akiratdk

I'm about to buy another reliabilty mod for my car~~ and I'm trying to choose an AST but I searched but found pretty much the main brands are from Gotham Racing and Pettit..... Does anyone recomend somewhere else???
And which Aluminum AST do you guys prefer??
Thanks

racer1

Anyone as long as its aluminium

Section8

iTrader: (6)

They're all basically the same, unless you want to pay extra to get one that's polished. I got mine from rx7.com

cewrx7r1

iTrader: (2)

The AST is not a reliability mod, not having an AST is.

Those in the know for years have been running without one.
Convert to non AST.

Gibenstein

iTrader: (2)

I heard the petit ones are very easy to install there was a writeup inside a document on iluvmyrx7 and had the comparison of all the AST's I believe they said the Petit one was the best and easiest to install.

racer1

All of them are easy to install. It's a 5min job.

JaNusSolSumnus

Not to pull rank here but 'those in the know' designed this car and they designed it with an AST in mind. While the beancounters decided plastic would be cheaper than metal it still served its purpose as a point to prevent air developing in the system. You and several others may have had success without an AST in the vehicle, however it is my personal opinion to trust that Mazda wanted it there for a GOOD reason much like the FPD even if the stock variants werent of the best quality.

I upgraded to the Pettit AST and I am completely happy with it. It took 5 minutes to install and relieved a worry from my mind.

~Kris

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

IMHO, I don't think it's bad necessarily to eliminate the AST. But, I do think the AST is a Good Thing - the plastic stocker isn't a Good Thing, though .

When you have a radiator that's low-mounted like ours, it's a good idea to have an air separator tank mounted up at the high point of the system. Biggest advantage is when filling the system with coolant after being drained - it's just way easier to burp the air out of the system.

I think it's more what you feel comfortable with. I prefer the AST, but if you want to eliminate it, that's cool too. I don't think either solution is so much better than the other, but ANYTHING is better than the stock AST.

That said, I think they're all pretty similar as far as quality and construction. Just not that much to an AST.

Dale

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

Get the one from RX7 store..

I wish I did.. Mine failed because of the ast neck, its cheap and weak. RX7store ast neck seems to be better quality.

Montego

iTrader: (1)

AH COME ON! I just looked at your profile and in your mod list it includes a FMIC:

"CAI, non-seq stock turbo, DP, MP, cat back, undersized main pulley, Efini "Y" pipe, Blitz FMIC, Greddy elbo. Lightly ported exhaust."

That means that your radiator is upright...HENCE THE AST IS NO LONGER NEEDED.

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

I just went to check and they no longer carry the ast..

This is what they are selling


This is the one I'm recommending.. look at the neck area.. much thicker and stronger..

Scrapiron7

I'm with you. Mine's been gone a few years. I prefer to remove as many points of failure as possible. It simplifies things, and is one less thing to break or go wrong.

neit_jnf

iTrader: (17)

I bought one in ebay... cube shape and polished

akiratdk

wow~~ Thanks for all these feedbacks!!~~ You guys are cool!!~~
Anyways... where can I get the polished AST??? They don't sell it on the RX7Store anymore??? Then where is another place I can order it?

rusty's_silver_bullet-7

ASI racing in Ft. Lauderdale FL - make and sell a really nice, strong and polished AST.

I upgraded my Pettit because the ASI piece is better quality and looks a damn sight cooler.......

Chad at ASI phone number (954) 566 2472

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

This isn't an item that requires aerospace quality... so i don't see why anyone would "upgrade" past a basic metal one.... there's really no significant need for much "strength", it just has to be not plastic with bonded seams.

PandazRx-7

iTrader: (18)

With that being said, I think I've actually seen someone temporarily use a Coke can before ...

bleung

Sorry but I think their AST not all that. (I'm probably the only one). I bought the ASI piece from rx7store after reading all the nice things on the forum about their AST. 2 things that bother me about this unit:

1. The nipple at the top of the neck is threaded but the threaded part is tapered.....meaning when you screw it in after putting teflon tape on it, only a few threads lock it in place, which is not good for sealing. I was extremely surprised that the threaded part was tapered and not straight.

2. The threads are VERY soft, which makes it very easy to strip, which I did like an idiot. Ended up having to get it welded on.

At first, I thought rx7store sent me some bs returned AST but after getting it working, I didnt really care anymore. All in all, the unit is very nice looking and seems pretty strong like the others.

rusty's_silver_bullet-7

I didn't plan on having to go into great detail.........but, here we go.

The strength I was referring to was around the neck of the AST where I have seen other (less "well made" ASTs) break off or bend at the lip after only a few applications of the pressure cap. Check it out for yourself - one is cast iron and the other is aluminium. If you saw them right next to each other (and in my case - for approx. the same price) - you'd have made the same decision. No brainer!

The ASI piece is very nice - I've had no problems with it and I'm sharing my experience and opinion with someone who asked the question.

Also - it is important to me that the AST match the other polished bits under my hood. Each to his own I guess...this is a personal preference and isn't subject to anyones approval.

I'm damned if I'd use a coke can for an AST.... although - I am using a small cheap plastic bottle for an oil catch can right now so - I suppose - anything is possible.

RXtacy

iTrader: (7)

I would go with the pettit AST because they're having a hurricane sale and u can get them for like $125 also if you're a first time customer they send u an extra ground for your battery, a license plate cover, and somthing else i believe.

Mike

rzograbian

it doesnt matter which one that you use as long as its not plastic! i have seen people use modified coke cans!!

it just matters what you think looks good in your engine bay

apexkw

i am using the asi one like rusty's_silver_bullet-7 and it does seem to be better made than the pettit one around the filler neck. than my friends pettit ast. and i also got it because its shiney!

RotoMoto

What a dumbass... big head brad thinks he knows everything. Removing the AST is a HACK mod not a RELIABILTIY mod.

If you don't have any useful information pertaining to this particular thread then shut your stupid *** up.

akiratdk

Hey rotomoto..... SHad ap~~ yo New Yoka.... .buy some Wuata wid a Quada...
hahahha~~~

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

Eliminating the AST does nothing detrimental to the car. And it *is* a reliability mod in that you no longer have the stock plastic AST there to break and dump coolant.