NJDave

OK - just received my RB catback tonight! Now, this is probably a very silly question that will let you know just how much I know about cars :

In the boxes there are the following items:

- 1 Y-pipe
- 2 mufflers
- 6 bolts (2 for each of the muffler connections, and 2 for connecting the y pipe to the cats)
- 6 washers (for each of the bolts)
- 4 nuts (presumably for connecting the mufflers to the y pipe)
- 1 hanger bracket
- 1 gasket (for connecting the y-pipe to the cats)

Questions:
1) Are no gaskets needed between the y-pipe and each of the mufflers?

2) why aren't there nuts for connecting the y-pipe to the cats? I didn't look, but do the bolts just screw in somehow and not require nuts?

3) Any other advice for installing the system?

Gonna start the install tomorrow, so thanks for your help!

Dave

fc3s.org

1. Nope

2. Yup, the nuts are welded to the cat on a hanger type arm if I'm not mistaken (been a long time since I took all that off)

3. Have someone help you. The stock catback is quite heavy when you are bringing it down. Also, assemble the new catback on the ground, and then raise it up to install it. You are really going to enjoy that catback

NJDave

Thanks for the quick reply!

I did find out that I was mistaken about the gaskets - they were attached to the muffler in the proper position, but came off when I removed the bubble wrap. Thanks for the advice on assembling the thing on the ground - my first impulse was to just put it up piece by piece!

Now - another question - since there are three gaskets (pretty darn thick ones too), do I put anything on them (e.g., oil) to help create a good seal? Or are they good enough as they are?

Thanks again!

Dave

Rotary Racer

WHHHHAAAATTT!!!! Did you order the older Racing Beat cat back system or there new fully stanless steel posished peace? There new mufler design? Because I have been on hold for the new system for almost a month now and Jim Tanner told me I was first on the list to get one. Please let me know If this is so I am pissed.

NJDave

Ordered the new stainless one. But I was waiting for over one month too! Ordered it around the 20th of August (I think) from Mazdatrix.

No reason to be pissed (although I have to admit I was impatient also - just wanted to get it!). It seems the problem was simply Racing Beat trying to meet demand. When I called Mazdatrix they couldn't get me any status on when it would be available (other than to check back "next" week). While it wasn't Mazdatrix's fault, I didn't like not being able to get status. So I called Racing Beat and got the scoop about what was happening. All in all, even though it was quite a wait, it appears to be worth it. The system is beautiful!

Would like to say thanks to the folks at Mazdatrix and Racing Beat for their service! Will be talking again soon, I'm sure .

Dave

PS - oh yeah - any help on the gasket question? Just wondered what I should put on em when mounting the exhaust?

Dak

You don't have to put anything on the gaskets.I can't recall putting any thing on mine and they don't leak.

Rotary Racer

The reason that I am pissed is because I was told by Racing Beat them selfs that they had NO units available and that was at the end of last the month. So how can they have no exhausts in stock but yet you received one on your door step. They were in the process of re-making them because there welder messed up. And from what I know I was the first on the list to receive the new patch. That is why I am pissed. I have been waiting to get this car on the ground for over 2 months now and the exhaust is holding it up. Grrrrrrr

fc3s.org

No oil or other sealant is needed on the gaskets. They will expand and contract with heat and form to the shape of the flanges within seconds of the heat hitting them Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

rxspeed87

I want a picture of what they look slike intallled if you have one

NJDave

Thanks for all your help!!

I will certainly post pictures before and after the install. The car still has the same exhaust that came from the factory 12 years ago . The car only has 25K miles on it and, unfortunately, it was stolen and recovered with significant damage in early/mid August (enough for insurance to total it). Got about $9K from insurance due to the condition of the car and have dumped all of that plus more back into the car. I figured it was time to put a new exhaust on. It is now entirely repaired (except for the exhaust and the audio system, which will come next week). It actually looks better than when it rolled off the show room floor since I had it entirely repainted. Once I get the exhaust and audio system installed, I'll post pics of the entire car inside and out.

Once again, thanks for the help - I realize that it was a very basic question!

Dave

rx7grl

I got my rb system yesterday too. I ordered it about a month ago and hadnt heard anything and then yesterday there is was on my porch,

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Nice! even the cat is admiring it; I just wish they had bigger y-pipe tubing available It is the best looking system though. Does any one know if they are going to update the turbo back race system as well?

