Attention NA dudes w/rusted out stock exhausts

Before I bought these parts I searched for people's impressions and found nothing useful. So here's my impressions of and more information than anyone needs to know about these items which are now installed in my 86 NA FC:

EXHAUST HEADER 13B 86-92 RX7 NON-TURBO 16130 $187.00
EXH CONVERTER REPLACES 16405 MZ1927-23055 $450.00
MUFFLER PAIR+"Y"PIPE 86-92 50MM RB 16420 $576.00

There's the mazdatrix part numbers, parts are listed under 'gray area' headers and converters and mufflers and catback exhaust systems. I also had to order some sort of gasket(s) which Mr. Mazdatrix guy told me about after I asked if this includes everything I'll need. This setup is perfect for those of you with NAs who still want to have a cat while opening up your exhaust.


Cost of items was

$1213

+ shipping from CA to IL

$1324

Mazdatrix, as usual, was a pleasure to do business with.

I had the local mazda dealer install the stuff since I have no tools or garage or driveway and in general I'm a nancy boy. Cost of labor was probably around $450-500. I don't know really, since I got filter/plug changes and timing adjustment on top of it, all told was $567. Which is a lot of money. So if you're in my position and need someone else to do the labor, prepare to be rod-rooted. That being said, here's what the RB catback looks like on my GXL




The semi-rectangular tips say "racing beat" in a tasteful gray on the side, though I don't know how many years that'll be visible for. The 40 year old dude at the alignment shop today said my exhaust was 'trick' and that he'd never seen so much chrome, so be prepared to recieve compliments like this.

As far as performance is concerned after a day of driving it around the town at a high velocity ... it's definitely got a lot more punch now. Of course, the cat was clogged previously, so it may have been performing progressively worse for a few months before finally it wouldn't let me go over 10 MPH. Regardless, it certainly adds horsies having this header and catback on there. As far as how much, who knows. Unfortunately, I think the header will bump me a class in SCCA, but them's the breaks.

I'm 99% certain that this exhaust setup IS providing the backpressure necessary to open my S4's extra ports. If anyone knows for a fact that this setup won't, please bring it to my attention. The mazdatrix guy said it will be just fine, and it feels like there is a difference in performance below around 3500 RPM. There's probably an easy way to find out by looking under the hood somewhere, but I don't know what it is.

It sounds VERY nice, not too loud, not too quiet. What a pleasant surprise turning it on for the first time. The tone is surprisingly deep at idle, I don't know how they did that. I'll try to get a sound clip sometime. It definitely has a unique tone to it, it really brings out the sound of the rotary quite well. I've never heard anything like it on the road. The nearest comparison at high revs would be a crotch rocket motorcycle with a very large motor. I don't know how much of the kick *** sound is attributable to the header and how much is attributable to the catback. If you live in level one of the hit PC game "redneck rampage" like I do, the sound will turn toothless heads. As I said, quite unique, but not obnoxious.

For sure if you're going to spend big money on exhaust in the first place, you should get the header, especially if you can do the labor yourself. More go than show that way.

All told, after spending $1800 out of necessity (the old exhaust was just turning to ****) I have to say I'm impressed. It sure gave this old GXL a much needed kick in the ***. On the other hand, for the price I paid, you could deal with your crummy exhaust for a bit longer, save the money, sell your NA and buy a used turbo II for just a bit more. If you love your current NA to death or just don't like turbos for whatever reason, this is a cool thing to do. Personally, I have enough problems as it is with this NA, I don't need to add a turbo to the mix

Anyway, if anyone has questions / comments, go ahead. Otherwise, this post is strictly for posterity's sake, so that the people of tomorrow can search for the info.

 

So the reason you kept the cat is because you need to pass emmisions? I love the RB mufflers they are wicked at high RPMs aren't they. but at idle they are quieter than my stock ones.

