Up until a few weeks ago, my main ride was a 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo (broke a timing belt...interference engine with aluminum heads = destroyed motor). Decided when it went that I wanted something more reliable (every two weeks, like clockwork, the Z had some issue that required it to be parked until fixed), lighter (Z weighed about 3200lbs), and better handling (230 horsepower was fun, but man the nose of the car would point to the sky when you got on it...*really* shitty suspension stock).
Ended up calling an owner of a 1989 Mazda RX-7 that he'd stripped down, put a 6-point cage into, and raced for a while. Motor had less than 6,000 miles on it since a rebuild a few years ago (granted, the most recent of those were probably pretty harsh), the suspension was in great shape, and the car was in great shape minus a few patches of peeling paint.

Turns out it wasn't just any RX-7, it was a GTUs.

I almost turned my nose up when I heard it only had slightly over 160hp (was ignoring power/weight). Glad I didn't pass it by. Holy cow is this thing ever fun...sticks like glue in the bends, and the 8k redline is always a hoot ("Dude, shouldn't you shift?" "Nah, it's only at 6500, it's got some room to go still"). The only downside is that it just isn't as fast as my Z, and I saw no real way to get it there without plunking down a huge amount of money for a turbo.

But then someone mentioned to me that a rotary responds *much* better to exhaust upgrades than a standard piston engine, sometimes to the tune of 30hp more.

So, I'm in the market for new headers/exhaust/mufflers for the RX, and hoping to spend $500 or less in parts. Power is a priority. Quiet is always good, but not a must if it means the difference of 15 horses or so. I'm now realizing that each extra pony I squeeze out of this thing makes much more difference than on the 3200lb slug of a Z.

Anyone have any recommendations for the best exhaust to put into a second gen non-turbo RX-7 to get the most power? Eventually this car will be doing laps on open-track days, but for now it's just a weekend autocrosser.

Either post a reply here, or shoot an email off to ThrottleOversteer@gmail.com. Greatly appreciated!

 

Racing Beat True Duals are the way to go for max power.

 

Corksport 2'5 N/A Catback

www.corksport.com

 

Theres really no way to get everything you want for under 600 bucks. First i'd get a high flow cat, bonez makes a nice one and then i'd worry about headers, presilencers and the works. I don't think that you'll get an extra 30 horses though even with a full exhaust system

 

Alot of the 30+ horsepower claims are from turbo models.

Definitley check out racing beat's systems. Good quality, good sound, good power.

 

RB header + Presilencer + Corksport Catback. Should be under 600 bucks after shipping and everything, good luck!

 

get a custom exhaust, got the cheap free flow muffs welded to stock y pipe for 150 cdn. So in all got a dual catback for 240.

 

Apexi GT-Spec. $590.

 

i'd go for a custom exhaust as well
total shouldnt be anything more than $500 with labor get it on ur car

 

If it was me I would get the Racingbeat Road Race header with true dual primarys, to a 3 inch mid pipe and cat, out to duals to the rear for flow.. U can go cheaper if you make it a single pipe to the back, with enough mufflers 3 inch will be quiet but give you the flow you need.. try to join the pipes as far to the back as you can..

 

i got a cheapy 70 doller streight muffler from advance auto parts ( should say 3(star)racing on it) then a 2.5inch streigh pipe from stock exaust manifold. its loud but you can absolutely feal the diffrence, it cost me 150 bucks for the labor, plus i was the one who had to remove the cats.
i might still buy a racing beat header, not sure yet. but what i did was a very good value in my opinon...

 

dont buy a shitty muffler, it will be quickly destroyed. but like the others said, get a shop to make one for you. its the cheapest way to go.

 

It'll be loud, but probably the best choice for cheap

 

I put on an eastern catalytic highflow 3" cat, y'd into two 2 1/2" duals into dual outlet mufflers - responds tons better, and the whole setup only cost $450. But man is it ever loud.

