rotarybeat1287

iTrader: (16)

I've done some searching and I've decided w/ my tax refunds to finish my exhaust (i hate clogged cats and exhaust leaks!!!). I have decided on a racing beat collected header and presilencer that will bolt up to my A'pexi N1 catback.

my question is... is there any precautions you guys can think of off the top of your heads that i would need to look out for? Not retarded ones like "make sure you bolt and hang it up correctly", but more on the lines of heat in the engine bay, etc. I've cruised thru some threads and couldn't find anything. I did find a thread about a debate on heat wraping on pros and cons of it. but any input on what you guys have would be great. Thanks

-Allen

riverzendz

Manifold bolts. Soak them with PB Blaster.

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

If you already have an inspection sticker that is valid or live somewhere where emissions is not required then dont bother running a cat just get a straight pipe, rotaries dont like cats , especially cheap ones.

rotarybeat1287

iTrader: (16)

well the presilencer bolted up to the header would eliminate the cats. yeah i know its going to be a bitch getting the old bolts loose. lol.

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

Another thing to do after you install it and driven on it for a little bit is to retighten all the bolts again because they may loosen up and you want to make sure they are all nice and tight.

Soma

Installing the header is straight foward. If you have an NA, the haynes manual says you need to remove the auxiliary port actuators and the air control valve. Bypass that step and save yourself some time, you dont need to remove those componants to get the manifold off as long as you have a socket extension.
If you decide to use heat wrap, the Thermotec copper heat wrap(available through summit) does a good job at retaining heat. Just make sure you wear gloves and some sort of respirator mask as the wrap does contain fiberglass. I'm actually not sure if your supposed to wet the wrap before you install it. I wet the wrap before I installed mine, because I read it helps to stretch the material, but my friend later told me that this was a bad idea. This might be because I started up my ride when the wrap was still moist and when I removed the header about a week later fiberglass particles were shedding off everywhere. What really sux is that I wasn't wearing gloves or a mask when I did that!
Keep in mind that the exhaust tone is going to get hella louder and have more of a high pitch to it under acceleration.
I initially purchased the header and bonez free flow cat. I wasnt too thrilled with the sound after the installation so I bought the RB presilencer to replace the cat. Truthfully, there was no difference in exhaust tone and the difference under full acceleratoin was not noticable. In my opinion, if you really want to remove the cat to gain that 1-2 horsepower(dyno proven!) I would go with the header and the Borla XR-1 instead. Just have someone weld in some flanges and you'll be set!

rotarybeat1287

iTrader: (16)

alright... i have a 1991 FC. i dont have to do anything special to install the header right? no block off plates or anything? i want to know if its just bolt up and play. im mixed on the heat wrapping issue tho. thanks for your input guys.
-allen

spot_skater

I'm with you, for the most part. When I removed my cat, the gains were very noticeable, especially in 3-4 gears. I used a Racing Beat presilencer for this. I later on added the Racing Beat cat-back, and didn't feel much of a difference. I also didn't feel much of a difference with the header. Maybe more top end (6000+ RPM).

Regarding the header wrap, when I used it, I wet it as well, and stretched it nice and tight, overlapping where the lines were. It's pretty easy if it's your first time doing it, but definitely wear gloves!

And I love Racing Beat's sound... very quiet and subdued, till you crack 4k RPMs and it sings.

The biggest PITA when installing the header will probably be removing the stock heat shield, by the way. The bolts are probably rusted by now.

James

dregg100

iTrader: (34)

why dont you wait until you get a 5 speed swap?(not saying this because i want you to buy my tranny) the prescilencers are different from auto to manual. i dont know if an auto scilencer will work on a manual, but a manual will NOT work on an auto. and installing that **** is easy as cake, or pie whichever you prefer.

Soma

There is nothing special you need to do.
Actually, if I were to do it again I think I would just purchase RB's NA downpipe.
I read that a tech from RB stated that the difference in powergains between the header and the NA downpipe is only 1 hp. You'll still eliminate the pre-cats plus the downpipe may be a tad quieter (due to the stock exhaust manifold design) and you wont have to worry about wrapping anything cause youll be leaving the heat shield in place. Its a win win scenerio, you'll have the same power gains, installation will be less time consuming, you won't have to rewire the 02 sensor, and youll have a little more cash to fund other mods.

yeti

iTrader: (1)

^ Is that true about the header versus manifold? And what is this head wrapping business? I have a lot of exhaust questions just scared to ask. Such as on the rx7.com site you can buy two bonez cats or one bonez cat with a RB presilencer. What's 'better?' Hm, and while I'm at it. The Borla XR-1 is used as a precat right? Why would you use that over a RB presilencer?

Sorry I'm threadjacking but I'd be making this thread anyway.

Sgt. Pepper

I put the Thermotec wrap from Summit Racing on my RB header and man does it work great. The under hood temps feel lower with my header/wrap than it did with my stock exhaust manifold and heatshields.

