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what's a downpipe?

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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 02:36 AM
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what's a downpipe?

I keep on reading and talking to people and they tell me the first thing I should do when modifying my car is to change the downpipe. What exactly is it and why is it so important to change it??
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 02:54 AM
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Geez....https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=68640
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 02:57 AM
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its the pipe that comes off the turbos for the exhust
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 02:59 AM
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replaces your pre cat converter
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 07:27 AM
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There are two catalitic converters. The pre cat and main cat. The pre-cat is used for emissions on cold starts only. After that, the main cat is used for emissions. You can think of your exhaust system as a straw and each cat as a sponge inside the straw. Now think of how much easier it would be to drink your soda without the sponges. The pre-cat has a temporary function but it's restriction does not go away.

http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobi...efinitions.htm

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/downpipe.html

Last edited by GoRacer; Oct 22, 2002 at 07:34 AM.
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 07:30 AM
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Originally posted by MySilverRX7
replaces your pre cat converter
If she doesnt know what a downpipe is what makes you think she is gonna know what a precat is.

The downpipe is the exhaust pipe that connects the turbos to the the catalytic converter. In stock form the FD has a pre-catalytic converter which acts as a second catalytic converter for cold start emmisions. The pre cat. tends to restict the flow of the exhaust off the turbos causing the turbos and engine compartment to be hotter thus reducing the cars reliability. Also the precat tends to clog up with time further reducing the exhaust flow, thus makin the engine bay even hotter I think you get the picture.
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 10:38 AM
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Your exhaust is divided into three sections...coming from the turbos which are bolted on to your engine...the first thing is

Pre-catalitic converter or Pre-Cat (replaced with Down Pipe for additional airflow and cooling)

that attaches to (with bolts, no welding required):

Catalitic Convert (replaced with Mid Pipe also helps with flow and cooling)

that attaches to the exhaust (replaced with Cat Back...don't think this does much for cool but definately helps with the flow)

how come no one calls the the CatBack the "Post Cat" ?

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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 11:22 AM
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... how come no one calls the the CatBack the "Post Cat" ?

CUZ IT DOES NUTHING TO HELP WITH EMISSIONS
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 11:42 AM
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always thought the rule of thumb was intake and exhaust first. Them DP amd ECU. BU I dunno thats just me maybe. I kinda take after the 3 Mod rule.
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 12:32 PM
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Originally posted by Crashunit
always thought the rule of thumb was intake and exhaust first. Them DP amd ECU. BU I dunno thats just me maybe. I kinda take after the 3 Mod rule.
people like to do DP first becuse the pre-cat holds alot of heat in the engine bay. so when you elminate it it cools down your under hood temps as well as letting your turbos spool faster. I tihnk the gain forma DP is around 20 HP or so. Although I could be wrong.
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 03:03 PM
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This is too funny. If the thread starter was a dude, he'd need a flame suit...LOL. I can't blame anyone, though. Women who own FD's are sexy. no matter what they look like. YOU GO GIRL ! ! !

~ John
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Old Oct 22, 2002 | 04:40 PM
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Originally posted by jpandes
This is too funny. If the thread starter was a dude, he'd need a flame suit...
You ain't kiddin!!

Jokes on us though... it's probably a dude who already knows this
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Old Oct 23, 2002 | 12:37 AM
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was wondering does it make it louder if i jsut put a donwpipe on wiht stock mid pip and exhaust?
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Old Oct 23, 2002 | 01:10 AM
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it would be pretty quite if its stock. but the the exhuast flow would be weaker depending on how wide the downpipe is. you should try to get larger pipes for the mid pipe and downpipe, and also high flow cats, for performance.

PS just dont turn out to be a *gay* "RICER" with those big huge exhuast tips and dont do anething else to their exhaust system. and pulling only 5mph when they sound like they going 60.
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Old Oct 23, 2002 | 03:44 PM
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Yeah it'll be a lil louder with jsut a downpipe.

You can't have a STOCK midpipe though cuz a midpipe is what replaces your stock cat.
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Old Oct 29, 2002 | 02:44 PM
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I have a 3" SS downpipe, an N-tech hiflow cat & an HKS cat back exhaust...My car is pretty loud, bordering on Obnoxious. I got pulled over for having a loud exhaust.

I can't imagine having a Midpipe...
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