I am currently rebuilding my 1986 Rx7 Gxl, and need an exhaust since the previous owner thought it would be a good idea to cut half of the manifold off. I am planning on building a my own and would like to know any recommendations for how i should properly go about it I do plan on putting a cat on it to for visual inspection when i go for emission and and possibly a dual exit and mufflers for inspection. i am looking a somewhat loud deep tone, something will make people be like damn thats loud but sounds good, i was thinking of doing 2.5in piping to a 3in muffler but i would love to hear any recommendations on what header, mufflers, and resonators i should run, do kind me in mind that im doing this on a budget. thank you anyone willing to help

 

Your '86 GXL is 33 years old. Does PA still require emissions testing on vehicles of that age? In northern VA (where I live), all vehicles 25 years and older are exempt from emissions testing.

On my '90 GXL, I've been running the Bonez Superflo System (RX7.COM | 1986-1991 Rx7 Exhaust (330)7-ROTARY) with the Racing Beat cat back exhaust (Power Pulse RX-7 Exhaust System for 86-92 RX-7 (All models) - Racing Beat). This setup does have a deep tone, is not super loud and does not resonate while driving at highway speeds.

 

From what i have found PA does a Visual inspection but doesnt test it for anything

 

if you want something that works, and is inexpensive, try
Stock Manifold (should be really cheap used), an RB down pipe, Down Pipe / Presilencer Kit for 86-88 RX-7 NT - Manual - Racing Beat, a converter of your choice, and then a cat back of your choice. it should be quiet, not smell, power will be fine (converter isn't really a restriction). it does need a short piece of pipe somewhere, as the RB piece isn't designed to use the stock sized cat, but its a $20 muffler shop thing

 

The smell doesnt bother me but i do want something that gives the car a voice i was looking at a Pacesetter Manifold and then a cat with the piece that put it back into the engine( i dont remember off the top of my head what its called) and then just doing a straight pipe to a possible resonator, to a HKS universal muffler for the looks, since i do want it loud but not ear bleeding loud if you know what i mean

 

If you want a header spend the extra and get the Racing Beat they are built to last. I've had mine 20 years. So if you want a header and a cat buy the Rotary Performance combo from that earlier link. Buy once cry once they say. As for the rest I've heard good things about the Vibrant mufflers and resonators. The problems I've run into when pricing out custom exhaust is the rotary needs stainless steel packing. Most of the cheaper stuff you find on Jegs or Summit uses fiberglass, so you end up having to move up to Borla or Racing Beat's universal stuff if you want to build a single which increases your cost. I don't know what packing the new HKS stuff uses but I will say the mufflers from my 20 year old HKS sport system outlasted the welds that connected them to the piping.

Not sure how much the cat helps sound but I think you will want a resonator before your muffler and keep it sized at 2.5" to help get the noise down.

 

I've also heard good things about Vibrant. i think im going to go with the Rotary Performance combo for the header and cat then do a Vibrant resonator and muffler. if i don't like it i can always add of get rid of stuff on it. Thank You everyone that gave me suggestion i do really appreciate the help as i do not know much about these engines. <3 I will also post a first startup after i finish rebuilding the engine

 

You will have to figure out what to do with the 6 port actuators, they won't work anymore with an aftermarket exhaust. Most people wire them open i believe. cats definitely help with volume, mainly the rasp, significantly actually.

 

I think it depends on the exhaust. My understanding is they work with the Racing Beat pre-silencer setup. The Bonez cat in the RP system has the tube to connect for the 6-port actuators/air pump so in theory they should work with it as well. It depends on what is done with that tube inside the cat. Someone else will have to verify if that is the case. Regardless there are other ways besides the exhaust to make them work.

 

Im pretty sure that they will work with the cat that comes from RP since like Dak was saying that the cat comes with the tube that would open and close them but i will have to definitely look more into that.
What would be the cons of having them open all the time?

 

I believe Rotary Resurrection has the write up on how to mod the VDI once the oem exhaust is removed . I used their write up to set up the VDI on my S5 NA after I went with the Racing Beat Street exhaust. I'm using an amazon aquarium pump to kick in the VDI once the ECU signals it.

VDI Mod


If you want best quality and performance I highly recommend buying the Road Race Exhaust from RB. Worth the money and it's an aftermarket item that specifically engineered for your motor and vehicle. From my conversation with the RB rep the Road Race is significantly louder than the street version.

Buy right or buy twice!