Latest version of the RP Supercat
 

Just wondered if anyone on this forum has the latest version of the RP Supercat installed? I purchased a "new-in-box" Rp Supercat several weeks ago from one of the guys here on the board. It was purchased new in January of 2007 and I figured it was the latest and greatest version. I decided I would contact Rotary Performance and order there gasket/bolt kit to keep things simple. I ended-up talking with Ari about my need for the bolt/gasket kit, and he queried me on which version my Supercat was. I explained that I had gotten it second hand, but that it had never been installed and was just recently purchased in January of 07.

Ari then proceeded to give me a brief history on the different versions of the Supercat, and then told me to send my Supercat in to him and he would upgrade it to the latest style complete with hanger. The new style supercat supposedly looks more like the RX7 supercat from the outside with a more oval and flat Cat canister. The inside catalyst design is actually different than the RX7 though, and specifically designed for the RX8 and is supposed to flow better than the RX7 version. Based on what I could see of the RX7 unit, it looks closer to a stock cat than the previous design. According to Ari, it may be slightly quieter than past Supercats as well.

This latest design has already made it into customers hands since late March I believe Ari said. So I thought if anyone on the board actually has one of these maybe they could share their experiences so far? Mine shipped back to me yesterday, but due to travels and timing I doubt I will have the ability to get it installed before the first part of June at this point.

One thing I would like to mention is that Ari and Rotary Perfomance were excellent to deal with and are a class act in my book. They really seem to care about the customer satsifaction with their products, and seem to stand behind their products in a big way.

JR

I have the newest version. Its great so far. No cels at all. It is can smell at times (could just be my car). Sounds great coupled with my turboxs exhaust. I still run with my silencers in my exhaust and it is still loud. Fitment is perfect, no rattles at all. Its bulkier than any RP Ive ever seen. When I first got it, I thought I was sent the wrong part due to its increased girth. Install is pretty easy and straight forward. It shouldn't take that long and if you have a free 2 hours (on the safe side) it can be done. I wouldn't be able to wait over a month to install it. Mine was on the same day I got it.

I ordered mine last week and am supposed to get it tomorrow. I'll let you know.

hmm, anyone got pics or spec differences of this new version?

Danny,

I have it sitting in my living room. I can take pics when I get home on Monday. At least I think it is the new version.

Thanks for the insight based on your experience! I may find time to get it installed next week, but my schedule is pretty tight and I get nervous about making long road trips with newly installed parts. I really need to get a c-back too, and just install it in one upgrade project.

Ari mentioned that it looked like the FD version on his website. Here is a link to that page:
http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/fdexhaust.html

on cold start-up they will all smell, including OE

I got mine today. Here's some pics. It sounds really good w/ the Mazdaspeed exhaust. It's loud..... but not too loud.

Cool...thanks for posting the pics and the feedback on the sound jksup1! Mine is scheduled for delivery today, so maybe I will get it back on before my road trip after all.

Jeff

pretty cool info, thanks

Weigh that thing before you guys put it on! I'm interested in the weight difference compared to stock.

I've got mine also now, its a little heavier than the original me thinks, but the fact it can handle the temps is a big win.

I'm going to order a clutch/flwheel combo and reinstall all of it at once.

Did yours go bad? I had one of the very, very early ones - probably one of the first 10, and have put 32K on it and it's still going strong. I also drive at the track so I'm not too kind to it. (knocks on wood)

looks like a ceramic core, just don't shock it ....

Quieter? Booo....I like mine loud. :)

Just to add my opinion :boring: If all things remain equal (performance wise), I appreciate a quieter ride :Freak_ani

Laters!
Edgardo

Damn, they changed it again already. I got mine late Sept. '06, the one with the heat sheild and no hanger. No hanger has been no problem for me, but my heat sheild just recently started rattling around 3k rpm (hopefully getting it spot welded today)

I wonder what the actually performance differences are if any. More durable? The new heat sheild on this one looks like it could be rattle-prone b/c it looks like it is two pieces wrapped around the cat...?

