FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

Hey guys I just recently Picked up a borla catback for my 7. Was supposed to hold off however a good deal arose and I jumped on it. It's working really well so far but I am looking to improve on power a bit more as well as get rid of my pre-cat leak. My idea was to run:

A. Racing Beat header into a Racing Beat pre-silencer.

B. Racing Beat down pipe to pre-silencer

C. Racing Beat header into a custom 2.5" cat delete

D. Straight pipe from my manifold to the Borla

So far I'm hoping to accomplish option A. However this being my first car and first 7, I am looking for some opinions. I am very open and enjoy learning new perspectives as well as about new parts/companies. If there are other worthwhile companies please bring them up. I don't know many reliable companies and with the plans of performance mods in the future I would love to learn more . I've created a grading system based on:

Loudness: I am shooting for deep tone but not have a headache while driving or get harassed for it being loud

Performance: looking to feel the power gain, but again don't want to have to wear plugs while driving

Cost: not as important as keeping quiet or power but I don't want to spend the bookoo bucks

A little background. The car is an 86 GXL and the only real mod has been an HKS mushroom intake ( with a fresh filter every year ). Borla cat back and Tokico illuminas wrapped in Eibach ground control springs.

88_N/A_GXL

iTrader: (3)

Go with A or B, I've got a buddy with the RB header, a glass pack, which is probably blown out by now, back to some off the AutoZone shelf DC sport mufflers. That **** is loud as hell and you can't even have a conversation in the car. I on the other hand am running the full RB streetable kit, thinking about giving my buddy this when I get the true dual kit. In my car you can actually talk, except when the bass is cranked, and it gives a really great tone. It's actually fairly quite in car until it gets above 3k and starts to resonate inside, but it's not that bad.

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

did you get a power increase that you can feel? My only fear of going with the headers is spending the extra 200$ and not being satisfied with the power increase. I know it wont be big but i definitely felt a bit just with the catback. a little more even throughout all RPM, but thats my dilema

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

for a 100% street car i'd go B, although A won't be much different.

a B+ alternative is the RB DP with cat

88_N/A_GXL

iTrader: (3)

Seat of the pants was a little bit. My exhaust has went through a gradual upgrade though. I started with a stock exhaust that was leaking at the front of the second precat, then grabbed the RB catback, presilencer, and dp, which was extremely quiet when I first put it on, that gave a noticeable increase. And, now I've been running with the RB header for quite a while now and that gave a bit more on the sound, nice not obnoxious, and a little more feel. At first with just the dp back I noticed I couldn't ever bark the tires going into second, now with the header I have been able to.

I've had a few more minor mods done since then and I honestly think the stock manifold would have started to get a little restrictive, I could be wrong though.

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

I am liking these responses. I know the racing beat mufflers go forever, is this true of the headers/down pipe/pre-silencer? also, no-one seemed to comment on the RB header to straight pipe, would that be a bad idea? how much louder would it be? like rb header to 2.5" straight to the Borla Y-pipe.

Also, when you say you couldnt bark the tires, wouldn't that be a loss in power? I know I can now and im stock with a leak until the cat... also when you upgraded DP to header, did it really feel like it was worth the 200$ difference?

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

header to straight pipe is going to be loud, and not make any more power

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

Good my theory was correct!

Last question, what are some opinions on buying a used pre-silencer?

88_N/A_GXL

iTrader: (3)

Barking or not, keep in mind it may have been my crappy tune that I'm slowly working on, as I just noticed last night I can't do it again. This time it's because I switched from regular silver gas to E85 and am still getting that running. I went MegaSquirt sometime before the switch to the header though.

The quality on the RB stuff is excellent, my only issue is the powdercoat/paint, on the silencer is starting to flake off for me, but other than that it's perfect.

Header to straight pipe would be obnoxiously loud.

Can't comment on a used silencer, as I bought the dp/silencer combo new, the rest was all used. Btw, if you need a dp, I've got one just lying around.

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

Check your PMs

Dak

I have had the Racing Beat header pre-silencer setup on my car for 15 years. Header is still in good shape. It is discolored and has turned brownish/rusty from alittle before the collector on back. I'd say it still has many years left in it.

The pre-silencer has the same but with actual rust with some flaking off on the bottom. The metal is thick though so I'd give it at least 5 more years of life. I'd say 20+ years life on the header and 15+ on the presilencer. Only problem I've had on the presilencer is the nuts rusted to the studs and broke some of them upon disassembly(not RB's fault just happens when exhaust parts are together a long time). The problem is they are not studs but bolts that are welded to the backside of the flange. There are acouple methods to fix them though I will save that for another post.

If I was doing it now and since I don't need backpressure for my 6-ports I might buy their universal pre-silencer and flanges and get it welded up to the same overall legnth as the pre-silencer so I could use replacable bolts to bolt it all together.

I'd do the header vs. the downpipe personally.

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

well depending on cost of the DP at this point it will make the difference. I have a header lined up for 185 so if i can steal a DP for cheap I will probably do it for now seeing so itll go on my GFs 7 when i upgrade anyways. But does the DP reach the stock cat or is the Pre-silencer absolutely necessary? I know the stock cat decreases power over the Pre-silencer, but i just want to fix my leak for now

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

the DP will not reach the stock cat, which is lame. its like 2-3" short, and a good muffler shop can make a little adaptor pipe, although its not really ideal.

if you have an aftermarket cat, its not a big deal to extend it a little

FCJG15

iTrader: (18)

Yeah so if I get this DP I'll get a presilencer as well

TheIMightyHutch

I have the exact cat back you have, with a RB header and a 2.5 straight pipe cat delete. It sounds great(IMO), and isn't super loud. It doesn't really drone on the highway, I really like it. If you PM me I'll take a video of it for you.

rotary_bünta

iTrader: (3)

i would go with C. sir. with an added touch.
here is why. i read in this book that call "how to tune your mazda rotary" or something like. the exhaust is the first place apparently you start. the more you free up correctly the better you omf you get. obvisously would need to free your intake too to take full advantage but that's another subject. personally the rb headers arent too loud and i live in LA. gutted cat bolt on from the headers 2.5 and rb mufflers. it always gave a nice deep low throaty sound during city driving but opened nice but not too loud get down on some WOT.

just my $.02