This header and presilencer needs a bit of piping added on, so I figured I'd get a shop to do the whole thing for me. I left my car at a shop for 2 solid days, and kept calling to check progress. The answer was always, "it's not ready yet." It turns out that they didn't even move it for 2 days. So I got my car back, and took it to another place. "Um, I've never done one of those before, and I don't want to mess it up." So I took it to a "Mighty Muffler." "We don't do that." So he suggested a place called Extreme Performance, or something like that. "I've never done one of those, but I think I can for maybe 100-150, and it looks like you have a gas leak."



That made my freakin day.



Here's the questions: do the heat shields come off permenantly? my boss offered to remove them via cutting torch, considering the bolts started to snap off, according to one shop. Is that a bad idea? (fuel leak aside)



and what appeared to be a leak was at the end of what I think is a fuel rail (right on top of the engine, runs parallel to direction of travel?) at the back elbow, where is goes from horizontal to vertical. Is this common? how can it be fixed?



that is all for now

sounds like it is your Pulsation damper. Get it fixed right away, there have been many engine fires caused by this. And you have to be kidding me about using a torch near a fuel leak, it's a good idea if you don't like your boss.

Yes, get that pulsation damper replaced right away.... forget the exhaust for now.



As for the exhaust man heatshields, dont worry if the bolts snap, just cut that **** out with a strong pair of tin snips or whatever you have. It would be easier to get it out (and the man) if you pull your auxillary port actuators too.



That sucks about the extension pipe. Most shops, especially chains, wont want to do it because its custom and you are modifying or removing the stock cat set up. You're best bet is to try and find a more performance oriented shop that does exhaust work.... and it shouldn't be $150 for christ sake, that is ridiculous. All you need is for someone to fab a connecting pipe from your presilencer to your Y pipe, right??

http://mazdatrix.com/c-pulsation.htm



fix that, you don't want a fire.



and regarding the exhaust, you should be able to take it to a muffler shop and just skip talking to the manager dude behind the desk, walk into the shop and talk to the guy playing with the pipe bender, cutting torch, or mig welder. Drop him some cash and he'll play with your car all day. We used to do custom work all the time at CarX, just had to keep the manager out of the deal... You might have to talk to him and get a day/time to come back when the manager is off. Those mechanics make **** for money and work their ass off, the cash tickets almost make the job worth having.

wow...thanks for the info...hopefully it doesn't catch fire in the next few days...I guess I'll hold off on the exhaust for now



is the pulsation damper hard to replace, for someone who hasn't done it before?



and does anyone know if mazdatrix has the best price?

also, will I need to get a new primary fuel rail?

you need the damper, JE27-20-180 and the lower to upper intake gasket N326-13-112A.



mike

ok, mazdatrix sells the damper, but I don't see online the gasket...only gasket kits...would it be best to order that from the dealer?

mazdatrix puts it in a wierd place they will list it as 13-112A-N326, its cheap though anywhere you get it



mike

You can order the gasket through a company called Victoria British. Go to their website (www.victoriabritish.com) and request a catalog. You will have it in less than two days, they are really quick about it. You might want to order the little gasket kits for the injectors as well since you will be removing the secondaries. One of my injector o-rings ripped once when I was removing the injector and it was a big mess when I started the car. Just a suggestion though, you don't have too.