Just installed mine tonight. 10 lbs for the RP Supercat, 20 lbs for the stocker. Fits very snugly with the stock exhaust.

i have the "middle" version of this cat -- mine isnt the newest one but its the one right before that.

Ive had my original replaced once for free (Chris @ RP you rock) Havent really had a huge problem with CEL. What i seem to notice is that if im driving back late at night from partying and its rather cold outside i will get a CEL - pulling the code with my Harrison CanScan RX8 software shows me CAT efficiency failure. I clear it and usually dont see it again for 500+ miles.

I'd love to get this new version if it was better at handling temps and never threw CELs, but even though I'm only an hour from Rotary Performance's shop I'm generally lazy :)

Well, not sure what kind of sound I was expecting on start-up this morning, but this hi-flow is quiet. I had heard clips of the previous RP Supercat with the stock exhaust and it sounded kind of shrill and tinney....definitely louder than stock. Having installed this new Supercat I can tell a subtle difference in tone which is a slight bit edgier and deeper, but I know my wife would never know the difference other than the tell-tale burn-off smell. I did notice a slight burble under decelleration which I attribute to no resonator like the stocker. Perhaps after it gets burned-in a bit the sound will become more noticeably different.

How many of you guys are running this new Supercat with an aftermmarket catback? I remember someone saying that they had the MS exhaust with this cat. Previously the combo of most aftermarket exhausts, with the exception of the Racing Beat catback, have been reported to be pretty loud. Any comments from any of you who have had the previous style and now the latest version RP mated to the same aftermarket catback would be appreciated. I am hoping that this new design opens my exhaust options back up again.

Overall I am very pleased with the fit, construction, and sound. Again a big thanks to Ari and the folks at Rotary Performance!!

Jeff

can you take a video/sound clip? i have the bonez supercat and wondering why they changed it. mine works fine btw.

I have one of the first two made public, and with 40K on it now, it's still going strong. Cool they added a hanger. :rolleyes:

if what you say is true, then I might be looking into one of these again. I really don't want to ruin the sound of my exhaust as it is, I love it, it is unique. So, to be able to get whatever gains there are from a supercat, and not loose the sound I already like, would be great.

I don't know if my digital still camera can also take video segments or not, but I will check and see. If so I will have to wait to post until I can get back to my broadband connection next week in New Mexico.

Driving it today for awhile with the windows up, it really sounds about like stock. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being stock and 10 being the loudest, I would rate my current RP Supercat w/stock exhaust as a 2 at most. Maybe that will change as things burn-in, but right now its really close to stock, with maybe a little more rotary whir thrown on top.

i also have an original with about 20k flawless miles :icon_tup:

Sounds to good to be true that this new version can be as high flowing as the previous versions and yet apears almost as quiet as stock.
Does anyone know the specs on this cat. Is it a metal substrate cat and is it dyno proven by RP to provide similar performance gains to the previous sleeker design? Interesting to know really as most buy this cat as a high flow option to the stock cat.

Regards
Rexi

When Ari at Rotary Performance was discussing the design of the new cat he told me to look at the pic of the FD RX7 SuperCat as that was the style of construction. Internally though, he said the cats are very different and the RX8 cat actually flows better than the FD RX7 Supercat. Other than that, I didn't hear any whp/tq #'s vs the old style. ONly that it flows better than the RX7 version.

JR

Everybody don't draw too many conclusions on the sound. It IS definately louder than stock. I just don't think it is overbearing or ricey.

I got to drive my car with the new RP Supercat and stock exhaust on a 1100 mile highway trip today, and I can definitely tell a slight difference. Its just as jskup1 says, its not overbearing or shrill sounding, but it does change the tone somewhat. There was absolutely no indication of any harmonic drone whatsoever, but I can hear the rotary whir more clearly (which I like), especially when shifting through the gears.

Overall I am really pleased with the sound, and look forward to getting a cat-back on the car soon.

