Hi Gang,

I have an 88 TII with Racing Beat Rev-TII exhaust system. I'm working on getting this ready for the Colorado emissions test and would appreciate any knowledgeable input on how to accomplish.
can it be done without adding a catalytic converter? maybe a stupid question, but I'm unsure.

Also, this car has a Microtech LTX-12 ECU and I'm adding an LC-1 wideband with DynoTune gauge this weekend.

I'm hoping that it can be tuned to pass with minimal heartache.

Thanks!

- kel -

 

I was going to suggest you get it plated as a collector if it was not your daily driver. In most states, collector plated vehicles don't need to pass emissions tests.

But alas it looks like last year CO ruined that law for RX-7 owners.

You will very likely not get it to pass emissions without a cat.

 

Fixed, you're welcome.

 

Yeah, I though about that too. But, I plan to drive this a lot when all is straightened out, so I'd be stretching the rules to go Collector anyway.

On the cat, do you know of a mfg/model that I could add to the RB Rev-TII?

- kel -

 

What I've always wanted to do is just make a temp beater exhaust out of a stock one, and add 2 universal cats to it. Then just swap it in whenever I needed to pass emissions. You might look into that as an alternative to adding a full time cat.

 

Strangely, I thought about that one too. I have an '87 TII with dead engine in my driveway, and thought about swapping turbo-back parts for the test, then put the performance system back on after I pass.

One problem with that, is I eventually want to sell the '87 as a project car and am trying to keep the cannibalism to a minimum while I get this AE up to scratch. And for this to be a long-term solution, I'd need to hang on to the exhaust, which makes a storage problem too. My garage is a disaster already without adding a pile of pipes and stuff.


- kel -

 

You must have a cat...without it they'll fail you on the visual and won't even sniff the car.
Your best bet is to find a stock system and run it for the test, then swap in whatever you really want to use for the next two years.
Oh, be sure to avoid the roadside testing stations, too...three bad driveby results and they can pull you in for a test.

Collector tags (at least in CO) have no mileage or other restrictions. You must pass emissions when the car is first tagged but never again as long as you own it. It's a five year tag, so you're paying five years of registration fees up front.
RockLobster is correct though, the eligibility was changed last year and you do not qualify anyway.

 

Thanks for the info. I thought about the visual, but the REV-TII has a pre-silencer that looks a lot like a cat and I was hoping that the typical incompetence at the testing station would slide it on through.

Starting to look like pulling the exhaust off the project car for the test is going to be best. I was hoping someone would know of a cat that would work with the RB exhaust and I could stay in compliance.

- kel -

 

It may look like a Cat,but if they do a Sniff test,it will Fail miserably.
Put the Proper **** on and get it Smogged.
Set the exhaust up so that When you have to Smog you can just drop the Test pipe and insert the Cat and you are ready to go.,(don't forget the air pump too!)
otherwise you are just Fooling yourself ,thinking that you can Fool the Guys that Do Emission tests for a Living.
Good luck.

 

Here is what i did for mine.

I got a 3 cat from rx7.com (bonz I think) ordered the flanges from RB. Had it welded so that the assembly was the same size as the RB presilencer. Then of course just the ACV and the pipe going to the side of Cat.

It works really well and I can swap it between my 87 turbo and my 91 (now dead) 91 turbo.Takes like 20 max to jack it up swap it out and plug the hole. the damn air pump is the slow part, and its not bad.

GL

 

that sounds like a pretty good idea. I talked to the RB guys, and they suggested looking into Magnaflow.
So I called them and after discussion, was told that their model 59959 would do the job. Looking at in their online catalog, it doesn't look like it'll do ****

Do you recall where you got your bonz and which one?

- kel -

 

http://rx7.com/store/rx7/fcexhaust.html

The "blank" converter. You can pick the size of the pipe going in and out. 3" fits the flanges great and you just need to weld in piping of the right size. This isn't a real cheap way of going but it does work great. In our state if you don't pass you just have to show that you gave an emmeisons qualified shop $300 and you can get a waver. I figured that it would only be a few bucks more to have a cat welded up to fit I might as well go that route.

I leave it out of the car, swap in the presilencer and just pull the airpump. Really, takes like 20 mins.
One thing I have noticed is that there really doesn't appear to be any difference in power with the cat on. Seat of the pants tells me there isn't much drop, if any.

Good luck

 

I would just swap the stock exhaust on + off for the test.

Here's what I do - I have a corksport downpipe + test pipe going to apexi dual N1's. When I did emissions, I took off the test pipe, threw the stock cat on + hooked up the air pipe. Went for a test, passed! (WOOHOO!!) then went back home + put the test pipe back on. Works great. It's going to be a track car soon so I've been slowly taking emissions off.

An extra cat won't take up that much space in your garage. I have a few. Actually, now that I think of it, PM me the length of the pre-silencer. I may have a cat that I used once for an emissions test that I could sell you. I passed w it on, but it's too short for stock exhaust. Maybe it will fit in yours.

 

Or we can just register it in bellingham. I've don't that too.

 

PO box? I think I might do this if it's easy....

 

I can vouch for magnaflow cats working nicely. Especially if you get one with an air pump inlet.

 

So has anyone passed emissions with a RB single outlet header, magnaflow cat to dual magnaflow mufflers. 2.5" piping. S5 model with emissions and air pump still in place? Im about to go this route very soon because i need a inspection asap. If i fail then im fudged.

 

If your engine is running well and you have a working cat, emissions, and air pump, I see no reason why your car will not pass. Putting on a catback usually will not fail you unless it fails visual inspection in your state.

 

If you're really paranoid about passing the sniffer, do a search on this forum. There are a ton of things you can do to help pass. Most are basic maint, some are little tricks that help.

 

i did. the numbers were so good that it seems like the header might have helped!

this assumes that the ACV is working properly.

 

we did the same! we even have a jig for it, and made our own flanges. its turned out to be popular in CA...

it turns out with cats, that there is a legal one for each car, it must be an EPA?CARB thing, but anyways you just get the one for a t2, in 3" in/out.

they are like $70 here...

 

I've thought about that one about 10 years ago. Me and my GF where thinking of moving to the SF area. I wasn't sure if it would work or not down there. Some pretty messed up laws in the PRC (peoples repuplic of Califoria). Of course I would have had to leave my avitar at home so that was a -1, and of course the GF was a dirty cheating ***** so that was a big minus. But I've always loved Tahoe and its good to know that I could at least be leagal on the CA side. I'd have to live in the Silver state though.

 

You had the same exact exhaust system as me or something similar?

 

I talked to the RB guys today and got the flanges/gaskets on order; should have them on Thursday. Found a muffler shop who'll do the welding for me cheap and all that's left is to order the cat.

Thanks for clarifying which one on the page you linked. I read through all of them and suspected that'd be the one, but it's good to be sure.

Update will follow....

- kel -

 

rx7.com sells an aftermarket cat specifically designed for the extra hot exhaust of an RX7.