http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2429715739

Check it out and let me know if this looks like a quality downpipe. It gets very hot in the summer here and I don't need my car blowing up on me w/ the pre-cat.

I'm not sure if my model came with a pre-cat since its an efini from japan. The pipe I have looks like a squarish pipe w/ some metal heat shielding from what I can see. I don't see any "bulge" like on a regular cat.

 

Are you able to take pics of your stock precat/downpipe?

An aftermarket DP should be pretty easy to identify. Just look at the piping directly in front of the main cat. Compare that with the pics of the aftermarket downpipes in the rx7store.

 

Ok just went out and looked under the car as best as I could (i need to get some ramps). what connects up to the cat is a pipe that looks ribbed on the side (like heat shielding). Its not a round pipe like the pics of the downpipe. I'm going to go ahead and order the downpipe if you think its a good deal.

 

my next stupid question is about boost gauges.. On Ebay they range from $25 for some generic brand to $125 for APEXI.. what is the difference besides the price. The $25 one said it came with all hardware. Are these ok to use w/ any accuracy?

 

Well you could have also spotted the precat from the top, but it was hard for me to see it since it was my first time looking at an FD. Is your car right hand drive? if so you may have to get a DP like HKS, which has a flat upper pipe.

You could check out the scuderiaciriani site and compare the shape of the precat on the online workshop manual (page F-4). Keep in mind that the manual is for a USDM FD which is left hand drive.

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/s...ol_systems.pdf

As far your gauge inquiry, most of the name brand gauges will work fine. However most of them read out in BAR. There are a few companies like Autometer and VDO which read PSI and IN/HG. I went with the PSI readout because that's what I'm used too, plus the increment changes between PSI is easier to read.

 

The downpipe you saw on e-bay is real good quality, I have one, and is from the same people, they're in new york so I bid on it (this is a year ago)and went to see it before tha auction ended and got it right away.

The fitment couldn't be any better, I'm realy happy with it.

 

Killroy,

I'm still waiting for your reply saying if your car is left hand drive or right hand drive. If your steering wheel is on the left side like most other USDM FDs then the downpipe on the e-bay page would work fine.

However I see you are from the island of Mauritius, so I'm thinking that you may have your steering wheel on the right side. If so, then the DP in the e-bay page will not work, because there is going to be interference with steering components.

If you have a RHD, then you have to get the DPs that look like they have a flattened upper pipe. Some examples of that type of DP are the HKS and FEED DP.

You can see the HKS DP in the rx7store and the FEED DP can be seen on www.jt-imports.com

 

ludeowner: I second u on that

I have the efiny as well and its a RHD. I would suggest in getting a downpipe like HKS. The downpipe for the RHD is shaped differently. Check their web site and you'll know what im talking about...

All efiny has no precat! but im not certain about yours... it all depends on each countries laws and regulation regarding of polution control... but who really cares abt this... hahaha

 

Also, check out the seller's info on this board.

There has been some bad stories with him.

 

Thanks for the info guys. my Efini is right-hand drive so I just cancelled my order w/ him. I'll go w/ the HKS now.. Do I have to specify RHD or will it work on both?

 

To my knowledge all HKS DPs have the flat upper pipe. The HKS and all other flathead DPs work for BOTH left and right hand drive FDs. And as far as I know the full 3" DPs will only work on left hand drive (USDM) FDs. It wouldn't hurt to tell your seller that you have a RHD FD.

 

Too bad the HKS is mild steel.. I was hoping for stainless.. Is it true that mild steel will rust/rot out in 6 months? If not, how long does it last? BTW, is there any way to search the member list by location? I'd really like to meet some RX7 owners out here!

 

Yes, it will rust. However, exterior rust isn't necessarily a bad thing. It will take quite a bit of time for it to rust all the way through. Probably a lot longer than you'll own the car.

You can get the pipe treated with a jet coat or something which will resist rust if it's going to bother you.

 

HKS was just an example. Im just refering to the shape rather than the brand... good luck

 

Has anyone ever tried these DP's from eBay? If so, are they of quality craftsmanship?

 

If you are worried about rust, look at the FEED DP on www.jt-imports.com It looks like it may be stainless steel. I'm sure there is at least one Japanese company that makes SS DPs for RHD FDs.

 

for the hks down pipe would heat wrap be recommended, note i have a stock exaust will the transfer mess with the stock main cat. also will the heat wrap increase the rust, being that it will hold moisture.

 

They probably pretreat the metal so that its sealed (when doing powder coating). You might want to try soaking the pipe in mineral spirits or something, then give it a good 5 coats of clear engine enamel. That might keep it from rusting on the outside.

 

I just got an HKS dp installed and it has an aluminized coating that should resist rusting. Of course, I live in Cali where it takes forever for anything to rust, but if you care about rust go with SS. I mainly like the HKS dp because it has the cast "cobra head" flange that looks stock, in fact the entire piece looks like its stock which is a prime concern for visual inspections.

 

Nathan, how is that downpipe? Mine is coming in on friday dont know what to expect. As far as heat and performance, is it noticable

 

Keep us updated on those DPs off of eBay!

 

Roach,
Performance is definitely noticeable, faster turbo spoolup and more power. Heatwise I haven't had enough time to really test the difference but I expect an improvement in that area as well. They basically all perform the same so, uh, thats what you should expect .

 

Hey I saw the HKS downpipe somewhere for $169.. anyone know where that may have been? Unless RX7Store jacked up the price in the last couple days, it wasn't there.

 

It still is $169.00.

http://66.216.67.51/product.asp?0=210&1=254&3=289

 

I have an older HKS downpipe. Is it better to get a dp that is a full 3 inches all the way instead of the way the HKS flattens out at the beginning? Mine is the mild steel so if there is a performance gain I may just buy the one off of ebay with the midpipe too. SS is a lot lighter. If there is no performance difference than I will just stay with what I have.