Rex79

I asked this before but the answer I got wasn't clear. I will buy the RB Header for a 79 RX-7 soon. I'm also going to change the muffler(maybe a RB muffler) but I will keep the thermal reactor on the car. Now my question is, will I be able to install the headers while keeping the ACV and Air Pump there(to make the thermal reactor work). If not then I have no choice to take it off but someone said "you should take the ACV and Air pump to make space for the headers".

Thanks for your help!

Fennix_sr

i got my headers on with the air pump on there but im takin it off soon... why are you keepin the TR? its gotta go man... get rid of that thing... lol

speckamp

The acv and airpump can certainly stay, but I was under the impression that the thermal reactor (heat exchanger, whatever) is part of the exhaust manifold. Therefore if you want to install headers you NEED to ditch the thermal reactor. Not a biggie, get a highflow cat to replace it, Random Tech makes 3-way cats that work well on these cars (and then you can ditch the airpump and ACV) and they'll flow more and be more efficent than the T.R. ever was.

--matt

Rex79

well I was thinking about removing it but I've heard a lot of stories of people getting dizzy without the heat exchanger so I would want to keep it. Plus I don't want the planet to overheat so I'll try to help the way that I can(allright you guys can laugh at me but imagine 25 000 Rx-7's running no cats? that makes a difference). The heat exchanger part of the manifold? My heat exchanger is underneath the car under the passenger(approx...) I don't think it will cause a problem. But keep on replying and thanks

riffraff

i did not think that 3 way cats would work with our cars.

the thermal reactors are in place of the exhaust manifold. so you have to get rid of it to put headers on. (speckamp is correct). if you are worried about killing a few little plants, then put a cat in.. otherwise you will have to learn to live without the performance.

Rex79

allright then **** the thermal reactor lol.. now does anyone know a cat that would fit a '79 RX-7? Money isn't an issue(well it is a little) but you know what I mean

Kill No Cone

iTrader: (6)

Ok, so it is the header or the thremo reactor, but you can’t have both. They go in the same spot. You will also want to ditch the airpump it is meant to blow air through the thermo reactor. If you look in Victoria British LTD you can get a cheap cat that could be welded in.

If you are really worried about the planet then just keep you car tuned. The key reason we have many of these emission devices is because people do not want to keep their engines running right. If your engine is running right there are much few hydrocarbons and all is right in the world (ok, maybe not ALL, but a good start).

85RX7GS

iTrader: (1)

It's not a heat exchanger. It's called a thermal reactor. There is a difference.

Rex79

Allright victoria british LTD? they got a website? can I just use a normal cat? or can someone give me links for cats I can use?

jerij

iTrader: (5)

I put the RB header on my GSLSE. I don't have emissions where I live but opted to keep my ACV, etc., intact. I replaced my cat with a generic one from Catco (Summit Racing). My muffler shop did the weld in. The car is still street legal (if we had emissions). No, I'm not making as much power, yes the car is tuned, and my plants thank me for it.

I know there have been some questions raised about the 'generic' cats burning up. I've had it on now for about 3-4K without problems. I know some folks have c/o the header "glowing red". Well, mine doesn't do that either. (It's probably why the cats are burning up).

So far, so good.

jeryj

rotor-spin

Yeah, the header will replace the thermal reactor.(exhaust manifold) I did a similar thing when I went with the RB header. I ditched the heat exchanger though, for a power-pulse pre-silencer.

It makes no sense to retain the air pump and ACV for the heat exchanger fitting, as the inlet for the air injection nozzles will be blocked off by the header flange, and the reason air is pumped into the heat exchanger jacket is to preheat the air for injection into the exhaust ports anyway. (I don't think air actually goes into the exhaust stream at the heat exchanger)It's been a while, but I looked it up in my Haynes manual. I hope I'm on track here!

Yes, unprocessed Wankel exhaust is stinky! It used to waft backwards somehow into the sunroof, unless the sunroof was fully removed. I don't know how much one catalyst would help.

Rex79

You know soem folks have c/o the header? What does c/o mean? You're saying some people but a cat on and because of that the header turns red? **** that's not good.. Damnit I hope that doesn't mean I'll have to get the RB Exhaust system.

Kill No Cone

iTrader: (6)

Yes, Victoria British LTD has a web site but all you can do is order a catalog from it. I think any cat will do, and you could think about locating it closer to the rear to allow the exhaust to cool. Just a thought.

