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

My muffler exploded???

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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 08:05 PM
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My muffler exploded???

ok.. so sometimes i have this trouble with my car backfiring right as i start it.. i swear it was only after i revved the motor and cut it off....

well today it backfired once, then the next time i went to start it the muffler farkin exploded! exploded as in didnt sound like a regular backfire, sounded louder than a gun. there was nothing stuck in the end of it.. my question is, how the hell does something like that happen?!


here is a video i took after the fact:
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 08:11 PM
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I have always wanted to see the inside of one of those!!!!!!

My only guess would be raw gas finding its way into the exhaust system, I bet that was one "Oh ****" moment!!

I would check my carb closely to make sure its not flooding and then check the ignition system to make sure everything is getting combusted when it supposed to.

2 cents
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 08:22 PM
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LOL, first I've heard of it happening to someone else That happened to me back when I first got my rx-7. Rwatson has it right, fuel getting into the exhaust, start the car...and BOOOOOOOM!!! It's just the way the engine is designed, when you flood it trying to start the car, the rotors are going to slosh a bit of fuel out the exhaust ports, that plus other exhaust leaks that let fresh air into the exhaust = boom.
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 08:54 PM
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ive never had any flooding issues, tho... it was as soon (or damn close) as i hit the ignition. the timing is good, double and triple checked....
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by rwatson5651
I have always wanted to see the inside of one of those!!!!!!

My only guess would be raw gas finding its way into the exhaust system, I bet that was one "Oh ****" moment!!

I would check my carb closely to make sure its not flooding and then check the ignition system to make sure everything is getting combusted when it supposed to.

2 cents
"oh ****" doesnt even begin to explain lol... the car started up shortly after i let everything quit smoldering, loud as hell now lol
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by bikeordie092
i swear it was only after i revved the motor and cut it off....
That'll throw a bit of fuel into the exhaust too.

It happened to me the same way, as soon as the engine cranked, muffler went boom.
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 09:34 PM
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instead of a Vanity Plate saying RX7Zoom ..opt for RX7BOOM ..lol all in good fun ..luckily there wasnt a small animal close by !
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 10:10 PM
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Removed the muffler on my 79 due to a leak near the inlet side of the muffler. I cut it open to see what its all about inside there and there was obvious damage due to backfiring. This is when the thermal reactor and all related parts were still on the car. Damage was primarily around the inlet side of the muffler. The pipe internally had come loose in the baffles it would usually be attached to. On top of this, the inlet baffle (where the pipe goes in) and the baffle just inside that (about 4-5 inches in if I recall correctly) were both deformed. Muffler was leaking due to rust at the seams.

I know I took pictures of the internals, have to see if I can find them.
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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 11:02 PM
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with an afternmarket exhaust system you will see a lot of backfiring.. however the aftermarket mufflers are known for splitting and are not quite as thick of a design as the oem units. a cheap aftermarket muffler will almost always fail on a 7. go with the good stuff from RB, stay with the original muffler or plan on buying a muffler every year or so.
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 11:30 AM
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yeah i have no emissions stuff or anything on the car, the PO removed it all... how well does the 12a do with little to no back pressure? i think for now (till after DGRR) im going to put a coffee can style muffler on it. granted itll be loud, but itll be legal lol
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 11:35 AM
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I'd stay away from the coffee can type, the cheap one I had made my car louder than a straight pipe... If you want a cheap one to get you by, I'd get one of these Thrush Turbo Mufflers - JEGS I've had them on my BMW and my sisters Saturn for a few years now, I wouldn't expect it to hold up forever on a rotary but it should keep the noise reasonable until you can get a RB muffler on there, the universal mufflers aren't that expensive either http://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1986-1...sal-Parts.html
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 02:59 PM
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We actually sell the thrush mufflers at work(autozone) I was just thinking less back pressure=less explosion lol
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 09:46 PM
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mine did the same thing:
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i also registered a 115db in the cabin on this run. (the thing you see sliding off the dash)

also less restriction for the most part on rotarys equils more efficency.

Last edited by nff; Apr 7, 2013 at 09:50 PM.
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 10:19 PM
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nice, lol idk, i guess i just hadnt ever heard of this happening... now i know its not all that special lol
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 11:14 PM
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also look at your title under your name. lol oh the irony.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by nff
also look at your title under your name. lol oh the irony.
U know, I never even saw that. That's great lol
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 03:55 PM
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Lol this should free up some horsepower

Mine backfires all the time. Ive got a rb header and muffler and a straight pipe where the cat would be. I hear glass packs are the way to go for a replacement though JK DONT DO THAT

Last edited by Jingkun; Apr 8, 2013 at 03:57 PM.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 04:41 PM
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Borla 40348 Pro XS Muffler : Amazon.com : Automotive Borla 40348 Pro XS Muffler : Amazon.com : Automotive
I just put one of these on, with an RB presilencer and a 22" magnaflow as a midpipe. Sounds great, very mellow, no baffles.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 06:21 PM
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Look at it this way, you have less back pressure.

Originally Posted by bikeordie092
ok.. so sometimes i have this trouble with my car backfiring right as i start it.. i swear it was only after i revved the motor and cut it off....

well today it backfired once, then the next time i went to start it the muffler farkin exploded! exploded as in didnt sound like a regular backfire, sounded louder than a gun. there was nothing stuck in the end of it.. my question is, how the hell does something like that happen?!


here is a video i took after the fact: Loud Rx7! - YouTube
Look at it this way, you have less back pressure.
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 85rotarypower
Removed the muffler on my 79 due to a leak near the inlet side of the muffler. I cut it open to see what its all about inside there and there was obvious damage due to backfiring. This is when the thermal reactor and all related parts were still on the car. Damage was primarily around the inlet side of the muffler. The pipe internally had come loose in the baffles it would usually be attached to. On top of this, the inlet baffle (where the pipe goes in) and the baffle just inside that (about 4-5 inches in if I recall correctly) were both deformed. Muffler was leaking due to rust at the seams.

I know I took pictures of the internals, have to see if I can find them.
I wonder if this is what has happened to my muffler.
Externally it looks fine and was installed by the previous owner at a "muffler shop".
I've been trying to quiet my SA down and even with a "conventional" muffler it seems loud as hell.
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Old Apr 15, 2013 | 02:08 AM
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Originally Posted by PreviouslyPlastic
I wonder if this is what has happened to my muffler.
Externally it looks fine and was installed by the previous owner at a "muffler shop".
I've been trying to quiet my SA down and even with a "conventional" muffler it seems loud as hell.
get under the car and give your muffler a hug. you'll find out if its blown out or not. also check your pipe you may have a leak.

not the best sounding but its within legal limits.

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