N10S,
Noticed any performance improvement with new cat?

regards
Rexi

Rexi,

The car drives-out nicely, but to say its a major increase in power would be a stretch. Over the years I have tried to avoid doing single mods one at a time on NA cars, simply because the improvements are just not noticeable unless you install several things at once. I wish I would have installed a full exhaust and intake at once to try and enjoy as much additional power improvement as possible.
JR :)

1100 miles in 1 day? :Eyecrazy:

I have the second generation Supercat, and a GReddy SP2. Judging by descriptions, this is probably one of the loudest setups you can have with a hi-flow cat. However, if I had to rate the volume out of 10, I'd give it a 6 or a 7. I have lots of friends with modded cars, and mine sounds very tame compared to theirs. It's much louder than most cars, and most all RX-8's though.

Personally I think it's a pretty good sound level. It would be nice if it were a bit louder though. I can always hear the exhaust, no matter what RPM. At low RPM and partial throttle, police have not taken issue with it. I've had them ride behind me for miles with no problems. At WOT, it is much louder in the higher revs. Going under an overpass or driving in tightly enclosed areas is always fun. Also, at WOT in a parking garage, it sets off a couple car alarms. :rofl:

Also, the exhaust sounds a bit ricey above 4k Rpm if the car has not fully warmed up yet, but you shouldn't be taking the revs much higher until the car is warm anyway.

All things considered, I love this combo. It's going to have to see them go when I sell my car for a vette in a few weeks.

Finally added a hanger i will pick one up.

damn, i wish i had gotten this w/ a hanger rather than spend the extra money to have it installed and hanger welded on.

I have the latest sp-supercat, borla cat-back, and headers. It's pretty loud and really raspy when you accelerate hard (between 2500 and 4000 rpm) so I'm getting a resonator welded in. I ordered this one from RB, but it's too wide to fit in the midpipe channel, and too long to fit after the midpipe flange.
http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

I have the newer version as well, it does flow more air, but that is because it is a wider cat unit. It is alot quieter, and it doesn't pull as hard as the original. I would say it is in between the stock cat and the original supercat with sound levels and power levels. It doesn't let off as many flames as the original as well.

How much louder than the stock cat?

I think the concensus here is that it is contingent upon your exhaust combo. The RP in general compared to the Stock Cat is noticeably louder. How much? It depends on the owner, driving style, car mods etc.
For example: I had the Hymee Mild exhaust for a year w/stock cat and love it. I added the RP (2nd Gen) and wasn't able to be on a conf. call while driving. It was so loud my HOA started complaining (Bastards!). I set of several alarms in my office parking lot a few seconds before you say my car (lol). It was freaking load, honsetly no exaggeration. I do also have the Revi so I had noises from front and rear. I eventually sold my Hymee to a friend and bought the RB. The combination is nice (yes, louder than stock). The best way for me to describe it is "demanding". You can definately hear the rotary engine and I am able to answer the phone and be on a short call. Anyways, what I'm saying is that one person's definition of loud and drone is different from another. The best way to judge is for yourself.

I'm having the Supercat with stock extractor and stock muffler. Sound is good. But one problem is...leaking.

The part where supercat joining with extractor is leaking. Tried a few times with gasket gum but can't cure.

Can I use stock gasket on the supercat for the part that it joins to the stock extractor? Mazda part number 40-305.

just take the second brick out of the stock cat and bingo--you have better flow and it is still quite.
oldscdragger

ummm, really noticable difference in acceleration? Thats kind of hard to imagine.

I had a CEL for cat deficiency about a month ago, but it hasn't come back again. Ari has offered to send me a new one with the new oval cat and hanger.

I'm kind of wondering if I should swap it out if the CEL hasn't come back and if the performance and flamage is not as noticable...?

Has anyone dyno tested the newest design? If so, please post a chart.

anyone had the rp 2 with rev8.or rx8store, or agency power catback? i want to fit on my 8!!!! ANY DYNO results?