I recently bought a 3rd gen rx-7 from another owner. I am not sure if it already has a downpipe. How can I tell if it does?

Your help is very much appreciated...

Surgicalposition

 

The best way to tell is to take a look at it. If it looks like a straight pipe, 3" in diameter, and probably newer looking than the rest of the exhaust, then it's a downpipe. If it has a bottleneck, and is rusty as all get out, then it's probably the stock pre-cat.

Your other option is to take pics of it and post them here. That way the folks who've seen the stock pre-cat and a downpipe will be able to tell you for sure.

 

Exactly. If it looks just like a round pipe coming from under the engine, bending and connecting to the main cat in the middle of the car, it should be a downpipe.

If it looks like it has a layer/layers of sheet metal around the outside, variable width, on it's way up to the engine, it is probably the pre-cat.

Hope this helps!

 

If it is a stock precat you should get it out of there. They can clogg and cause a ton off unwanted extra heat. Its one of the best possible mods. both a performance mod and a reliablility mod. On that note I have a good one for sale at a great price. hahah I am going with single turbo and no longer need it. here you go: https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=254496

 

down pipe looks similar to this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...em=2451582161.

 

theres some good pics of a precat on this page:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=downpipe+pics
also the thread shows you what a pre cat can do to your exhaust.