New options coming for P.E.P. Downpipes

If you were closer you could have my car to test fit some stuff. Run down to the parts store and get a gasket, cant be more then 2 bucks.
 
Thats what I would do if any stores had the gasket I need. There isn't technically a paper profile gasket made for the FS, but there is another Mazda powered car that has a water neck with the same profile so thats where the original gasket came from. Now I'm not sure which of my gaskets is which. I'll have the first few spacers either tomorrow or Friday so I'll just have to make a trip to Northern Kentucky to make sure the spacers are right before I ship any. Shouldn't be a big deal, and I'm 95% confident that I have the right spacer coming, but I just want to be sure.
 
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The first spacer showed up today and I'm fairly certain that its perfect. I'm going to double check it and get these things headed out the door.
 
So since nobody else asked. Whats the plan for the spicy? Another kl or will it get an fs

The spicy will get an FS and will remain pretty simple. I'm going to do a basic engine bay cleanup/tuck, intake and exhaust manifolds, custom exhaust, intercooler, and that's about it. The only different thing I might do is install an aerocharger rather than a t25/t28. I have one of the 53 series turbos in the 305 trim and I'm seriously considering slapping it on the front of an FS. I would love a reliable 225 whp with awesome response and this thing would do it, but it would be maxed out and I don't really like pushing turbos to their limit. I've got to get the car picked up and source a drivetrain before I really worry about that though.

Here's an example of the response that can be had from a variable vane turbo - this guy makes 5-6 psi of boost in neutral and close to 1 psi at idle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwqwFjWQG74&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
 
While a variable vane turbo would definitely help, I think the MSP's problem is tuning related.

Look at torque curves of an Audi/VW 2.0T or 1.8T and peak torque and boost is reached by 2k rpms, and the K03 isn't that much smaller than our T25s, and they are running over twice the boost. Our cars don't reach peak torque until 4k rpms when they finally get some fuel in them and it's also. You can see this in all my AEM plots of injector duty cycle. I'm sure there are other factors as well, but this has to be a huge part of it.

It's a theory I've been willing to invest a lot of time and a decent amount of coin in to find out, but there's barely a light at the end of the tunnel right now.
 
The problem with the msp is multifaceted and I think fairly complex. The manifolds are restrictive and don't flow well. The downpipe and midpipe are pretty poorly thought out. The turbo isn't really sized for anything, it doesn't spool or react quickly, but it isn't big enough to make strong power up top. The tune is too lean down low and too rich up top. Not having any kind of electronic boost control compounds the turbo sizing issue. The stock intercooler isn't very efficient... None of these issues would be that big of deal on their own, its all of them working together that leave the car underpowered, and not very responsive.

I'm going to take care of all the bolt ons, go to a small but efficient intercooler core, address the tune (standalone or piggyback - I haven't decided which, and I have an MSII and an emanage in the garage), and maybe drop on my aerocharger. I'm not looking for much power. I just want the car to be reliable and responsive. At this point I'll have way more fun with a car that feels like a strong NA v6, over one that feels like a highly turbo'ed 4.
 
I'll do a build thread once I get the car picked up. I'm shooting for having it on the road by Easter. We'll see if thats possible once its here at the house.
 
I haven't thought about a rail, but it wouldn't be hard to do. I'll add it to the list.
 

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