2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

pacesetter headers good for the n/a's?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-05-01, 09:32 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: gardner kansas
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Smile pacesetter headers good for the n/a's?

i don't own a rx-7 yet, but as soon as a find a buyer for my celica that will change. i have a '88 celica gt-s i'm trying to sell, but with no luck so far. anyhoo, i noticed pacesetter made some headers for the fc (model i want). my question is does anyone have these and what were the power gains? how hard was the installation of 'em? i know pacesetter can make some real crap, but in most cases you gain at least a couple ponies for relatively cheap. anyways, anyone own 'em?
Old 11-05-01, 09:53 PM
  #2  
Full Member

 
Mazda2ndgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: bradenton, fl usa
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
my understanding is that they are absolute crap. yes you will gain hp. but the qualitly of pascetter is aweful. the car will sound aweful to b/c the headers suck. I would spend the extra money to get racingbeat or mindtrain
Old 11-05-01, 10:11 PM
  #3  
Do a barrel roll!

iTrader: (4)
 
Rxmfn7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Lower Burrell, PA
Posts: 7,529
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Ive heard that pacesetter headers quality sucks too, but I think that they are the only brand that will bolt up to stock cat ,and have a 02 senser hole. Is this correct, or does anyone know any other brands that do this also? Most ones ive seen require custom exhaust work, or a racepipe or something. I was thinking of getting them also, for this reason only, not because I think they are better than any other header.
Old 11-05-01, 11:59 PM
  #4  
Rotary Freak

 
Blake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,267
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally posted by Rxmfn7
Ive heard that pacesetter headers quality sucks too, but I think that they are the only brand that will bolt up to stock cat ,and have a 02 senser hole. Is this correct, or does anyone know any other brands that do this also? Most ones ive seen require custom exhaust work, or a racepipe or something. I was thinking of getting them also, for this reason only, not because I think they are better than any other header.
MindTrain has a street (i.e. w/ O2 bung) header that bolts to the stock cat. But you could also just have a muffler shop make a short extention to do the same thing with the Racing Beat. However, headers are a complete waste on a car with a stock cat, IMO. What I did was get a Racing Beat downpipe and presilencer, which bolts between the stock exhaust manifold and the cat back (replacing all the cats). While this certainly isn't emissions legal, it is remarkable easy to swap back and forth when I need to take it in for a test.

The Racing Beat one sells for around $300, but is modular (you can reuse the presilencer if you later upgrade to a header). Rotary Performance has some for about half that price, but it's a slightly cheaper construction and not modular. Either will give you more power than running a header into the stock cat. In my 89 GTUs, the power increase was 22 hp at the rear wheels, with the stock cat back.
Old 11-06-01, 12:06 AM
  #5  
Just Call Me Terminator!

iTrader: (4)
 
vosko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have the pacesetter headers on my gtu. they certainly aren't best quality but bolted in fine and i've had no problems in 2yrs . for a $100 you can't beat it. i know racingbeat is better but for the price the tradeoffs in quality are worth it
Old 11-06-01, 12:12 AM
  #6  
I dont know a damn thing

iTrader: (1)
 
Rotorific's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Evans, Ga
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If you dont have money buy pacesetter and a thick exhaust gasket cause it will help with the leaks...woohoo but if you can wait, wait and open up your exhaust starting with your cat and then mufflers or vicaversa worry about header last. Just my 2 cents on how i would do the exhaust. - Gabe
Old 11-06-01, 01:56 AM
  #7  
Junior Member

 
rotary rage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: pa
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
exhaust

here is my o-pin-e-yen on exhaust my 88 na i put on a 2.5"apexi N1 dual with a bonez cat that cost 300 or s for the cat 700 + for the rest. i put it on not much different from the factory took off the cat and it was UNBELIVEABLE the difference but you need 2psi so put a pre-silencer and a racing beat header and i think that is the best combo you could have
Old 11-06-01, 10:13 AM
  #8  
That thing got a Wankel?

 
quick 7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Picton Ontario Canada
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Whats a pre-silencer and what does it do for the 7?
Old 11-06-01, 10:40 AM
  #9  
Spoolin'

iTrader: (6)
 
pd_day's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Miss.
Posts: 2,780
Received 30 Likes on 23 Posts
Originally posted by Blake


MindTrain has a street (i.e. w/ O2 bung) header that bolts to the stock cat. But you could also just have a muffler shop make a short extention to do the same thing with the Racing Beat. However, headers are a complete waste on a car with a stock cat, IMO. What I did was get a Racing Beat downpipe and presilencer, which bolts between the stock exhaust manifold and the cat back (replacing all the cats). While this certainly isn't emissions legal, it is remarkable easy to swap back and forth when I need to take it in for a test.

The Racing Beat one sells for around $300, but is modular (you can reuse the presilencer if you later upgrade to a header). Rotary Performance has some for about half that price, but it's a slightly cheaper construction and not modular. Either will give you more power than running a header into the stock cat. In my 89 GTUs, the power increase was 22 hp at the rear wheels, with the stock cat back.
Hey Blake, did you have any other mods to your car while you put your downpipe/presilencer to net you 22 hp?
Old 11-06-01, 11:05 AM
  #10  
Rotary Freak

 
Blake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,267
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally posted by pd_day


Hey Blake, did you have any other mods to your car while you put your downpipe/presilencer to net you 22 hp?
Nothing that affects power -- I did the clutch, but that's about it. I suspect there is much more power (10-15 hp) to be found in a new cat back.
Old 11-06-01, 11:20 AM
  #11  
Rotary Freak

 
Blake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,267
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally posted by quick 7
Whats a pre-silencer and what does it do for the 7?
A presilencer is a kind of straight-through muffler placed somewhere in front of the main muffler (usually where the cat would go). It's job is not to reduce noise level per se, but absorb some of the really high-pitch tones that are soooooo anyoying. What you end up with is a more pleasant, deep tone, instead of the chainsaw-on-crack sound that can drive grown men to cry. You only need one when the catalytic converters are removed, as those are very good (but restrictive) mufflers. Since rotary engines put out such hot exhaust, presilencers must be packed with very durable, high-temp materials, like stainless steel mesh. The commonly seen "glass-packs" sold at autoparts stores will not last more than a short while (minutes; not hours, days, ...) on a rotary engine. The better ones are from Racing Beat, Mind Train, and Rotary Performance (rx7.com). Racing Beat builds them like tanks and charges for the durability. Same thing with Mind Train. Rotary Performance, however, makes a very respectible but inexpensive alternative. As always, you get what you pay for.
Old 11-06-01, 11:42 AM
  #12  
...

 
Ryde _Or_Die's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 7,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How much are the Pacesetter header? I just ordered my modified Racing beat header and it was $200. You can have a shop do piping for prolly $100 more or so so it works with whatever you want. Unless that header is less than $100 I wouldn't get it. Its reknowned for being cheap, not just in price.
Old 11-06-01, 11:48 AM
  #13  
...

 
Ryde _Or_Die's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 7,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Blake:


I saw before that you dynoed the car with a cone intake and the downpipe/presilencer together. I believe that you dynoed it before with the intake as well but those kind of mods help each other. As you opened the exhaust you got more out of the intake so really you didn't get the 22 rwhp from ONLY the downpipe/presilencer, correct?




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:27 PM.