Yay. So no worries when it comes time for me to get a new cat.

 

omg.. bump. I tried searching with "failed smog" "smog" and nothing came up.. Maybe the search is not working right now

Anyways it is time for my car to be smogged again. It has been holding up quite well for the past year and a half besides that I had to change my ACV since my old one could not even idle my engine.

Well yesterday I took it in to smog and I was soo close to passing. I failed the HC in the 15mph test and CO in the 25 mph test. The smog guy didn't even know how to measure the timing! Well I adjusted my timing with the help of another tech but he still hooked up the timing gun wrong because the RPM at idle said 1600 when on the tach it says 750. The idle was double!

So I didn't mess with it much except with the timing and looking at my emissions equipment. I know my air pump is working and I unhooked the tube that pumps air into the cat and I felt nothing. So no air was going to my cat to make it burn hotter. I figured it was the ACV again. Then I called up Rick at Ricks Rotary Performance and he took a look at it since the other mechanics do not know **** about rotaries. He pulled the tube from the ACV going into the intake and there was air coming out of it. He reved it a little more and there was more air coming out of it. He told me that there should be no air coming out of it. So my ACV is broke again. But my engine runs.. just one of the valves inside is not switching over to direct the air to my cat.

So ever since I put the other ACV in my cat has just been running by itself. It still works because I am about 10PPM too high in HC and 1.xx too high for CO. Rick took a look at my numbers and suggested I should put some denatured alcohol in my gas.

Now my question is how much of it should I put? 1 gal to half a tank of gas? Also should I not lean the mixture to the max because that will only increase my HC?

I plan that after I pass smog I will put back my old not working cat and save my bonez for the next smog test.

Thank you to everyone for your help! It is greatly appreciated!

 

bump.

Anybody? Leaning will just lead to higher hydrocarbons right? Also how much denatured alcohol should I put in ratio to the amount of gasoline in my tank?

I also will need a working ACV since the test to check the ACV failed because there was air going back to the intake from the ACV. Well I got a WTB thread in the FS section for that.

Thank you for your help

 

well anyways.... ACV

I've been doing some research myself and have found out that there are two different kinds of Air Control Valves for 1981-1983 models and those are California specific or not CA emission specific. The part number for CA models is N201-13-720 and the other is N203-13-720 (1981-1982) N231-13-720 (1983).

Also required to do this part replacement is a gasket too (PN N201-13-724A)

I've already received a few offers but they have been all out of state folks unless their 7 is a California model since I need to pass California emissions smog test.

As for the denatured alcohol, I read in another thread by John64 that the ratio of alcohol to gasoline is about 1 gallon of denatured alcohol to 1/4 tank of gasoline.

So now to figure out if I want to buy a used or new ACV or go the alcohol route and then switch to my old dead cats after I pass my smog test.

 

hey there. I have an 83 and i cant get it to pass smog. i replaced: dist cap, dist rotor, spark plugs, oil, oil filter, air filter. and it wont pass, but what I have in mind is: new cat, take a look to see if the acv works. as for the alcohol in your tank, i dunno, you should talk to the guy that suggested it to you.

 

hey boyee can you link me to the exact product link 6to that cat im in a similar situation and am wondering there you ordered that cat from thanks dude, also how much in all did you spend fot the cat system?

 

fellinn: seems like you are on the right track to gettin you car to pass smog. you know when you need a new cat when your numbers are way off. post up your numbers from your smog test printout

mr. chewbacca & fellinn: here is the link for the cat i bought http://rx7.com/store/rx7/saexhaust.html

then scroll down to the Bonez Performance Converter System. that is what if pictured in the first page. i bought this product because it is a direct bolt on and it dramatically reduced my emission numbers. it is meant to withstand the high exhaust temperatures of a rotary also. good luck

 

is it this one

Bönez Performance Converter

or this one?

Bönez Performance Converter (Blank)


and which size?

2"

2.25"

2.5"

3"

 

I would assume the one thats not blank. But yeah, I'm seeing signs of a vaccum leak, so i'm going to check for that. And I will probably rebuild my carb, but thats gonna be a bit confusing because I know nothing about the insides of carbs.

I'm definately gonna buy that cat too, the numbers from the pre smog test were insanely high, so I know that the current cat is ****.

 

you would need the Converter System not Converter (Blank). The System is a direct bolt on to your stock exhaust piping because it has flanges. the blank one is just for custom exhaust where you may need to take it to an exhaust shop and have them weld it on.

so all you have to do is choose your year. so for fellinn would choose 81-83 since his is an 83. im not sure about your car mr. chewbacca but the system has an 84-85 model too.

DONT FORGET to buy the bolt and gasket kit listed at the very bottom.

 

Thanks a bunch boyee

sooo...

I got a 82 12a

Get the "system" and not the "system blank"
and must on the bolt and gasket kit

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

no problem! they are pretty good distributer so let me know how it all works out for you. hope you pass smog with a breeze with the new cat. if you need any more help i think this thread has all the info you need to tune your car ready for a smog test. if not PM me or ask here

 

thanks dude

 

hells yea! i passed today.. since the smog test only center i went to has a free retest within 30 days.. my time was running short and the new ACV i ordered is not going to arrive on time. so i added about a gallon of denatured alcohol to my tank and just barely passed. i got the maximum allowable CO for the 25 mph test *whew*. if anybody wants me to post my numbers i will.

but when i was driving back my car was hot (almost 3/4 way up)! i had to turn on the heater to bring the needle down a little so im thinking thats the rest of the alcohol left in my tank so i will fill up my tank to full to dilute whatever alcohol i have left in there.

great i am worry free for two years and i am going to do a full rebuild on the engine during this time. most likely in the summer!

 

quick question.. when the cat gives off white smoke is that a sign that it is clogged/ going bad? tia

 

I know that I am not running too lean because I tuned my stock Nikki per Sterling's instructions. I am happily idling at 750 RPM as stock recommendations. So the only thing I can rule out is that:
-it is clogging up (my ACV is not directing air to my cat)
-there is still some left over denatured alcohol in my tank (although I filled my tank up to dilute it)
-my timing is off (and I don't have a timing gun.. dang)

any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I already ordered a new ACV that is coming from Japan since there isn't any in the U.S. at the moment. My gas will be used up eventually. And I will have to get my timing double checked sometime soon.

BTW My rebuild parts have arrived so my motor will soon be torn open for the first time! But I still get good compression and power. Just some annoying oil and coolant leaks.

 

hey boyee what was ur smog reading. im up for smog next in 2 months and i removed my cats and my smog pump. lol my 7 makes anyone stopped behind me at a redlight cry lol.

i smogged it last year in az, heres the link for anyone else trying to prepare for smog.https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=VPTUNING

 

i guarantee you that you will not pass smog without a catalytic converter. on top of that no air pump so i am assuming you blocked off your acv too. unless you pay somebody to pass it that is...

 

Hey Boyee if your having problems with your smog guy in San Ramon my guy here in Vallejo is a rotary guy and he knows what he is doing he even takes it for a quick hard drive b4 he tests!

 

hey thanks for your input. actually my smog guy is in milpitas and i take it for a hard drive to get there so the car is already hot and ready! btw i passed already mentioned a few posts above