Blk82GSL

WTF! I figured I might have to modify something to use the emissions system with an RB header. I didn't know I had to remove it entirely. It's illegal in many, many, many states. Other header comanies seem to be able to do it, why does this one have to be off road only? I really feel I was mislead, as this removal was NOT mentioned anywhere but the instructions. I knew something was up the second I saw the blockoff plates. I now cannot use this, and my exhaust install is next week. Awesome....

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Don't panic, think it out instead. You will need to remove the pre-cats, but you can buy an aftermarket cat designed for a rotary with the air tube for the air pump. Even though I have yet to see anyone go that route. That's what you get for living in an emmissions island like Houston. Off road use only means just that, not street legal.

You really have 2 choices. Try the header/cat mod and see if you can pass inspection. It will not pass visual, may pass the sniffer. The other choice is keep all of the stock emissions gear and change it out for inspection.

Blk82GSL

Won't pass emissions, because it's chrome, lol. I doubt many inspectors here have ever seen an RX come in for an inspection. I have a bonez cat ready to go, but without an air inlet it's going to burn up pretty quickly right? So the air pump is not connected to the manifold, and can be used if I have an air inlet cat? If I can dull the header down some, I might get by, depending on the inspector. If I get a young guy who has never seen one, then I might get away with it. (I hope)

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

I believe there is a Bonez cat that's supposed to hold up to the rotary heat, but you may need the one with the air pump inlet. Instead of dulling that nice header, hide it with header wrap for the inspection.

ChasRX

I have a RB header (and full streetport exhaust system) and still have the emissions in place EXCEPT for the exhaust. Just let the air pump blow to "nothing". You don't have to block anything off. You don't have to remove the air pump belt.
I do keep the stock manifold and exhaust in the garage and swap it out for vehicle inspection time, though. It's not that big of a deal to do. It's a small time-sink sacrifice ritual that I just do once a year; usually taking a vacation day and inspect the underside while I am at it.

(btw, I do have a single Bonez cat on my "stock" exhaust.)

Blk82GSL

They had it right there in the RX7 section of the site, it had better hold up for twice the cost of a normal one. It looks identical to a normal every day cat, I really don't get why it's special. I am running a cat though, the air pump will go to the cat like it should.
And why is the collector on the RB so tiny? It's like an inch smaller than what the two primaries would be combined? Everything I have is 2.5", and this looks like 1.75 inch?

Blk82GSL

Sorry, the whole point of this thread was to call attention to the fact that a header company tells you to dismantle the emissions system as step one on the sheet. If you live in one of the places in which there are no emissions tests done, I imagine this is a celebratory act in itself. For us guys in the bigger cities and more sane states, that instruction is like saying you can't drive the car anymore. I for one think they should be more responsible and offer options to keep the majority of the emissions in place. Visual is one thing, the sniffer is another. I imagine the visual is a little relaxed on a car this old, but it would still have to pass chemically.

slo

iTrader: (1)

I allways ran with a header pre-muffler and cheap catco cat on my gslse's (had 2 of them). Allways passed smog, allways smogged in san diego (CA not texas) had a few cops ask me to pop the hood, they saw a cat, airpump and stock intake system and didn't think twice.

rbf41182gt

racing beat does say right on the header page "Legal in California only for racing vehicles, which may never be used upon a highway" AND it has a link to a FAQ about emissions laws and regulatations. You should've been able to tell before you even got the header that a bunch of emissions equipment needs to be taken off. Racing beat is not at fault.

Blk82GSL

Aparently acccording to a couple of posts up there, and my own personal observations, it does NOT need to be taken out. So why does it automatically have to come out? Because no one wants that evil crap anyway? Because everyone who has an RX7, uses it as a race car only? I should've been able to tell what needs to be taken out?? What kind of BS is that?. If you buy a universal cat with an air tube, and plumb it, none of it needs to be taken out? I know, they can't legally say anything like that, because it might fail a visual at the strictest shop in town.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

You can rant all you want about RB, but you didn't read the blatant fine print that is all over thier site about not being street legal. You made a mistake, if you want help, deal with it.

Blk82GSL

Wow you guys are kind of, not sure how to put it. It can be used without removing the emissions equipment, so why is that not stated? The removal of this equipment IS NOT NEEDED, unless you're building a race car. It will not fit the stock air tube or cat, but that can be dealt with since most people are completely rebuilding the exahust anyway. My point is WHY do they say to rip everything out, when it clearly can be dealt with in place, and left enough stock to pass, if the exhaust mods are done. My argument is not with the fact that it will not pass a visual, it's that they tell you to rip all these parts off. Too many people are reading the first post, and jumping to a conclusion. I can see how it can be misunderstood.


The big deal is, that if you don't look it over and take the time to understand that gutting the emissions isn't needed, you might do it anyway, thinking there was no other option.

Blk82GSL

And yes, I was fully under the impression that these parts HAD to come out when I posted. Once I looked closer I knew that was not the case.

rbf41182gt

They tell you to take it off because they never intended the header to be used on emission controlled vehicles. Yes, modifications can be done to keep some of the emissions, but that's not what racing beat originally intended, so it's not in the directions.