I suspect foul play from my original exhaust system, causing high RPM power loss. I want to keep the car all original, but if the stock exhaust is clogged that just won't do.
Before I order up some RB bits, is there a source for new thermal reactors and accompanying bits?
-D

 

check at a dealership for N.O.S. parts.

 

Oh boy, good luck finding one that is in working condition and cheap enough.

 

I have one for a 13B. Lot of good it'll do you.

 

isnt the thermal reactor straight off the engine? my neighbor pulled a full exhaust off of his stock 79. he MIGHT still have it. why not replace it with a newer manifold? i have one of those you can have cheap.

 

Yeah, it looks like a tube sitting right next to the engine. Ugly bit.

 

Did you check with Malloy?

 

where u from in wisconsin?

 

Iirc, all of the thermal reactors are NLA. Your best option will be to post a wtb in the 1st gen parts for sale section. As many members that have removed thier's for header installs, someone should have one laying around. Find one with as low of mileage as possible.

 

yeah, i talked to a few places, and those parts are long gone.
there is value in keeping it original, but nobody likes the thermal reactor. I dont think i will lose much value with just adding a header, esp if it is a quality piece like the RB unit...

side note: alternator gave up the ghost tonight and the car is sitting imobilised...

 

Well I hope the best of ya... I know how it is with the ghost lol,

If I come across a Thermal Reactor I will let ya know

 

i got one with about 45k sittin in my garage....but i kinda need it.

 

I read a while back that if the restoration includes a basic upgrade that makes the car function well its accepted and wont detract from value. this would be things like an exhaust or non original tires or better headlights ect. it doesn’t mean new fluorescent paint, FD seats, or a holley or dellorto with second stage street port and a hood scoop.

I would highly recommend to get some RB stuff of your choice and install it and enjoy your car.

Then at your leisure, take your time and look for the NOS exhaust parts and you'll just probably put them on the side as part of your restoration as an example to show how the car originally came equipped.

The thermal reactor sits bolted to the exhaust port section on the engine to which heated air created downstream in an exhaust jacket was pumped by way of air pump pressure into this part to burn the extra rich unburned fuel left over in the exhaust.

The original exhaust system was horrible and detracted immensely from this car.
It backfired so loud it sounded like and atomic bomb and would blow the muffler apart.

With this gone you can lean out the carb abit

regards
two79rx7's

 

if you want original, swap out for a stock FB exhaust. There will be more parts available and also newer technology.

 

The FB thermal reactor is different from the 79 model due to the small exhaust ports for the emissions system, they are not interchangeable. As far as upgrading the exhaust to a header system and still having it qualify as an oem restoration, many sanctioning bodies will not accept such an upgrade. This is especially true for concours level restorations. Even the incorrect nuts/bolts and thier orientation can cause demerit points.

 

but you can always put it back!

 

Did any one mention a new Thermal Reactor was something North of $1000??
I think you might be waiting a l-o-o-ng time for an NOS unit to show up anywhere, but as some have said, lots were pulled early on for header replacement and should have low mileage on them. they were actually very well built, since rotaries are so damn hard on exhaust bits, so even a middle-in' mileage one could be fine (100K plus). As suggested here, money and time much better spent on a Racing Beat Header system then look for a spare low mileage reactor at your leisure..
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska