Okay so I have searched. Dug through some, but didn't find a definitive answer. So here it is. I have a 1983 with the cat removed. Still has stock thermal reactor/heavy inefficent anchor, etc. whatever you want to call it. I have the rats nest removed, and no air pump. When I drive the thermal reactor smokes like a burning smell. Now as I have just gotten the car, don't know how long it was like this. But when I got it, air pump belt was off. Will running the car without a cat and air pump cause a hazzard, as in thermal reactor getting too hot, causing it to smoke? I have told it that smoking is bad for it, but you know kids nowadays. LOL
I saw where there is a possiblity of causing damage to the apex seal if the engine happens to stop with the apex seal at the exhaust opening. I am not worried about damaging the TR as I will be replacing it soon with RB header. But don't want it to overheat and cause engine damage, or start a fire if driven long enough. I know it sounds silly and all, but after one car fire, you get a little nervous about these things. Would I be better off and put the air pump back on to pump air to the outer chamber of the TR until I get the header?

Cheers,
Travis Nelson

 

Thermal reactors were discontinued in 81.Only the 79 and 80 have them.The 81-up RX-7s have a normal exhaust manifold.

Having no cats means you can delete the airpump and ACV/ratsnest with no consequences.

 

Steve is right about the thermal reactor being discontinued. Did you check for leaks around the exhaust manifold? If oil drips onto the hot manifold it can smoke like that from what I've heard. I have never had this happen. Good luck tracking down the problem.