Stupid exhaust questions ..

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Rush

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91 MX-5, 13 ILX
Hopefully I don't get too bashed for this, for being an idiot -- but, well. I tried to figure it out for myself, and kept getting either conflicting information or tripped up by my own confusion.

I don't exactly hate the exhaust that's stock on the MSP -- but I'm not a huge fan of it, either. Frankly, it feels like someone stuffed a cork up my car's ass. Like nothing is going anywhere. I listen to it and it just sounds like the car is gagging on something.

I want to upgrade my exhaust. Desperately. And yes, I've done searches and reading -- but I've come across so many different systems and whatnot that I'm honestly not sure what the hell I should be getting.

And, like a lot of people, my budget isn't all that huge. $600 or so is what I'd like to spend on an exhaust upgrade.

My question is, what's the best way to go as far as upgrading my exhaust on a $600 budget? My MSP is flashed and I will have my Injen CAI hooked up (FINALLY) by the time I purchase whatever exhaust and have it installed.

Please excuse my stupidity -- as always -- but I'm doing my best to learn over here and make the best choices. POWER! I need more POWER!

Any advice/suggestions would, as always, result in a lifetime of gratitude!
 
600 bucks will get you a nice stainless steel catback, either 2.5" or 3". and since you're in penn., i think you'll want to get a ss catback. but 2.5" or 3", it's up to you. it's a matter of preference really. 2.5" will be fine but bigger won't hurt :D

you have a few choices....off the top of my head, spool and apex are popular. or if you want to use your own muffler, go custom like i did. i absolutely love my exhaust (yes). you may also want to look into some kartboy exhaust hangers if you go 3". my exhaust tends to bang against the underside of the car cause the piping's so big. the hangers will restrict movement so hopefully whenever i get around to buying these, my exhaust won't rattle so much.
 
GaBerry67MS035 said:
Hopefully I don't get too bashed for this, for being an idiot -- but, well. I tried to figure it out for myself, and kept getting either conflicting information or tripped up by my own confusion.

I don't exactly hate the exhaust that's stock on the MSP -- but I'm not a huge fan of it, either. Frankly, it feels like someone stuffed a cork up my car's ass. Like nothing is going anywhere. I listen to it and it just sounds like the car is gagging on something.

I want to upgrade my exhaust. Desperately. And yes, I've done searches and reading -- but I've come across so many different systems and whatnot that I'm honestly not sure what the hell I should be getting.

And, like a lot of people, my budget isn't all that huge. $600 or so is what I'd like to spend on an exhaust upgrade.

My question is, what's the best way to go as far as upgrading my exhaust on a $600 budget? My MSP is flashed and I will have my Injen CAI hooked up (FINALLY) by the time I purchase whatever exhaust and have it installed.

Please excuse my stupidity -- as always -- but I'm doing my best to learn over here and make the best choices. POWER! I need more POWER!

Any advice/suggestions would, as always, result in a lifetime of gratitude!
Click to expand...

GaBerry67MS035, you can get most of the cat-back exhaust with in your budget from most of the vendors in the forum.

spool-turbo-----2.5" stainless steel cat-back---$599
Apex(me)---2.5" or 3" mild steel (thermal coated) pic and sound posted in group buy section-- $500-550
Ion performance---2.5" or 3" --unsure on the price.
Magnaflow---2.5"--- i think is available now.

you can get downpipes from:
Protosport--$295+45 shipping--www.protosport.net
Apex(me)--$299+ shipping---www.apexr1.com
iON has one also....but I cant find the link, check the group buy section.
I recommend 2.5" exhuast with intake, DP, on mild boost level(stock>+2-3LBS) for street car. 3" if you want to run higher boost than that.
Ben
 
PM me and I will tell you something you might like to hear. I can get you some exhaust made right for a price you will like.
 
I was very impressed with the Corksport downpipe back system. The question is whether it will ever actually come out. They keep saying two weeks, four weeks, sometime...It is supposed to be only @$589 from the factory cast downpipe springs back. It replaces the cats and is about 2.5" all the way back. Nice sound, not to ricey, I didn't want that.

I have the cash for it, but I am researching other brands due to the unsure status of release on the CS. Sonic Racer has the prototype on his car, he might know something more.

