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

quick rb exhaust question

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Old Aug 14, 2011 | 08:52 PM
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bahlorm's Avatar
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From: Charlestown Indiana
quick rb exhaust question

For future reference I am looking at the price range in upgrades I want to get for my car within the new couple months and I was looking at getting the rb headers fairly soon since mine appear to have a leak. I saw that the road racing ones was cheaper and I would guess it would be more for performance, but I saw they aren't just bolt up to the stock exhaust. So I was looking at the streetable ones. Luckly in my state there is no emissions testing so I don't have to worry about that but I am also seeing that to install it to a stock exhaust I need a presilencer? Does the header come with this presilencer if I need it or do I have to spend $270 on the headers then another $205 just to get it to bolt up to the stock exhaust?
I would say screw it and just weld in new pipe and everything but I have no welder and no knowledge of welding. And know of no one who has a welder.
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Old Aug 14, 2011 | 09:22 PM
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Header does not come with a presilencer. If you want to modify your exhaust and remove the cats, you WILL want to get the presilencer as the rotary engine is incredibly loud without one. I know from experience. I had my 82 set up with 2 magnaflow mufflers off a road race style header and it still hit 105 dB cruising at 60mph. My ears would be ringing after only half an hour of driving.

If you've gone that far, a muffler is needed as well. The stock muffler is horrible sounding if you remove the cats. Might possibly be alright with the presilencer, but somehow I doubt it. Maybe someone can chime in on this subject.
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Old Aug 14, 2011 | 09:40 PM
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If your going aftermarket, don't waste time and energy doing it one piece at a time. Buy the header, a presilencer and a muffler from RB. Have a shop use STAINLESS STEEL PIPING to make the bits in between. Use mandrel bent tubing. Do not cheap out on this, it's one of the most important power adders you can put on a rotary. You could just buy a whole bolt on system from RB, but your wallet will thank you for going custom. My RB dual exhaust cost me over a grand after shipping and duties. Money well spent, but now I'm thinking about redoing the whole thing and selling the RB.
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Old Aug 14, 2011 | 09:47 PM
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85rotarypower's Avatar
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From: Bognor, Ontario
Originally Posted by orion84gsl
If your going aftermarket, don't waste time and energy doing it one piece at a time. Buy the header, a presilencer and a muffler from RB. Have a shop use STAINLESS STEEL PIPING to make the bits in between. Use mandrel bent tubing. Do not cheap out on this, it's one of the most important power adders you can put on a rotary. You could just buy a whole bolt on system from RB, but your wallet will thank you for going custom. My RB dual exhaust cost me over a grand after shipping and duties. Money well spent, but now I'm thinking about redoing the whole thing and selling the RB.
The streetable system from RB actually is only 3 parts from RB. The header, presilencer and muffler. The streetable system uses the stock pipe between the presilencer and muffler. Pricing out the parts individually comes out to the same cost as the complete system.
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Old Aug 14, 2011 | 10:17 PM
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The dual streetport system is also 3 parts. It's heavy as hell though. Easily 100lbs. For a universal RB 2.5" ID 18" long muffler, a presilencer and header it's $588 +tax. The complete system is $745 +tax. You could use a second universal muffler in place of the presilencer and save $100. Granted the piping will probably add a good chunk to that, however it will be a lot lighter. I would also recommend a high flow universal catalytic converter. They are fairly cheap and although I like the smell of my rich burning car, most other people don't and the stink does get obnoxious after a little while. One of a few reasons I'm considering redoing the exhaust.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 01:36 AM
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Get to know people on here, and rex owners in your area. Chances are good you can pick up a used RB system from some friendly guy for a lot cheaper. Worked for me!
RB exhaust (so everyone says) will last longer than the car, so don't worry about getting it used. Just buy new gaskets from the RB website.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 07:01 AM
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Look in the classifieds you can get a whole street port system shipped for under $400. As for weight (lbs): Road race header: 18, Street port center section: 41, Power pulse muffler: 29. those are according to UPS when I got mine shipped.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 03:00 PM
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I have a decent exhaust right now, it may not be the best but I am going to have much more luck coming up with an extra $200 something within the next couple months than I will like $700 for the whole set. I still have the cat on the car, my problem is the hole in the headers. I just want to go ahead and upgrade that since it is already damaged then worry about the rest of it later when I have money to do it. I just don't know if it will bolt on fine without a presilencer or if that is required to get it to just bolt on.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by wesmcbride
Look in the classifieds you can get a whole street port system shipped for under $400. As for weight (lbs): Road race header: 18, Street port center section: 41, Power pulse muffler: 29. those are according to UPS when I got mine shipped.
+1, Thats how I got mine. A little bbq black paint on the middle section and <poof>
it all looks like new and for less than half the price new. Plus someone welded in
sensor bungs at the back end of the middle section. I can put a wideband in for
some tuning fun later if I want now.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 03:44 PM
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Whenever I get the cash I will have to check the parts place out on this site. I am also wanting to upgrade to a holly carb and intake also and it seems that there is quite a bit for sale there. Unfortunately places like craigslist doesn't have many rx7s around in my area. I have actually only ever seen 2 driving other than mine. B
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Old Oct 21, 2023 | 12:20 PM
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From: California
Just installed a RB exhaust so adding to the info here. 81 FB with stock Nikki carb, no porting, RB manifold and presilencer purchased last month. RB cat back purchased two years ago. Cats, air pump and air valve deleted. Double belt to alternator. Heat wrap on manifold.

You can definitely feel the power increase. Only using the dynoass, so somewhat subjective… but climbed the highway hill that leads to my town at 70mph in 5th. Previously the car would bog down and I would have to shift to 4th. And on our nearby windy road I needed to watch my right foot where previously I would floor it between every curve.

Noise? There is a new deep rumble which I like, particularly at idle. And I get the occasional lift off pop from the exhaust which I also like now that the cats are gone. Less likeable is a resonant higher pitched noise 3500 rpm and up, particularly when accelerating. Sounds like the noise my kid used to make imitating a car by blowing through a folded coke can. It’s not too intrusive but definitely there. Certainly not on the scale of the crappy automatic Hondas that buzz their way around here.

Anyhow…. Glad I installed the RB system and would recommend it.
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Old Oct 21, 2023 | 01:39 PM
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i have to say that when i got the current muffler a few months ago it was the worst sounding thing ive heard in a long time. They changed the design and its very light and cheap now.
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Old Oct 21, 2023 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Slow_sevens
Certainly not on the scale of the crappy automatic Hondas that buzz their way around here.
lol

yes. i have nothing against Hondas (or Honda guys in general), but this particular subset of their population are like roaches. they're everywhere.
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