I'm having a problem. Okay, I got my dream FD all stock with 45k orignional miles and its time for some reliability mods. Im thinking DOWN PIPE!!! Im sparing no expense$$ when it come to my new toy.

MY MECHANIC SAID HE WON'T DO IT!!! Whats up with that? He gave me some speech about some customer who threatened to sue him and report him to CA State Emissions Dpt. So I looked for another shop, THEY WON'T DO IT EITHER!!!

I didn't have any problems with my past sports cars . I just want some tasteful reliability mods like everyone else. I don't have time to do the work myself. I work fulltime, have a newborn and a house and I got other things/ responsibilities.

If this is how it is owning an FD, then I'm majorly dissapointed.... Anyone have any California advice for me?

 

The mechanic can't get in trouble if the OWNER does the mod to his own car,and putting on an aftermarket down pipe is an afternoon..Of joyful bliss,with just you and your car and a couple beers and some curse words..!
If the mechanic does it he can be fined for messing with the Emissions..He can possibly lose his license and the shop's.
That is why they are telling you NO.

 

There is a pre-cat integral in the stock OEM "downpipe" which is why they won't do it. Your frustration is majorly misplaced if you blame the car. It's CA.
Changing it yourself isn't a walk in the park, but it's not something that's all that technical either. Liberal use of penetrating oil, a six-sided (IIRC) 12 mm socket, extension, flex and a good vocabulary without the wife and child nearby. I recommend a quality dp like BONEZ with the bracket to secure to the transmission on the downstream side just like the OEM piece. NOT something off Ebay. I also recommend getting a NEW OEM gasket and maybe even new exhaust nuts before you start. And have the DP heat coated or at least header-wrapped and sealed before putting it on.
BTW, that stock pre-cat has a track history of failing, disintegrating and taking out your main cat...which can do damage to the engine.

 

Lol This is whack. Okay okay doing this myself certainly is one option. But a one evening job for you guys is gonna be like a 2 week job for me. First I gotta start researching the exact parts I need, then I gotta buy the right tools (I don't think my little Walmart tool set will cut it) then I gotta find out who can "heat coat" this stupid thing. I don't even have jack stands. I got the $$, just not the time for this. Can't I put a help add out for this job? I'll pay one of you guys $200 to do this job for me! LOL

I just had a realization. This is why people sell their cars! Am I too busy to be an rx7 enthusiast?

 

..and you thought your wife wanted "frilly things" and attention..
Welcome to RX7 LUV!!!

I just gave in and traded Chanel#5 for the smell of Premix.

 

Lol!
Man this dp job is looking really not fun. I seen some threads where it took people weeks! Broken studs and days of wd40. You gotta be kidding me...

 

"I got my dream FD all stock with 45k original miles and its time for some reliability mods. "

A proper running engine is more important than the aggravation of trying to remove a part that isn't broken.

In other words take it to a 7 specialist tuner. Proper boost and drive ability will be a bigger reward that busting your Knuckles.

 

i may be out that way in a week or so doing some tuning, if so i may just take you up on your offer.

 

So your saying I can get more hp out of my car RELIABLY while staying California CARB legal? I thought that the pre cats makes our cars ticking time bombs? Also, my car runs great stock but I can't handle how slow it is in comparison to new sports cars. 14 sec 1/4 miles are like the new V6 mustangs. Keeping this thing stock would be a shame. I just want very basic upgrades and looks like a dp is the first corner stone to my goal.

Also I can't seem to find an rx7 turning specialist around here.... It doesn't seem like theres a lot of people that work on these cars, and the mechanic that I use thats supposed to be the "best" in my area, he doesn't seem to be a performance enthusiast.

 

Wait so removing the stock dp with the precat is illegal in California?

 

Yeah they act like we'll go to Def Con 4 or Def Con 5 if you buy a down pipe.

 

i assume it was Rick, he has been threatened by the BAR/CARB before about modifying cars.

 

I have a stock precat-less DP from Japan I can send your way if you pay shipping... in case of visual inspection

 

bingo. I told him I want him to do all the work on my car because it makes it keep its value Anyways he wont do a dp for me

 

OEM JDM? That sounds cool!! I wonder if it will fit okay. I heard something about the steering column being in the way or not in the way. hmmm. I'm very interested
And do you know if I'll get the typical power gains/ heat reduction of an aftermarket DP? I'm thinking this is the way to go

 

Yes, OEM and it will fit fine.

Heat reduction yes, power gains yes but less than an aftermarket DP due to smaller diameter.

 

Ticking time BOMB? Only the driver not the car. Do you want to fight the system ie smog test or start Drag racing every car that comes out 20 years newer than yours?
There are many ways to get more HP and be smog legal, and still drive one of the classiest cars ever made. Most people that start removing & modifying their 7's never stop as the power potential is only limited to their pocketbooks, but so ends that reliability that you want so badly. Remember the cars were designed around a 255hp power plant not 355. And its rotary power. Power to be different than everyone else. Go to a race course and find out the difference between handling and power. Its then that you will enjoy your 7's handling better than any
Putstang ever built.

 

I see your point Motoron, but aside from my cars handling potential, I still need to get rid of my PRE-CAT!! And for obviouse reasons.

Coming back to topic, I found a "50 state street legal DP" here 93 - 95 RX7 emission legal high flow catalytic converters and exhaust systems for Mazda 3RD Generation Mazda RX-7 FD3S.

Anyone heard of this brand of dp? Or if it would benefit me in the cooling department?
The other option would be the jspec oem exhaust manifold...

I wonder if these items would really pass visual inspection in a CA STAR Smog Test Center

 

Can you please explain how I can get more HP wile being smog legal in CA?
Do you know about FDs let alone their cooling issues? I'm not into cooking my engine bay. Thanks

 

good luck getting an order from SR.

 

Technically, it fails the visual inspection. Some techs care, some don't.

Rules changed a couple years ago requiring replacement cat's to have a stamped number saying it was manufactured for that model of car. I doubt that unit conforms to current rules and would only pass if it looks like it was installed 5 years ago and is grandfathered in.

That was before STAR and caused tech's to tighten down even more.

JDM downpipe is half way there because it looks stock, but doesn't have a cat. It'll pass a cop's inspection, but not a smog tech.

Stock gutted downpipe helps by not clogging the rest of the exhaust but flow leaves much to be desired. It's the only way to keep it 100% ready to pass smog.

 

Thank You RXSpeed16! You know your stuff. Okay well i may look into "gutting" my pre cat or going with SR setup and pay off some smog tech to pass my visual. I'll have to weigh out my options...

 

Kind of hard for me to trust any of their ad claims too.

 

Do you guys think this car would pass at a CA STAR certified smog center?
LOL

 

or do neither, i have installed many down pipes on FDs in california and never had a smog tech question them. the only thing i would not suggest is a blinging chrome looking down pipe, the more factory-ish the piping looks the more readily it will be overlooked.