Britt
 
Don't forget about the guys at Auto R&D...They can hook you up with the JIC Magic catback for a little over $600. There are a few reps on this board from around the country, so try a search if none of them reply to this thread. Full SS, awsome design, and its the best sounding exhaust I've ever had.
/members/2K3 Mazdaspeed/jic1.jpg
/members/2K3 Mazdaspeed/jic2.jpg
 
.. First off, let me just say thanks for everyone's replies!! It's really appreciated. :D

So after reading through all this, I've now thumped into another problem -- downpipe or cat-back.

As of the moment, I think I'm leaning more towards cat-back as I actually have SOME experience in that area. Downpipes? Uh, no. My MSP is only the second car I've ever owned, and the one I had before the MSP was simply NOT a car that called for such modifications. It drove me crazy that I couldn't work with it -- but as such, I never really got the chance to learn about downpipes and whatnot. I did, however, put a cat-back on my old car. Much to the world's amusement. 3" racing cat-back on a Dodge Spirit. What a laugh. :rolleyes:

Anyhoo, I'd prefer to go with the larger cat-back, I believe -- the 3". Simply because I like the big ones. :D And of course SS. Living in Pennsylvania with this bad weather, I kinda don't have a choice.

Apex -- your 3" cat-back caught my attention. I tried to find it in the Group Buy section .. but couldn't. Any chance you could let me know what the thread is, so I could take a look/listen to it? Is it SS?

And does anyone know/have any information on Ion's 3"? Price and look and sound and whatnot? Or if Ion actually reads this, would you mind telling me? ;)

2K3 Mazdaspeed -- I definitely like the look of the JIC Magic. Is that the 2.5" or the 3"? Do you have any sound samples?

Again, thanks t'everyone for the help!!
 
sinceyour in central pa and have no emmisions, loose your cats!!! get a down pipe first.
 
Does anyone have the magnaflow cat-back and/or know how it sounds?? I'm probably gonna get razzed for this one but I like the ricey sound!!
 
paulmp3 -- I'm from the State College area -- going to PSU. :) And the only worry I have with just getting the downpipe alone is that I do spend a significant amount of time in Philly. The last thing I need is t'get my ass pulled over and fined for not having a stupid muffler, LOL.

Apex .. Let me put my foot in my mouth real quick. I did some more digging and DID find the thread on your cat-back. And I must say, it both looks and sounds fantastic. How much would shipping be to Central PA? Did you find the first 10 buyers yet?

And does anyone have a guess on how much would it cost to have all this installed at a shop, just a rough estimate? Because hell if I'm doing any of this myself, considering I'd have no clue what I'm doing. I'd probably wind up with the engine falling out on my head.

Ugh, if only I were a millionare. :mad:
 
if you do get apex's exhaust, you should be able to do it yourself. unbolt the old one, bolt the new one on. no cutting or anything should be required. but if you wanna have someone else install it, take it to meineke or someplace cheap. it's not hard to do.
 
GaBerry67MS035 said:
paulmp3 -- I'm from the State College area -- going to PSU. :) And the only worry I have with just getting the downpipe alone is that I do spend a significant amount of time in Philly. The last thing I need is t'get my ass pulled over and fined for not having a stupid muffler, LOL.

Apex .. Let me put my foot in my mouth real quick. I did some more digging and DID find the thread on your cat-back. And I must say, it both looks and sounds fantastic. How much would shipping be to Central PA? Did you find the first 10 buyers yet?

And does anyone have a guess on how much would it cost to have all this installed at a shop, just a rough estimate? Because hell if I'm doing any of this myself, considering I'd have no clue what I'm doing. I'd probably wind up with the engine falling out on my head.

Ugh, if only I were a millionare. :mad:
Click to expand...

I need you zip code for shipping est. and I still have spots left for the group buy.
Ben
 
GaBerry67MS035 - there's a whole thread in this forum about our turbo-back. The muffler looks like a cross between a JIC and Greddy system with a 6" canister style muffler which is made in-house.

Sound, well hard to describe, but we'll probably be doing a sound recording sometime soon.
 
Apex -- shipping code would be 16853.

PHILLY-ORANGE -- Where did you get your custom exhaust made? I'm gonna be back in the Philly area for Thanksgiving, so maybe I could go talk to the people who did yours and see what they have to say .. Any pics?

iON -- I did read through that entire thread about the turbo-back that you have available. Only one problem .. $1000 is way out of my price range. As much as I'd absolutely LOVE to get the turbo-back system, I simply don't have that kind of money. :(

Striker187 -- Thanks for the info on the installation of Apex's cat-back. :)
 
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