What exactly is this "rats nest" everyone is talkin of?(Pics are nice, but words work too) And what are the benefits of removing it, as many people seem to have?

 

search feature works good...Or try the FAQ page at the top of the first gen forum:
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/1st-gen-rx-7-faq-page-237777/

 

lol, yeah. Try the search button...works wonders.

 

from what I've read about it .. looks like a lot of stuff Mazda threw in there just to **** car enthusiasts off, lol. Wouldn't be a bad thing to work on.

 

Hey, I'll respond, since I'm somewhat of a newbie too. I hate the "search" responses. Yes, if you search enough you'll find it, and in this case it probably wouldn't take long. But in many cases, it would take literally days of searching and piecing things together to get an answer. Therefore, a simple question might be a much more efficient way of getting the answer.

In this case, the rats nest is the mish-mash of solenoids and small tubes in the middle of the top side of the motor. It's primarily for emissions control. Check out the first picture on this page:

http://85rx7.home.mchsi.com/85rx7_20041203.html

Rich

 

so the benefits are what then?? a little more space?? deadlier emissions?

 

I don't know for sure if there are performance benefits or not, since I haven't done it yet. Some things I've read say you can gain a few horses by removing the rats nest, others say there's no performance gain. I think most people do it to make things simpler and cleaner looking.

Rich

 

I was not going to say anything, but I thought the rest of you guys were being a little hard on a person for just asking a simple question. Hell, I spent two days looking in a manual for rats nest when I first heard of it and never found it. I just now found the search button. At times using that thing is like trying to call to get out of jury duty.

 

The rat's nest removal has several advantages. First, it definitely cleans up the looks of the engine bay. I don't think anyone will argue that. The first thing you see when you open up the engine, is the cluster of wire and hoses. Rip that stuff outta there and you got a nice looking car. Secondly, when the rat's nest, and catalytic converters are removed, the air pump can also be eliminated. The air pump sends air to the converters to keep them from overheating. If you are removing your emissions devices, then there is really no reason for you to leave the cats, and air pump in place. Thirdly, removing all these components is obviously going to save you some weight. The air pump weighs about 10-15 lbs, and the cats are heavy too. The hoses and solenoids are probably negligible. At any rate, a lighter car is a faster car. Finally, taking out all the hoses and solenoids simplifies your rotary, and makes it easier to work on. It is near impossible to trace down a vacuum leak with the rats nest installed. There are just too many wires, and whenever you try to fix something it cracks and breaks because the car is so old. Removing the rats nest leaves you with about 3 hoses than can easily be reached. Definitely makes it easier to diagnose problems you might be having.

Disadvantages. You might see a little drop in your gas mileage. Not like these cars get great mileage anyway. Second disadvantage, you're contributing to global warming like you wouldn't believe. The rotary runs pretty dirty when you take off the emissions. That's why Mazda had to put three cats on the thing to clean it up. Basically, most guys that don't have emissions testing remove the rats nest. It just makes life easier all the way around. You may even pick up a few hp too.

Jamie

 

Just like vegetarians don't eat at McDonald's, you can't be an environmentalist and drive a wankel with any conscience whatsoever.

 

The horses you gain are from the drag on the engine taken by the air pump, as well as the exhaust flow of the cats (remove them and replace with a straight pipe). Once you have done this you can also cut away a large portion of the air intake box (more air + more fuel=more ponies). And if you are like me you will want to go ahead and get a header, then you will want to straighten out that intake manifold, and play with the fuel jets....well you get the idea.

It is a gateway to a better, faster world.

 

Like he tends to do, GlazedHam seemed to clear things up

I'll repeat one of his points (there were a few in a relatively short post).

If you want to do ANY work in the engine bay, the rat's nest WILL be in the way. A proper removal tends to make things so much easier to get to. Also, removing it along with the AC system makes the plugs so easy to get to it's almost funny.

I'm not sure if your area of Canada (or any area of Canada, for that matter) has emissions testing. If it does, you want to leave the nest intact.

Also, if you don't have EVERYTHING on the checklist (included with the removal FAQ, found somewhere on www.mazspeed.com, I think) don't start it. You'll have vacuum leaks everywhere, and unless you're really lucky, your car won't even run (I was really lucky )

 

http://www.ten15.net/Maz.tutorials/ that is the page for the rats nest removal tutorial.

 

Removing the rats nest removes tons of potential vaccum leaks, cleans up your engine bay, and keeps yours hands busy and gives you the feeling of satisfaction when you realize that you are single handedly killing the enviroment... I did my rats nest removal last weak... As a heads up i warn you to use think sheet metal for your block off plate (i didnt and regretted it) and make sure not to break off the stud holding the ACV on... I broke 2 bolts off in the intake manifold and ended up having to take the whole thing off drilling the bolts out and well it was a pain... In my opinion its worth it and you gain some knowledge at the same time!

 

Thanks for the info..

 

Holy ****, speaking of which. What happens if you're trying to pass emission with no rats nets! Well..i mean, If i swap in a 12AT, what can I do to pass smog emissions? This is what a turbo engine. Arg...I don't think i'll pass...****! And I"M IN CA!! NOOO!!

 

No way you'll pass. Keep your stock motor and swap it in for test time.

 

Hmmm....is there ANY possible way to pass smog with a carbed blow-through turbo type engine?