can i replace the thermal nuclear reactor with an 80+ header? is this a bolt up thing. i would really like to knock this thing and its air pump off while i have the carb out. yes, no, maybe, ditz stop asking stupid questions?

 

80's had thermal reactors too.. as far as i know, the exhaust manifold is the same on the 79 and 80.
81-85 did not come with headers anyways.. but i think any 12a header will fit fine.

 

The only nice thing I can say about the Pacesetter header is that it is the exact length as the thermal reactor and its downpipe. It bolts straight up to the heat exchanger, which acts as a kind of presilencer.

Of course, installing the header meant a few hours of grinding the holes to the proper size and location... grrr.

 

the thermal reactor is the manifold on 79s i thought????? so where is the thermal reactor? i thought i could get a header of a later model that would replace it fi it bolted up to the rest of the piping.

 

i was looking stock because i could nab i from someone super cheap and it should flow better and allow the air pupm to be tossed, right?

 

Yes the thermal reactor is the exhaust manifold.

I don't know about the '81 up manifold flowing better, but yes you'd at least be able to run without the air pump, if you really want to do that.

 

isn't dropping the airpump good? weight savings and less crap. i figured that the manifolds were a little smoother without the 90 degree slam the reactor puts on the exhaust flow.

 

The newer manifolds also put a 90-degree slam on. I took the thermal reactor off my 80 and put an 83 manifold, ended up swapping the entire exhaust system cause of the different lengths of everything. Also had to find a way to plug the holes out of the exhaust port that feed the reactor.

 

The manifold isn't much better, it's just a box with two holes for exhaust to come in, and a hole at the back for it to exit.

Removing the airpump means you have to go to an electric fan to keep from breaking alternator belts all the time - the air pump belt is most of what drives the water pump and fan. The alt belt barely glances the water pump pulley, and it's on the non-tension side too. Results in lots of slippage and burning up of the belt, and it will eventually break.

 

i thought that the thermal reactor was inplace of the cats on 79-80, not part of the manifold

 

The thermal reactor is a fancy exhaust manifold. The cat-looking thing is the heat exchanger, which pre-heats the airpump air before it is injected into the thermal reactor.

 

it IS the manifold.........

 

argh, who in the sam hell came up with this contraption?

 

I have no freakin clue........I think my thermal reactor, are colapsed, or on there way, because it spits smoke outa the tiny pipe, when only dry air should come out..... (or thats what peejay says, i trust him) so, i think i need to save some $$$ buy an exaust, and then intake, and then my car will run, and I can actually help others, instead of begging for help...... gotta start somewhere

 

i think mine's doing the same. my friend noticed smoke coming out by the reactor when we were trying to fire up the engine. i figured why not change it while its easy to get to. wish i had $$$ for a header.

 

the rb street ready header is the best investment I have made for the rex since I bought it .....nice rich sound too .

 

By the way, you can dump the air pump without buying an electric fan. But, you will need a double sheave alternator pulley. RB sells them. Then you will need a MATCHED set of belts. That will eliminate the problems.
hanman

 

Hanman is correct.

Racing Beat Aluminum Double Sheave Pulley

 

A decent electric fan costs just a little more than the dual-belt solution, and the electric fan reduces accessory losses. Go for the fan, not the pulley!

 

ditto on that.

 

Yea, except my pulley cost me $30.00 off of the partstrader.
whatever works,
hanman

 

I mistakenly did not explain myself.

1) Get they Pulley
2) AND get the Electric fan.

Good Combo.

 

I remember seeing a few months back in the 2nd gen section, that someone found a dual pulley from a Mistubuishi that would fit, and it was like $5!!! They had a part number and everything to march right down to your local electric rebuilder and order one!

 

I'm a single pulley man myself, that underdrive is a pain when you have the underdrive main and a low amp alt. In fact my dual pulley is on ebay right now.

 

Okay, so to remove the thermal reactor and the air pump, you need a Double sheave pulley AND an electric fan?

What about tossing the TR and keeping the air pump?

cheers'