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Is this the infamous Y-pipe?

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Old 03-05-07 | 09:39 PM
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Is this the infamous Y-pipe?

I'm not one to usually ask questions as I like to figure things out, but you guys here really know your stuff. Can someone tell me if this is the infamous y-pipe that cracks all the time? This item here (with the arrows) is definately busted/cracked. I've have a quite loud hissing sound lately with a great reduction in boost. I thought it was the vac/boost lines (that contain the pills). They have leaked before so it wasn't a surprise. But after seeing this, I figured it may not be the lines this time. Maybe it's related, maybe it's not. I'm not trying to get into my specific boost issues like everyone else does, I just wondered if anyone has any advice as to replace/fix/upgrade this cracked item. Thanks in advance.

And I know about the engine being dirty. It's only temporary beause I've had some things going on here and I haven't got to do it. Please don't give me hell about it!
Attached Thumbnails Is this the infamous Y-pipe?-engine.jpg   Is this the infamous Y-pipe?-engine-zoom.jpg  
Old 03-05-07 | 09:45 PM
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That coupler on the Y-pipe blew on my car a couple years back and I was unable to boost more than 4psi. That could very well be your culprit
Old 03-05-07 | 09:52 PM
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Hey that's great! Not really but it just may solve my problem. I may can hit 5psi, but that's it. A coupler shouldn't be expensive at all. Alright. I wonder if plastic is the way to go again. Thanks Mazdatim. I was unsure if it is the Y-pipe because I thought it was supposed to be plastic but mine's not. It looks to be aluminum. Maybe it's been upgraded and I didn't know about it. Mine is a 94 R2, I doubt that matters. I'm going down to double check that it is in fact metal. I'll post a pic probably. Hey thanks again Tim.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:08 PM
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Assuming that this is the Y-pipe, it's definately not plastic. Am I confused? Maybe the Y-pipe isn't what's plastic, maybe I'm think of the separator tank. Hell if I know. But at least I know I'm going to hit my local dealers for a price on that coupler before trying Mazdacomp etc. Thanks again.
Attached Thumbnails Is this the infamous Y-pipe?-ypipe-zoom.jpg  
Old 03-05-07 | 10:13 PM
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The y-pipe is aluminum below the rubber coupler, and black plastic thru the section they call the crossover pipe. The crossover is the one oriented diagnonally and across the top of the mess.

The last pic is a hose between the airbox and either the air bypass valve (BOV) or charge relief valve. I'm too tired to figure out which, but it's not important to this discussoin.

You could buy a new coupler from Mazda dealer but the price could be awful. Mazdacomp is often half the price at my local dealer.

Replace that coupler. I think you'll be very happy with the result.

Dave
Old 03-05-07 | 10:17 PM
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^ exactly. Or try www.atpturbo.com They sell all size couplers and every thing else you could ever need at a decent price.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:23 PM
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Hell yeah alright! You guys do know your stuff. Thanks dgeesaman. I do have a dealer within 20 miles that has offered decent prices on some items in the past. But you're right. I'm not going to bother this time. Now if they would have it in stock, I'd pay a little more just to get it fixed... but we all know they don't stock our parts.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know if I can buy the stock pills, and if so, where? I am missing one of them. My car is stock (for now) and I'd rather use the pills than do the Home Depot valve (even though I've already bought the stuff!). I know about the Holley jets, they just aren't quite right. I called Peter Farrell and that's he suggested (where is he from, England?). I'm just not happy. I have scoured the world trying to buy new pills to no avail. Thanks again.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:26 PM
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Damn RX7what! I like those wheels. I appreciate the link. I'll hit them up.

So I should go silicone and not plastic?

Last edited by mackyok; 03-05-07 at 10:31 PM.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:28 PM
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Oh and dgeesaman, I actually meant the metal pipe behind the hose. But it doesn't matter. It's all cool now. Thanks.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:32 PM
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When mine split, I just bought the all metal (Infini) y-pipe. I figured it doesn't cost too much and it will save headaches in the future.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:49 PM
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It's actually easier to go with a piece of silicone turbo hose, for the record.

As for the missing pills, most folks and even the aftermarket guys like Pettit and Farrell go with the Holley car jets as they are nearly identical to the stock 'pills'. Also, keep in mind that a lot of cars (mine included) never had 'pills' to begin with, rather the reduction orifices were built in.
Old 03-05-07 | 10:54 PM
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Thanks about the wheels. Yes use silicone it will last longer than rubber.

Do you have a motorcycle. I just noticed your avatar. I have a 06 gsxr 1000.
Old 03-05-07 | 11:06 PM
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Oops, screwed up here. Wrong location... Just ignore =D
Old 03-05-07 | 11:07 PM
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Oops. DAMN I hate this new layout. Where did this come from?!!

Peter Farrell had me buy a 60 and a 64. Maybe those were wrong. They just weren't quite right. When I got my car, it had a pill missing. But now that you mention it, I have a 94 and didn't they have the built-in pills then? Damn I better strip her down and look. Maybe that's why it's never been right, if there's two pills in it. If there is, I swear I didn't do it! Like I said it came with one pill. He either added it, or lost the other one.

Yeah, I'm going to just do the silicone.