 

No it wasn't entirely due to emissions. I'm told SCCA WILL try to check your car for a cat at an autocross if the tech inspector is halfway competent, and if you don't have one you better have brought the car in on a trailer or you don't race. I am more interested in legally racing this car on a purposefully designed race course than illegally doing it on some straight piece of highway or through a school zone. It was tempting to get the duals, though. True duals are the devil's bargain They're cheaper and perform better. Maybe I could have pulled one over on SCCA but maybe not.

Other considerations were backfires (don't know if a cat really helps much), tone, horrible smelling exhaust, and breathing in carbon monoxide and other products of imcomplete combustion while I'm driving. Also, getting a ticket for not having a cat, and not having a shop do work on your car because of no cat.

They are quieter than stock, but much much LOWER in tone. When the guy at the alignment shop started the car to drive it out of the garage while I was in the waiting room, I instantly knew which car he fired up and went out to greet him accordingly

 

Ah ok so the guys at the SCCA thing will check if your driving around without cats. I C. Well the only thing that I am woried about is shooting a huge flame out the back while a cop can see it. Here the inspetion is not even done on the cars. They just check to see if the car is road worthy. Yeah I love hearing my car. I love the sound of it. I just need to fix my idle again and it will sound less loud than it does now. I can't smell the exhaust but I can feel it in my eyes if I stand behind it for about 15-25 seconds. Back fires are only loud while warming up. once the pipes are hot they quiet down(don't know exactly why) a lot. Unless i shift at 7500 RPMs then it is kinda loud.

 

Sounds like a good setup, because that's what I'm going with when I finally get around to plunking down the cash. Lucklily, I'll save on that install, though, I'm capable of ripping out a stock exhaust.

I'd like to keep the cat for many the same reasons you are - smell, noise, legality, although we don't have emissions in Florida, so that's not really a concern. The main thing is smell - open rotaries put out some noxious fumes.

 

Even if you don't have sniff tests there, are you mandated to have a cat? We don't have testing here, but you can still get a big fat ticket for no cat.

 

nice write up

 

Nice write up. I'm was planning to redo with replace my stock exhaust system, but was unsure what to buy. Now seeing this post and others, I going with racing beat system.

 

I'm pretty sure it's illegal anywhere to tamper with emissions equipment, so that's really a moot point. I haven't heard of too many people here getting tickets for no cats, since our highways are full of other problems - drunks, old people trying to run me off the road, etc. However, I'm sure you can get a nice sized ticket for being nabbed without a cat or other emissions.

 

I wouldn't discount other premade catbacks like HKS. I'm sure there's people on here that are happy with their non-racing beat exhausts. I happen to like the words "Racing Beat" better than the initials HKS, that was the extent of my research.

 

Deathbots, u mentioned that you were going to try and get a sound clip. i wonder if you have had any luck? i am going to finish off the RB system, only have the catback right now, and i was wondering how it sounds
anyway, i'm glad that you like the exhaust and thank you for your posting!

 

im not sure about getting a ticket for no cat. im my previous car with no cat the cops search the engine bay and other parts many times looking for a bottle of the giggle juice hooked up, but never gave me a ticket for anything... plus i bought, sold to my self, the car car at a dealership i used to work at and it didnt have to cat on it then as well.

 

"not too loud, not too quiet" - that's right but it's enough loud for other drivers Mine (similar to yours except pre-silencer) sounds sort of deep til 2500rpm then gets crazy

 

Yo,


Good write up! Welcome to the bling bling RB canister club!

Fit and finish on them are top notch. I'll probably be polishing mine up today.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Dirty!"

 

my racing beat exhusat has been on for about 2 years now. The logo is still thre and it still shines and sounds like new. I removed my cats though and opted for a 3 inch pipe from a muffler shop, great setup in my opinion it brought me down to a 15.2 1/4 mile

 

Just for what it's worth...running no cats or a header will bump a NA RX-7 from ES to CSP. Supposedly, a cone filter does the same thing. None of the RX-7's that runn in CSP except maybe one run emissions here in my region.

 

so the dealer installed the non emmission legal thing? hehe