Help me learn: Exhaust questions :p

[Sleezer1533]

Ok so all my car knowledge is completely self taught. I understand the basic fitment of my OEM exhuast from crawling around underneath, however I have many questions regarding aftermarket exhaust systems. Im in no hurry to get one right now but I would like to be informed.
Basically, do aftermarket systems replace the entire exhaust system - tip to the pre-cat?, tip to post cat?, some other configuration? Also, am I going to have fitment issues with an aftermarket system due to my 4-1 headers that eliminate the front pipe?
Just trying to get my knowledge on, so let me know what you know. Thnks!

 

[Sleezer1533]

bumpity bump

 

[fateexceeds]

you can find any configuration possible... muffler & tip only, axle-back, cat-back, full replacement. you really shouldn't have any fitment problems with your headers.

I'd highly recommend the Corksport Power Series... although I have not personally purchased anything from them, I have heard nothing but good things about their products and their customer service, and they have a major presence on this forum. the Corksport exhaust is cat-back and costs $429; for an extra $200, you can add a high-flow cat too. it uses the stock hanger locations, and it comes with urethane motor mount inserts (a nice bonus mod!) and a 2 year warranty. check it out: http://www.corksport.com/corksport-power-series-exhaust-for-bj-protege-sedan.html

also, here is a great basic tech write-up about performance exhaust systems, courtesy of Corksport: http://www.corksport.com/PDFs/Exhaust.pdf

 

[ajkulish]

yeah. your best deal is to go with cat back since you are so interested with emissions. it will not get rid of your cat and will increase flow all the way back. that is if you are looking for performance. on the protege it may get you 3-6 whp. an axelback exhaust will get you the sound and a little performance, mabye 2-3 hp and a muffler may get you 1. catbacks can cost up to 900$ but i got mine custom made in town by a muffler shop for $120. axel backs can cost 150- 250 new. you can find them on the forums for cheaper sometimes. custom made maybe 70$. and mufflers are usually 20 - 60 dollars. it all depends if you want performance or sound. hope this helps.

 

[P-Funk!]

^werd.

As you cruise the FS for used - you can't use P5 exhaust - must be sedan only (length issue).

 

[ajkulish]

the p5 is a pretty healthy 6 inches shorter since the car is 6 shorter to compensate for weight

 

[Lewis7789]

There is a lot of wrong information in this thread.

The Corksport Power Series will replace everything from your header to the exhaust tip, thus eliminating your cat in your midpipe and you will fail emissions. It's not a traditional "cat-back" system. Plus, honestly, the Corksport header back exhaust sounds terrible with a header. I have this setup on my P5 and it's loud as balls and raspy. However, you can buy the Corksport header back system and have a high flow cat welding in (or just have the Corksport cat option) and you will pass emissions. I passed just fine with a header, stock midpipe (with OEM cat) and a GReddy catback exhaust.

There are plenty of good choices for an exhaust system for you Protege. A lot of it depends on how much $ you want to spend and how important horsepower is to you. If you're just lookinf gor something that sounds cool, just get an axle-back. It will give you a little bit more power (1-2hp) and you'll pass your emissions just fine. And eveything will bolt right up and is easy to install. There are a few good options out there for just an axle back, Tanabe, HKS, Mazdaspeed are just a few.

the p5 is a pretty healthy 6 inches shorter since the car is 6 shorter to compensate for weight

So are you saying Mazda engineered the P5 to be 6" shorter thatn the regular Protege to make the car lighter???

 

[ajkulish]

yes. they made it shorter to be close to the same weight because the hatch added a generous amount of weight, and they wanted to make the weight match both the sedan and p5 for the same stats like gas mileage and acceleration

 

[Lewis7789]

I don't know about all that... I think it's simply because the of the hatch design. I'm sure it's the same chasis and wheel to wheel is the same. The exhaust is shorter on the P5 because of the rear hatch section. I doubt Mazda would go through that much trouble to keep those numbers the same.

 

[Sleezer1533]

There is a lot of wrong information in this thread.

The Corksport Power Series will replace everything from your header to the exhaust tip, thus eliminating your cat in your midpipe and you will fail emissions. It's not a traditional "cat-back" system. Plus, honestly, the Corksport header back exhaust sounds terrible with a header. I have this setup on my P5 and it's loud as balls and raspy. However, you can buy the Corksport header back system and have a high flow cat welding in (or just have the Corksport cat option) and you will pass emissions. I passed just fine with a header, stock midpipe (with OEM cat) and a GReddy catback exhaust.

There are plenty of good choices for an exhaust system for you Protege. A lot of it depends on how much $ you want to spend and how important horsepower is to you. If you're just lookinf gor something that sounds cool, just get an axle-back. It will give you a little bit more power (1-2hp) and you'll pass your emissions just fine. And eveything will bolt right up and is easy to install. There are a few good options out there for just an axle back, Tanabe, HKS, Mazdaspeed are just a few.



So are you saying Mazda engineered the P5 to be 6" shorter thatn the regular Protege to make the car lighter???

Great info, thnx!!

 

[ajkulish]

it wasnt much trouble.... look how similar the stats of the two cars are. now imagine if one was a lot heavier. they made it six inches shorter for the hatch yes, but also for the specs because it would not have made a very good economy car, which the protege was, if it weighed a lot

 

[proverbs1981]

when you buy your exhaust system they give you an option to replace the catalyic converter with a high flow catalyst, this will cost you about 200 more dollars but I recomend it since your spending all that money on the exhaust system anyways

 

[ajkulish]

or dont buy it for 200 dollars because it can be replaced from a different source with 50$ and some elbow grease

 

[Tom03es]

it wasnt much trouble.... look how similar the stats of the two cars are. now imagine if one was a lot heavier. they made it six inches shorter for the hatch yes, but also for the specs because it would not have made a very good economy car, which the protege was, if it weighed a lot

According to cars.com:

Protege ES, exterior length: 175.3"
Protege5, exterior length: 170.5"

So the P5 is 4.8" shorter than the sedan.

 

[Tom03es]

But regarding the OP's original question- most aftermarket exhausts will replace everything from the 2nd cat back. The Racing Beat is an example of one.

Replacing the first cat with a header is a good start. Replacing the second cat (and entire mid-pipe which it sits in) with a high flow is another good idea.