It's a wrap you put around your header that retains the heat. You will want to either wrap your header or send it out to be ceramic coated which is pricey compared to wrap. You will want to do this because it will melt the wires near your header, and it's always good to have lower under hood temps.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku


When removing the stock exhaust manifold I found it easier to reach the stock exhaust manifold heat shield bolts by removing the 5th and 6th AUX actuators. It's pretty simple, just 2 nuts on both sides. It explains it in the Haynes manual.

spot_skater

Good advice. I do the same when removing manifolds/headers off rotaries.

And regarding the heat wrap, it really does keep underhood temps lower. BUT, a lot of people think that the wrap will help deteriorate the area that has been wrapped.

James

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

i didnt put any exhaust heat wrap on mine and its doing fine after 2000 miles.

hillelson1

sorry to butt in but where can this wrap be purchased?

dregg100

iTrader: (34)

summit, advanced, jegs, pretty much any big auto parts distributor. i know autozone doesnt sell it.

wtfdidyousay82, heat wrapping isnt required, it just helps keep underhood temps down.

Ashyukun

iTrader: (3)

Hmmm. Is there something similar that would work well for the stock N/A manifolds? It looks like they're not a very good shape for wrapping with tape like this...

SpooledupRacing

my idea on the heat wraping is that if there is any possible way for moister to get under the wrapping u will get rusty, rotted headers in no time...

but if done right and u wrap them REAL GOOD before u install them u wont have a problem at all..

I plan to wrap my headers when I buy them..

Soma

I couldn't find the thread but I did read it here on the forum.
Also, here is the quote straight from RB's website "The 1986-92 13B 6-port engines, in stock form with the factory fuel injection, produces similar power gains with either our Header/Presilencer combo or our Cat Replacement Pipe/Presilencer combination."

The Bonez exhaust system that utilizes the two cats bolts up to the stock exhaust manifold and carries through to the stock y pipe (if you still got it).
It is probably a little quieter and probably just little more restrictive.
Is it better? Well I don't think it is as desirable... it is a nice bolt on but if and when one of the cats goes, you either have to replace the whole thing or do some fabrication of your own.

The XR-1 could be used as a presilencer in place of the RB presilencer although you would have to weld in your own flanges. Like I said earlier, I wasn't at all happy with the RB presilencer and was actually hoping for something a little better from RB. The exhaust tone remained the same compared to the bones free flow cat and the paint has ALREADY started flaking off after only THREE days! WTF!!?? Go with a higher quality product like the borla, i'm sure it will be a lot quieter with just as good performance!

Aint no thang!!

yeti

iTrader: (1)

So, I need to get a downpipe, an xr-1, and the bonez free-flow (I wanna remain legal, and if it cuts down on smell that's good too.) Keep in mind this is for a 89 vert (NA). I should really PM you to keep threadjacking clutter down but this help help someone else. I should really do my own pricechecks but which is cheaper the XR-1 (with flange labour) or probably the RB presilencer. I'm not really worried about the pain flaking off. I don't know I just like over analysising things and thinking them through before I do them. (Probably why I stay single.) Anyway Thanks and I guess PM me the stuff back if this is getting too off topic.

FC3MAN

I've used the racing beat header/pre silencer on an 87 n/a and a 91 n/a, it sounds real cool but its really,really,really loud under hard acceleration,like every cop within a half mile or so will know your coming,power gains up top 5500-8000rpm on the seires5 were noticeable...but if your not into a loud exaust,keep the stock manifold and run a test pipe to remove the cats

Soma

Yeah, I tend to over analyze myself. If you want to remain legal, you'll have to have a cat. I doubt you'll have room to run all three.
I would love to run header(bolt on)->free flow cat(bolt on)-> XR-1 (welded
into cat back exhaust) but the clearance just isn't there with my current exhaust configuration. What you purchase is entirely up to you, this is just what I have experimented with so far...

RB header-> bonez free flow cat (legal/loud)
RB header-> RB presilencer (illegal/loud *exhaust tone and acceleration pretty much identical as above)

I plan on trying...
RB header-> XR-1 or other straigt through muffler with welded flanges(illegal/hopefully dramatically quieter)

Would try if doing again...
stock exhaust manifold->RB NA downpipe-> XR-1 or other straight through
muffler (illegal as well)
or
stock exhaust manifold->RB NA downpipe-> bonez fee flow cat (just to keep it legal)

Good luck with the decision!!
RB Presilencer is $200
XR-1 is $145, Flages from RB are $13 (two required)

Valkyrie

They make high-temp silicone sealant sprays meant for sealing head wrap, so that would keep out the moisture.

yeti

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Soma.

spot_skater

Did you have the RB catback, as well? I had the full system on my NA, and it was not anywhere near as loud as you are describing it. It was like music.