The cat is the only hot thing in that area so yes, fixing it should fix the hot floor. In any case, I imagine pass emissions will be the bigger reason to figure this out. Yes the silver part is the heat Shield the actual cat is the iron pipe inside that.

 

Cool..thanks..figures...

Any suggestions on cats that would pass emissions? I'd rather upgrade (if such a thing is possible with a cat) than get stock if I have to drop a large amount of cash. I saw a large list of cats on the forums, but the list is 10 years old and many probably aren't available anymore and the list states emissions outputs unverified.

 

what state and what kind of emissions testing? brh makes a mid pipe with a cat option. cheap cats tend to fail early on a rotary

 

Virginia...going to assume they actually test it on a 20 year old smelly car

 

va is like pa (where i live) and emissions varies by county, mostly northern va. theres no sniffer test from what i just read. its an obd2 scan for cat codes and visual inspection. cutting the cat would pass the looking test and disconecting the battery right before you get it scanned should clear the code

 

I have a code reader, I can clear it before I go, but I still need to address the heat issue. I'm assuming you have the BHR? How does it sound? I don't want to change OEM sound much. BHR mentions an optional cat that can be installed on the midpipe, can I UNinstall it and just put it on for emissions testing? It says its not suitable for track, if its something I could take on and off that sounds good (as long as it sounds good heh)

 

bhr is often suggested weather its the one with or w/o the cat. neither of mine had cats, always the first thing i do is ditch that. resonated midpipe

 

I'm friends with the only mechanic I'll let touch my car and I called him up this morning. I was like how much to take my cat off and see if it's clogged? ...and he was like we don't have to take it off we can just stick a camera in the O2 sensor and that won't cost hardly nothing...and I told him about the hot spots and I was pretty sure it was clogged, how much to actually take it off because I'm just a wussy girl and can't get it off... He thought that was pretty funny. So he'll take it off for me. So I made an appointment for 8/4. I just got to decide what I want to do. I have to have something that will pass emissions, and potentially something else I run all the time or atleast on the track. I like the BHR idea, but I'm going to ask around this forum and see if I can get an opinion of someone who has one with a cat. I just don't understand why it says to not use the catted ones on the track? Will it kill the cat with hard output? I could keep the one I have, properly gut it and put it on for tracking. Or would it be better to just straight up take it off if noise isn'ta concern? I would think it would need SOME kind of back pressure right?

 

It doesn't need back pressure. You can track a well running RX8 just fine, plenty of people do, myself included. But well running is the key point there. If you just want a cat for emissions days, Magnaflow makes one as do some other regular muffler store brands, but don't expect them to live very long. If you're willing to put in the work swapping it over every time, I would do that + a good midpipe like BHR. It's the cheapest complete option. If you want to spend more money but less time swapping pipes every so often, get the catted BHR option or another OEM cat (but that's probably the most expensive option, those cats are sometimes worth as much as the car).

Suggest getting a fresh front and back exhaust gaskets from Mazda for your appointment .The front one is special and I find it never seals right after being removed and reinstalled. It's kind of a crush washer situation.

 

I think I'll get the BHR+MagnaFlow...have you heard the BHR midpipe?

 

Magnaflow makes a drop-in midpipe with cat for $700.
https://www.magnaflow.com/products/2...ytic-converter

Don't track with that cat but it will get you running. BHR seems to be sold out of catted midpioes on their site, maybe contact them directly

 

I can't speak to the quality of BHR's catted midpipe directly but I have their catless resonated midpipe and its been working great for me since I got it about a year ago. From what I understand BHR has a good reputation and I've personally had good customer service from them in the past.

In my opinion the best way to preserve a cat is to simply not run it in the car at all (Depends on how strict your local cops are though, they'll smell it downwind) I only keep my oem cat pipe around for passing CA emissions.

Adding on to what 200.mph said:

Might be worth asking your mechanic for a pic of the inside of the cat when he takes it off, this was what I saw in mine a few years ago

 

Ok, got my mechanic to break all the bolts and then hand-tighten them back on so I can get the cat off myself, I plan to do that tonight...I'm still not 100% decided on what I'm going to replace it with. I'm likely going to go with a "pass emissions" exhaust and a "someday track/maybe all the time exhaust." My primary concern for my daily exhaust is sound, do you like the BHR midpipe's sound? I could go with the catless BHR for daily/track and a magnaflow for emissions. The other option is the BHR w/cat all the time until she's track ready, in which case I would keep the oem and gut it for the track. I'm sure there's more options than just BHR, but I have never shopped for aftermarket exhaust for any vehicle, I just feel so lost...