Rex79

Might as well keep the exhaust stock and just change the muffler... guess my plans for the header are gone.... 570$ for the complete system is way too expensive for me... someone got any other idea?

jerij

iTrader: (5)

C/O = complained of

I think the folks who have "glowing" headers have an inherent problem with their tuning. The carb is either not adjusted or some other thing with their rotary is different. I've kept my SE stock for the most part and if I ever saw my header glow red, I'd probably freak. My reference to the glowing header was the temps required to do this are probably high enough to burn up a catalytic converter. However, there are other reasons the cats go out, old age, poor quality, etc.

jeryj

Rex79

But with the heat the rotary makes, not a lot of cats would be able to last a long time... so I guess my options are a really good cat or run a straight pipe or go for the full RB system... the problem with the cat is to find one.... and the price would probably be high

rotor-spin

The RB system seemed to help HP a slightly noticable amount, maybe picked up 2 MPG on the freeway, sure simplified matters under the hood. My only regrets in doing the RB system were: my state's 7-co. area decided to do emission testing. Couldn't drive my car anymore. Sold it a few years later. Then the dumbshits decided emission testing wasn't necessary.

Anyway a good muffler would probably help somewhat.

Rex79

Did you feel dizzy at a stoplight after a while? Because the gases of the exhaust kill brain cells and that isn't good... since my rx-7 would be my daily driver I'd have to keep the heat exchanger or put in a cat. Damn dilemma.

rotor-spin

Me brain cells what dead be good now.

But seriously...

I didn't notice ill effects, such as dizziness, from the exhaust (just the ocassional whiff of uncleaned exhaust when driving as discussed above) but I'm sure I've put the hurt on a few of my brain cells over the years doing other things.

I do think it is a good idea for the environment to keep emmissions at the stock level though.

Rex79

I don't understand anymore.. on the RB site they say this : "1979-80 RX-7 (12A) Streetable Header/Collector with Heat Exchanger Flange Outlet".

If it has an outlet, it means it can attach to the heat exchanger!

"While replacing the stock Heat Exchanger does not offer any significant horsepower increase, we recommend replacing the Heat Exchanger with our Mini Power Pulse Presilencer (Part No. 16404) to reduce exhaust noise".

They recommend replacing the heat exchanger with the Presilencer.. so that means you can keep the heat exchanger no?

"and heat exchanger gaskets are not included"

If there is even a gasket for the header to use on the heat exchanger that means you really can keep it???

lol any of u guys can help me with all this?

Kill No Cone

iTrader: (6)

Rex, you can do it in sections. Replace the header and leave the muffler. In time do the muffler. The RB stuff is built as replacement units and you can do it section by section. Simply swapping out the header for the thermo reactor will give you a big boost in power. I think the header is only about $140.

Rex79

yea I know all that but my question is can I keep the thermal reactor with the header..

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ok, let me try and explain this. I think people have some crossed terms here.

1. The Racing Beat header bolts to the engine.

2. What the car came with stock thats bolted to the engine now is the thermal reactor.

3. If you want the RB header, you replace the thermal reactor with the RB header.

4. The heat exchange is a different part all together located down the exhaust system a little further.

So, when buying the RB header, you replace the thermal reactor with the header, and then that can EITHER bolt up to the stock heat exchanger OR the mini-presilencer RB sells. Does that help at all?

~T.J.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

So, to do it in stages, you can buy just the header. This will bolt to the engine, then your stock heat exchanger, then the connecting pipe, then the muffler. Later, you could buy the pre-silencer which would take the place of the heat exchanger so you would have the header, then pre-silencer, then connecting pipe, then muffer. Then, you could replace the stock muffler with the RB muffler anytime you want. The RB pieces are basically meant to bolt in to replace the stock units, if that makes sense. So, what I would do if I were you is this:

Get the RB header. Put it on with the heat exchanger and all stock exhaust from the header back for now. Then, later upgrade the heat exchanger for the pre-silencer, and the muffler for the RB muffler. Damn, this sounds confusing in my head, I hope it helps...

~T.J.

rotor-spin

Rex79:

I just checked out the RB webpage and they are a bit ambiguous. I think when they say "heat exchanger flange" they just mean the header outlet flange, which has the same bolt pattern and size to allow you to bolt this up to the heat exchanger if you want.

The racing type header they carry would not bolt to the heat exchanger, as the header has two outlet pipes, and a rect. flange w/different bolt pattern.

You can retain the heat exchanger, it's just that it would then act as only a resonator, and wouldn't make use of air pumped through it via the air pump anymore. (as explained above)

ps sorry, got back a little late, those guys above are correct!