Ryde _Or_Die

Anyone know the dimensions of the RB system? I know i am gettin the headers & presilencer from them but not sure about the cat back. Don't really want too much attention(N1) but a good sound. Thanks.

rx7grl

yeah, the cat won't stay away from it , she was laying next to it for about two hours, i'm sure she was thinking "damn this is going to make jeanette's(thats me) car NICE"

Mykl

YAY! Another Racing Beat convert!!! Screw you Apex'i!!! :p :p

I have the older style system, I think I like it better than the new one. It's more "subdued".

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Its a not so well known fact that cats love cars. Mine hangs out under cars all day long, loves trips in my car and now that I have GT 3 set up w/ the feedback wheel and one of my Corbeau race seats on a framework the cat has taken full possesion of the seat. Geez, I have to litrally sit on him to get him to move.:p

Ryde _Or_Die

Anyone with dimensions? What kind of sound? Thanks.

NJDave

Umm, I think the dimensions are given on Racing Beat's web site. If not, I can measure for you tomorrow prior to installing the system.

Speaking of the installation . . . Man! what a pain in the you-know-what trying to get those nuts off of the connection between the y-pipe and the cat! Finally, after a trip to the store for some liquid wrench and lots of elbow grease, they are off. The rest of the removal went fairly smoothly (although those rubber hangers can be troublesome, can't they?).

One observation at this point: the racing beat y-pipe has brackets on each arm of the "Y" similar to the stock set-up. However, the stock system appears to have a bolt permanently affixed to each bracket to connect to a rubber hanger. The racing beat system only has a threaded hole in the bracket. I guess I will need to buy a couple of bolts (no big deal really).

Also, I discovered what a noise I heard occasionally was - the heat shield on the cat is loose - I will have to get another as the holes have rusted through.

I figure a couple hours work tomorrow (only that much because I've never done it before and I don't have a helper or a lift) and the new cat-back will be installed!

Can't wait to fire it up!!!

Icemark

NJDave:

Yeah I replaced the cat heat sheild twice before I figured out how to fix it.

Just grap some 1/8inch sheet aluminum and cut out new tabs (usually the tabs break off) that are about an inch linger than the old tabs. Pop rivet the new tabs onto the old heat sheild, and re-attach the whole assembly.

That factory tabs just don't hold up.

Turbo Timmy

Do the new mufflers bolt up to the old system?

fc3s.org

Yes, the mufflers will bolt right up the the stock y pipe. My buddie did that a few weeks ago. Looks very nice installed.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Yep, Racing Beat site mentions they are direct replacement and that the y-pipe is not a performance upgrade for the TII since it is same as stock dimensions (nice of them to mention, so no one feels ripped off.) Thing is the mufflers are like $275 each or something for the larger TII ones. But they are the perfect balance of enhanced looks w/ out being over the top "ricey".

fc3s.org

Hey now Mykl! The A'PEXi systems are top notch. I had the N1 on my 91 white vert for about 2 years. I just recently took it off and replaced it with the RB catback, but mine has the HKS tips on it like the HKS catback that Mazdatrix sells. I loved the N1, and only changed it back to dual to preserve the stock apprearance. (I'm converting the vert back closer to stock due to it's mint condition throughout the car)

I still have the N1 on my 86 TII race car and won't change it ever. I think the only exhaust I would upgrade to is either the A'PEXi GT or one of the new titanium ones out of Japan. It's funny on the vert, the tone is actually really close to the N1, just about 1/3 as loud

Either way, I am now in love wiht both exhausts. I just think they have different purposes depending on what the driver of that car wants to do with it

NJDave

OK! Got the catback installed just a bit ago - took pics of the stock cat back once I got it off, pics of the kit as I received it, and then, of course pics of the final installed appearance. Will post them as soon as I get them developed.

The only two problems I have now are 1) the exhaust leaks a little; and 2) the left side tailpipe is a bit lower than the right side.

This was my first time installing a cat back, and I did it by myself using jackstands in the rear and hand tools. Basically it was a piece of cake (the worst part was getting the two nuts off at the joint between the y pipe and the cat. If anyone is interested in doing this themselves I can write up detailed instructions.

NJDave

Just took the car for a drive with the new catback - still leaking exhaust from the y-pipe/cat connection, and the driver's side tail pipe is defintely lower than the passenger side (prob about 1/2 inch, but noticable). Any ideas for a quick fix?

As far as the tone and volume goes, it is not all that much different from stock. Of course my old mufflers were just about shot, so I might not remember what stock sounds like . But the sound is just what I wanted.

Dave