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

Straight-pipe exhaust on NA FC?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-28-04, 07:36 PM
  #1  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Mogadore, OH
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Straight-pipe exhaust on NA FC?

I got my FC a few months ago and am planning on getting a full exhaust system by the end of the summer once I save up enough money. The factory mufflers on it have leaks due to rust and road debris (thus making my car sound like crap). I want to remove the mufflers and temporarily install some regular 2"-3" straight pipes in place of them, basically just to see how it would sound and if I notice any differences in driving it... So my question is, is this a bad idea or do I have nothing to worry about (other than possibly annoying the sound police)? I'm only just beggining to learn more about the Wankel engine and I'm not aware if they run on back pressure like certain 4 cylinders do. I wanted to ask for advice on this forum before I do anything to my car that I may later regret. Thanks.
Old 07-28-04, 07:57 PM
  #2  
#1 Certified Cone Killer

 
PureSephiroth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Battle Creek, MI
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the 5/6th ports rely on backpressure to open up so if you open the exhaust enough the 5/6th ports will not function properly. You could always wire them open but this will cause you to lose some power in the lower end.
Old 07-28-04, 08:13 PM
  #3  
OC_
I'm bastardizing my car!

 
OC_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Naperville, IL.
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
these cars are pretty loud, its quite amazing actually. Iv heard the reason for it being so loud is because the exhaust port opens so fast, actually causing a sonic boom because the exhaust comes out so fast. And if thats not loud enough, the afterfires (everyone here wrongly calls it a 'backfire' which means somthing totaly different and is devastating to your engine) when the unburnt fuel gets ignighted in the exhaust sounds like a gun firing. I'v raced my car with an open exhaust, and the report off the exhaust is truly somthing to behold. I dont know if a stright muffler will be enough. It might be if you still got your cats.
Old 07-28-04, 10:32 PM
  #4  
Rotorhead for life.

 
Crush's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, it depends on if you have an s4 or s5. If you have an s4, your 5th and 6th ports are opened by exhaust backpressure, so with straight pipes you wont have enough backpressure and your car will actually be much slower. On an s5, the ports dont open from backpressure. Like the others said though, it will be AMAZINGLY loud. N/A FC's especially are some very very loud cars. I have straight pipes (no cats or presilencers) back to dual GReddy mufflers, and its still one of the loudest cars I have ever heard even with the mufflers. Sounds very nice, but VERY loud.
Old 07-28-04, 11:22 PM
  #5  
Full Member

 
Merovign's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've actually run holey mufflers vs. open, and at first (holey mufflers, header, no cat) I said to myself "Jesus, that's loud."

And then I ran it open. And then I put the holey mufflers back on. Trust me, aside from permanent hearing loss, even Italian traffic cops would pull you over with an unmuffled rotary.

So in short, I second the "don't run it open" general voice here.
Old 07-28-04, 11:25 PM
  #6  
kill it with BOOMSTICK!

 
Falcoms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: McHenry, IL
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Merovign
I've actually run holey mufflers vs. open, and at first (holey mufflers, header, no cat) I said to myself "Jesus, that's loud."

And then I ran it open. And then I put the holey mufflers back on. Trust me, aside from permanent hearing loss, even Italian traffic cops would pull you over with an unmuffled rotary.

So in short, I second the "don't run it open" general voice here.
Agreed!
Old 07-28-04, 11:26 PM
  #7  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Originally Posted by PureSephiroth
the 5/6th ports rely on backpressure to open up so if you open the exhaust enough the 5/6th ports will not function properly. You could always wire them open but this will cause you to lose some power in the lower end.
more accurately the aux ports on the 84-88 non turbo 13B uses exhaust pressure, rather than back pressure.
Old 07-29-04, 03:46 PM
  #8  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Mogadore, OH
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the advice. I guess I will keep it how it is, for now.
Old 07-29-04, 04:10 PM
  #9  
Full Member

 
Homie D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Langley Park
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So If I do a custom exhaust on a s4 the pipe cant be too big even if i have mufler and cat
Old 07-29-04, 08:31 PM
  #10  
Full Member

 
Homie D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Langley Park
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
?????????????????????

Last edited by Homie D; 07-29-04 at 08:58 PM.
Old 07-29-04, 09:26 PM
  #11  
Full Member

 
Homie D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Langley Park
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
so i guess nobody knows.....
Old 07-29-04, 09:27 PM
  #12  
Full Member

 
wargoblin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: California, San Diego
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lightbulb

You could probably just buy the cat-replacement from RB and downpipe, and then go with a straight pipe after that. That should keep enough backpressure to open your ports.
Old 07-30-04, 12:17 AM
  #13  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Originally Posted by Homie D
So If I do a custom exhaust on a s4 the pipe cant be too big even if i have mufler and cat
????

what are you saying???