MECHANIC LIED! Shocker...said they took it off and put anti-seize on it...he did with nuts on the backsides, but the bolts remain rusted into a permanent union with the cat...calling them when they open -.-

 

Turbo XS sounds nice on a video I saw...why does the part say not for use with stock CBE? It says only for use with Turbo XS CBE, but this video shows them installing a cheapo CBE...Is that some kind of way for them to dodge the warranty? Only cover it if you buy their CBE too?

 

When I put the BHR catless resonated midpipe on mine the volume was definitely a little louder but I don't remember it being that much more. Its also hard for me to say because I already had the TurboXS catback installed, but I have a friend who gutted his oem cat and it seemed like the only time it was louder than stock was when he floored it... I imagine the BHR might behave similarly when paired with the oem catback? Not sure
As far as tone and sound characteristics go with the BHR I haven't had any complaints. The only issue I had was that it rattled when I first put it on, which seems to be a somewhat common issue others have had, but it eventually went away. Not sure if it was hitting the heat shield above it or if it was something internal. I know many people still prefer BHR over other midpipe options though because cheaper options tend to rasp or drone more at certain rpm ranges, same can be said about cheaper catbacks.

I think the reason TurboXS says their midpipe can only be used with the stock catback is because the full TurboXS exhaust is a 3" system and some aftermarket catbacks might have flanges sized to fit the oem ~2.3" midpipe which could cause poor fitment and leaks if the gasket is too small for the pipe its connecting to. If that is the case then you should be safe with most 3" catback systems but this is just speculation on my part. If someone knows better please correct me.
If you're curious about the TurboXS catback it's much louder than stock and sounds great but can definitely drone when you cruise above ~3k rpm. When I added the BHR midpipe it actually seemed to reduce the drone a little even though there was a slight volume increase overall. It also sits pretty low near the rear axles and I've hit it several times on tall speedbumps. Guess that speaks to its durability though

 

Ah the size difference explains the statement, and I also would assume other 3" CBEs would fit. You say the Turbo XS CBE fits your BHR? Would it theoretically fit to OEM? If A fits B, and B fits C, then A fits C...

The Turbo XS is louder than stock? I don't want to get louder...

If BHR reduced drone from other sources, I'm assuming it wouldn't cause drone...I could live with a *little* louder. Question is can the neighbors and boyfriend...

Good to know the gutted cat won't make it louder...whether I use it or not I intend to gut it and keep it.

 

Yes, the TurboXS catback fits with the oem midpipe.

Yes, the TurboXS catback is very noticeably louder across the entire rpm range, if you're looking to stay quiet I wouldn't recommend it. Not sure about the TurboXS midpipe. If you stick to the oem catback with a gutted oem cat or BHR resonated midpipe it shouldn't be too much louder than stock... You shouldn't be waking up the neighbors with it. I also haven't heard any people complain of increased drone from the BHR alone.

Unfortunately its not always easy to communicate the practical sound difference in words but here's how someone else described the BHR in an old post:

 

I was going to drop the cat and gut it, and then I would atleast be able to drive it while I work on getting an appropriate cat for passing emissions...BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY GUTTED?!? I could easily just not know what I'm doing because I basically know nothing I didn't learn from this forum, but I didn't gut it...previous owner claimed he was the original owner and it was unmodified...ofc he could have been lying, but he was telling the truth about replacing the one coil pack (I changed them all and clearly one had been changed and the others had not)...irregardless of who gutted it, if I'm correct and it has been gutted it can't be CLOGGED...so if my problem is not a clogged cat, what is causing the heating under the passenger seat leading to the melting of my O2 sensor connector and the carpet fire while in possession of the previous owner???

 

that looks gutted for sure. is it possible that its blocked at the back end?

 

Easy enough to pull off the rear exhaust, I'll have a look

 

Stock cats melt/come apart at the back first in my experience.

If there is no ceramic honeycomb inside someone did this, it won't clean itself out.