 

For the amount of money you have, a used Racing Beat system may be what you want. I say "used" because you say quiet is desireable, and you don't know what noise is until you've been in an NA with a header and cheap mufflers. Picture a GSXR-750 with a Yoshimura exhaust in the passenger seat and the can pointed at the driver. That's what an RB header and cheap mufflers sound like. My RB mufflers cost as much a your entire budget, however they were the only thing I found that quieted the noise down. And before anyone asks, yes, I tried the presilencer. With OEM cans it was like a GSXR-600 with a Yoshimura exhaust . . . . .

You can try picking up a RB header, and getting a welder to fab a connector pipe from the header to the y-pipe or (heaven help your ears if you go this route) from the header to a genenric mellon spitter can. That can be done for $500, but your next post may be of the "how do I quiet down this car before the neighbors/wife/cops burn me at the stake" variety.

 

Just keep your revs down through the neighborhood - it's not too bad 2 to 3k with just a little gas going to it, but I love that when I floor it it's louder and deeper than the v8 camaro down the street with custom exhaust - It just makes the Honda boys make water.

 

im runnin a 3" to 2 2.5" tuned BT2000's

its in the shop right now so i dont actually know how it will sound or perform, but i will do review when its all done.

 

I think you'll be happy - you've got the same setup I do, except for the tips.

 

Start with the RB header/collector/presilencer for ~$400. See what a muffler shop can make for you for that $200 remainder.

Or, once you saved up enough money, buy the catback. Catbacks run from $300 to over a grand.

Quality costs money. Rotary exhaust is hotter than piston engine exhaust. Cheap doesn't last long.

For example, the true dual Mazdatrix system costs ~$1300-$1500.
The RacingBeat roadrace system costs ~$1000-1100.
Mindtrain also has headers/midpipes/catback kits. But, I haven't seen their catalogue in a while and can't find an online store with their products.

 

i just bought a used hks hyper single exhaust for 300. anyone know how it will sound with rb header and presilencer??and will it bolt up to my stock cat till i can afford the rest???

 

It'll bolt up to the stock cat. Most all cat-backs developed for the RX-7 bolt straight to the stock cat.


Also you can buy the CS presilencer along with the setup I mentioned, just take it on track days .

 

a corksport presilencer will fit on the hks???

 

I have a Bonez Superflow running to dual glass packs, and I felt the difference. Didn't cost more than a few hundred. Probably will go for the headers next.

 

Racing Beat header/3"d straight pipe/dynomax catback system+upgraded air intake did it for me. Granted its not a turbo but it was a very noticable change to stock and I can get to 60 mph in no time at all!! But really Im gonna be getting a atkins bolt on supercharger pretty soon here!! then y'all are toast!!

Oh did I mention I picked up a engine for $200 with 65000 miles, Gonna send it out to a place in California for porting a such.

 

(thread ressurection, I know, but...) Heh.. I've always wondered about this.. Personally, as the car I'm driving gets louder, I want it to be going a whole lot faster.. My NA RX-7 simply doesn't have anywhere near the acceleration needed to justify a gawdawful racket, imo.

Some examples..
Loud but OK:
*BUWWAAAaaaaaaawaaa....* What the hell was that? hmm.. there's a spec rapidly disappearing on the horizon.. that must have been one hella-fast car!

Loud and Pathetic:
*BUWWAAAAAAAAAAWAAAAAAAAAAAWAAAAAAAAAAAAWAAAAAAAAA AA* What the hell? Doesn't that guy have the money to buy an exhaust system?!?.. jeez... that's annoying. Hmm.. That's an RX-7. Hmm.. his front license plate has a whole lot of bugs and dirt on it. Hmm.. he's got a ding on his passenger side door. Looks like that tire is a little low on air. Dude, you're making all that noise and you still haven't pulled far enough away for it to not be annoying anymore? It looks like one of his turn signal bulbs has burnt out too... Dang that's loud!


It's true, though-- if loud exhaust gives you a stiffie, NA RX-7's definitely can give you a whole lot in a small package. Too bad the "bite" very rarely comes close to the "bark".