Could be wrong though. I drive an '83.....

 

Who did you order the header through? RB sent all the necessary blockoff plates and instructions with my setup. Good luck!

 

actually i ordered the disassembled header from RB(and the gasket). i can weld and it was a lot cheaper. if it doesnt come with something to plug it im sure i can come up with something, but i was just wondering if that is what you are suppose to do?

 

yep it is

 

awesome, cant wait to put em on. as a side note. does it sound good? im straight piping it...

 

I got the full system and it sounds great. Not quite as loud as I expected, but seems to be improving with use. Its only a few days old right now, but seems a little louder and deeper already.

The header will make a huge improvement in HP if its anything like mine. Ditch the cats too if you can.

 

i am, as of right now all i have on it is the thermal reactor. i cut everything else off right there where it comes out of the engine compartment. im going to run two pipes straight off the header and come out right behind the front tire.

 

Thats gonna be loud! Are you gonna run any muffler?

 

lol no, zero exhaust! i want it as loud as possible. Whats the deal with RX7s and back firing? call me crazy but i love reving it up and listening to it sound like a sonic boom. is that ok for the motor? correct me if im wrong but dont the stock exhausts have a straight pipe just for back firing? just want to know if i should be concered about it...

 

The '79 and '80s backfired more because the thermal reactor will not work properly until normal operating temps are reached. Backfiring does not hurt the motor, however it is probably not the best thing for your exhaust if you are purposefully seeing how lound of a "boom" you can make. The stock system was not designed to backfire. It is merely a consequence of using a thermal reactor. If you really are not going to muffle the exhaust at all then you are in for a surprise. Rotarys are louder than piston engines, and you will probably need to wear ear plugs when driving. But I guess it is up to you if you want to get pulled over for having too loud of an exhaust every time you leave the house. Good luck with your header install, and let me know how it goes.

 

The '79 and '80s backfired more because the thermal reactor will not work properly until normal operating temps are reached. Backfiring does not hurt the motor, however it is probably not the best thing for your exhaust if you are purposefully seeing how loud of a "boom" you can make. The stock system was not designed to backfire. It is merely a consequence of using a thermal reactor. If you really are not going to muffle the exhaust at all then you are in for a surprise. Rotarys are louder than piston engines, and you will probably need to wear ear plugs when driving. But I guess it is up to you if you want to get pulled over for having too loud of an exhaust every time you leave the house. Good luck with your header install, and let me know how it goes.

 

you will be falling asleep to a nice ring in your ear even if you havent drivin the car in 2 days haha

 

Yeah, when i just had the header on mine, you could hear the car from like a mile away.lol Are you planning on driving this on the street? If so, you wont get too far without getting a noise ticket

 

why do people call an Rx-7 HEADER, "HEADERS" this isint a V8 people there is only ONE HEADER, sheesh

 

ya, no clue, i think everyone is just used to calling them headers, but i also agree, it is obviously just a header.....damn gregs you must have a few nice mods as i am looking at you pic

 

until i started reading in here i hade never heard the term headers..

they've always been extractors to me...


crazy yanks j/k

 

Your neighbor's ears are going to bleed! Animals and small children will implode as you drive by! Do you have any idea how loud that is going to be with no muffling?

 

well like i said right now all i have on it is the thermal reactor and its very very loud. will it get much louder with just the header on it? yes i was planning on having to wear ear plugs because driving for any period of time would drive me insane, but at the same time i love the noise :-) No i was not planning on driving this on the street (well except around the block, but i have like two neighbors). its only a track car for now. when i do decide to go on the street i will muffle it.

 

ive got a few mods under my belt
the car is a 85 gsl-se w/ stock EFI
210lb weight reduction
ac/emissions removed
racing beat header, punched cat, straight to a glasspack
"cold" air intake


mods to come

directfire ignition (hoping to fix my rough idle problem)
web777 style turbo setup

 

I got pulled over for my setup and had to add another presilencer to pass the noise bylaws. If you're running an open header, think of a weedwacker on crack and then multiply by one thousand.

Your ears will bleed. Literally.

 

i love how everyone who made their own cold air intake has to put it in quotes, because its not the "real deal"... dont worry i do it too! it might be in my sig... not sure...

 

i did mine with 3 inch exhaust piping and plumbing elbows how did you do it