Are you asking if you can get too big of an exhaust pipe??? yes of course you can and your performance will radically suffer if you do.

See there is a careful mix of big enough, but not too big so that exhaust volocity increases, but does not waffle around in too big of a pipe.
Old 07-30-04, 01:40 AM
  #14  
#1 Certified Cone Killer

 
PureSephiroth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Battle Creek, MI
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Icemark
more accurately the aux ports on the 84-88 non turbo 13B uses exhaust pressure, rather than back pressure.
I assumed it was S4 due to his profile but thanks for correcting my mistake. You really don't miss anything do you
Old 05-06-18, 11:51 AM
  #15  
Junior Member
 
Rx7miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Marietta
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Crush
Well, it depends on if you have an s4 or s5. If you have an s4, your 5th and 6th ports are opened by exhaust backpressure, so with straight pipes you wont have enough backpressure and your car will actually be much slower. On an s5, the ports dont open from backpressure. Like the others said though, it will be AMAZINGLY loud. N/A FC's especially are some very very loud cars. I have straight pipes (no cats or presilencers) back to dual GReddy mufflers, and its still one of the loudest cars I have ever heard even with the mufflers. Sounds very nice, but VERY loud.
What you do with o2 sensor the tube that connects to cat and goes up to the engine ?
Old 05-08-18, 08:22 PM
  #16  
Dak
Information Regurgitator

 
Dak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Sparta TN. United States
Posts: 1,889
Received 170 Likes on 127 Posts
The o2 sensor is in the stock exhaust manifold so if you're straight piping from there back then nothing. It stays put. The Racing Beat Headers have a spot for it in the collector or the rear rotor pipe depending on the header( street or road race). I think the cheap OBX's on Ebay have a spot for it as well. Now the tube is a different story. If S5 you can toss it as it's not needed without the cat. If S4 the pipe feeds exhaust pressure back up to the 5th and 6th port actuators. Here is a post I made on the subject years ago that explains a little.

"On a n/a you'll want some sort of pre-silencer or muffler somewhere before the main mufflers at the rear to help cut the noise down. As to the tube for the auxportactivation on a S4. The Racing Beat pre-silencer for the 86-88 cars have it, the universal ones do not. Also you could make your own tube but you can't just drill a hole and weld a tube to it. This is why I believe some after market exhaust doesn't work with the actuators. It's not backpressure it's the tube setup. Their( RB) tube bends 90 degrees once in the exhaust path so the opening of the tube is directly in the exhaust flow. Seems they are using the exhaust pressure to open them, not backpressure.

S5 uses the air pump as previously stated."
Old 05-15-18, 11:12 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
 
Rx7miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Marietta
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There’s tube connected to the catalytic converter what do I do what that tube when I straight pipe it ?
Old 05-16-18, 02:55 PM
  #18  
Dak
Information Regurgitator

 
Dak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Sparta TN. United States
Posts: 1,889
Received 170 Likes on 127 Posts
Originally Posted by Rx7miguel
There’s tube connected to the catalytic converter what do I do what that tube when I straight pipe it ?
Like I said it depends on the series of car you have. S5('89-'92) nothing it's not needed. On S4( 86-'88) the pipe feeds exhaust pressure back up to the 5th and 6th port actuators. Unless you buy the Racing Beat pre-silencer that has the tube integrated into it you're 'gonna have to get creative with what you do with that tube in order to maintain the functionality of your aux ports.

Originally Posted by Dak
Now the tube is a different story. If S5 you can toss it as it's not needed without the cat. If S4 the pipe feeds exhaust pressure back up to the 5th and 6th port actuators. Here is a post I made on the subject years ago that explains a little.

"On a n/a you'll want some sort of pre-silencer or muffler somewhere before the main mufflers at the rear to help cut the noise down. As to the tube for the auxportactivation on a S4. The Racing Beat pre-silencer for the 86-88 cars have it, the universal ones do not. Also you could make your own tube but you can't just drill a hole and weld a tube to it. This is why I believe some after market exhaust doesn't work with the actuators. It's not backpressure it's the tube setup. Their( RB) tube bends 90 degrees once in the exhaust path so the opening of the tube is directly in the exhaust flow. Seems they are using the exhaust pressure to open them, not backpressure.

S5 uses the air pump as previously stated."
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ian_D
New Member RX-7 Technical
6
09-06-15 10:38 PM
doritoloco
New Member RX-7 Technical
7
09-05-15 12:41 PM
FührerTüner
General Rotary Tech Support
3
09-04-15 01:41 PM



Quick Reply: Straight-pipe exhaust on NA FC?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 PM.