I have a 98 Ducati 916 monoposto, bought brand new. I also had a 00 R6 (bought new too), but have recently sold it. WAY too much headshake on that thing!
Old 03-06-07 | 03:12 PM
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Well, that is definately my boost problem. But now I'm getting 12/8/10. If I do have the built-in pills, plus the ONE pill that is in the line, would that increase the boost as such? Or maybe it's a different issue. I did a temporary fix on the coupler, but forgot to measure it. Is it a 3" or what? Thanks.
Old 03-06-07 | 04:39 PM
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Well, according to what little I could find, I believe the coupler is 2.75" ID by 3" tall. I'm going to try AutoZone or Advance first. The sell some rice **** sometimes, so maybe they will have a silicone coupler. I called my dealer (for a whoot) and he said that it was $61 and there were only 8 in Mazda's US warehouse. Screw the dealerships. I remember years ago I went to the dealer for a glovebox piece, and the Mazda "technicians" came out to look at my car. They were blown away like they had never seen one before. And they are "trained" to work on these huh? We all know that the dealers never knew what they were doing with the RX-7, but to actually see it in real life blew me away! Anyway, I'll either buy the Efini y-pipe or at least better quality coupler later. I just need it fixed now. Thanks for everyone's help... really.
Old 03-06-07 | 06:07 PM
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Hose techniques has what you need in any color you want. In answer to your pill question even with two pills in line the smallest hole diameter is what would be giving you your boost. Larger hole = lower boost and smaller hole = higher boost if the pills are built into the turbo's and your building that much boost then you must have an after market exhaust or intake ? ?
Old 03-06-07 | 06:46 PM
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Nah dude it's stock. I'm not sure if mine in fact has the built-in pills or not. I will be tearing it down within the next day or two to find out. If I don't have them, I'm going to (for now) remove the pills/jets and install the homemade boost controllers and tweak it. Yep, HoseTechniques is about to get a big order from me very soon.
Old 03-09-07 | 08:28 PM
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FYI, I found a nice temporary fix for that coupler until I order a high quality one online. I bought a Spectre Performance 3" to 3" silicone coupler at Auto Zone for $7 (part# 8771). Advance Auto had one similiar for $12. Of course it's .25 too big, but I needed it fixed for now. So I put it on and clamped it down tight but the plastic pipe on top popped out of the coupler like an hour down the road. Now this crappy coupler comes with a separate ring that makes it 2.5" on one end. So I carefully cut the ring in half effectively giving me a 2.75" ID coupler on both ends. It works great! It's still a temporary fix, but I thought I'd mention this in case anyone has the same problem and needs something to fix it with for the time being.

And about my high primary turbo boost, like I said my car is stock, but the vac/boost gauge that's in it right now is a "base model" AutoMeter, and we all know they can be inaccurate. I have a brand new gauge in my hands now (no AutoMeter for me), so after I install it, we'll see what I get. Thanks for everyone's help again.
Old 03-20-07 | 06:04 PM
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:UPDATE:

That AutoZone coupler blew out, so don't bother with it. Just wanted to let everyone know. Even though it was just a temporary fix, it didn't last for sh%t. Carry on...
Old 03-20-07 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by mackyok
:UPDATE:

That AutoZone coupler blew out, so don't bother with it. Just wanted to let everyone know. Even though it was just a temporary fix, it didn't last for sh%t. Carry on...
I went to Home Depot and got one for about 3 dollars, coupler looks and feels new 6k later.
Old 03-20-07 | 06:18 PM
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Yeah, I bought that one too, but I took it back before using it. It is really nice and thick rubber, but it measures 3.25" ID and after that 3" one, I just didn't feel like trying to make it stay on. That's awesome that it works though. I guess I didn't use the one I should had. D'oh! Didn't you have any issues with the clamp holding it on at all?

Damn dude, you're awfully close. I go to Matthews all the time. I've probably seen you around. I'm right outside of Salisbury BTW.

Last edited by mackyok; 03-20-07 at 06:24 PM.
Old 03-20-07 | 07:36 PM
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Strange, I could have sworn I got 3" from HD but it was a while ago so maybe not. Its certainly snug everything fit great, never popped off once, I also used those couplers for the intake.

I didn't even see your location! I don't live in Matthews but I'm there almost every day working, and I daily drive my 7. You've probably seen me.



The only other FD I've seen around here is a white one, but it looks like someone who drives it as a weekend car completely stock.
Old 03-20-07 | 08:46 PM
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I bought new couplers from hose techniques after my stock ones blew. I also picked up T bolt clamps.
Old 03-21-07 | 01:05 AM
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You're right it does say it's 3", but it actually measures larger than that (ID). That was the only reason I took it back. Lowes has a similiar coupler, but it too measures well over 3" ID. Anyway, thanks for mentioning that though. I sure wish I knew that a week ago! I don't work there or anything, but I go to Movies10 and BMW-Ducati somewhat frequently, plus Ballantyne area. My car is stock too, although it's red. Man, I truly love those whites. If they had made a 94 R2 in white, I would have bought one instead (assuming I could have found one!). I can only hope that I see it out one day. I'll have to take a pic I believe. Well, take care "Timmy".

>Larz, I understand that HoseTechniques has the best replacement couplers and I still plan on upgrading mine eventually. But for now, I ordered a used factory piece from a member here. Assuming this used one lasts long enough, I'm going to replace all my couplers and vacuum hose from them, probably in 6 months or so. Thanks for the tip though.



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