i have a hks downpipe but it didnt come with a gasket and i cnat findone anywhere and the mazda dealer wants $75 for one i would like to find one cheaper but if not ill shell out the $75 for it.

 

Ray at Malloy Mazda may have one a little cheaper, but you are going to have to bend over a little in either case.

 

Malloy Mazda
1-888-533-3400
Talk to Ray Crowe

 

where is this place located, i live in southern alabama.

 

whats so special about it if theres nothing special about it i can make on emyself but i figured theres gotta be something to it or it wouldnt cost that much. thanks for the info.

 

This gasket was recently updated. The list price for the new one is ~$100 when I asked Ray he said his price was only $74 (If I remember correctly). I just reused my old one since it's a metal gasket.

 

It lasts longer then standard gasket material. Where the downpipe connects to the turbo manifold is extremely hot and any universal gasket material will fail over time. You can try posting in the for sale section and see if anyone has one for sale a little cheaper.

 

well if it can be reused ill reuse it but i can get the part $1 more than he can ill just buy it from my place. thanks for all the info fellas!

 

If someone can come up with a source for the gasket material, I can waterjet cut these for about $10 bucks a copy

 

If someone can specify the gasket material (yes I know its' metal, but what kind, 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless, inconel, etc.) then I can source the material. I work as a maintenance leader in the chemical industry, and we have local suppliers that can get us just about anything we need. Also have access to a local gasket supplier that custom fabricates gaskets for us. That would be another option.

Richard

 

Can you have the interior edge trimmed with folded metal like stock?

I think they're around 4-6 layers thick, and the layers are kinda necessary to make a good seal.

Dave

 

you do that and ill buy a set off from you ASAP

 

Just brush off the old one with a wire brush and re-use it.

 

thats what i am going to do ill tell you how it goes after my midpipe comes in (should be any day now)

 

EDIT: nm

 

There are other options besides multiple layers of metal. Most of the gasket we use for flanged connections are constructed using a metal core and covered with a soft compressible material. The compressible material "fills the voids/imperfections" on the flanged surfaces to eliminate leak paths. Many different materials are available for both the center core and the compressible material. The selection of these is dependent on service temperature, pressure and chemicals in the piping. IMHO, this type of gasket would actually seal better than an all metal gasket. The downside would be that they are not meant to be reuseable.

Again, if someone knows the material of construction of the OEM gasket, and can provide me an upper limit on operating temperature, I'll look in to what it would take to get gaskets made.

Richard

 

Well the manifolds in that area occasionally get to red-hot or orange-hot on the outside (1000F I think) and the EGTs inside are hotter. Perhaps 1500F as a good limit. Someone else might be able to give more accurate info.

Dave

 

I bought mine from Ray Crowe, he takes care of use RX-7 owners.

It is an expensive gasket but it is in a very VERY stressed location, probably seeing the highest temperatures of the entire engine. I think Jonski reused his with success but my origanal one wasnt sealing very well on the back side so I just replaced it. I thought I had lost it a few days ago when I was getting ready to install it... drove me mad to think I lost a 75$ gasket.

~Kris

 

I reused mine with success as well.

As far as the operating temp limit goes, what dgeesaman said would be a safe limit although it was my understanding that EGT's in the 1200F range were considered very high and that standard fell short of 1000F. However, I myself don't have an EGT guage and am going off what I've read from others.