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what would you guys do first?

i need an exhaust for my KLDE. i have a stock system from the 1.8v6 motor on still.

a) buy headers and downpipe, delete the catalytic converter with a test pipe.

b) get a catback exhaust with 2.25" piping.

both will cost me around $400 shipped to my house. The question is, what will benefit my mx3 DE more right now efficiency and power wise.

my choice is "a" cause i think nice exhaust flow with no cat will work good but hey, you guys with more knowledge and experience help me out here!!

i found this.....

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Stainless-Steel- ... 3318wt_827

description throws me off

is this a catalytic convertor??? or a bs name for a cat delete??

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/93-97-MAZDA-MX3- ... 469wt_1088

Emissions where you roll?

If not, buy egay headers ($150) and have a shop build a system for you ($300) and buy a decent muff ($100) and you're golden.

At least, thats what I did, and I'm happy.

mikeetown wrote:i found this.....

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Stainless-Steel- ... 3318wt_827

description throws me off

Yes that's the one you want.

mikeetown wrote:is this a catalytic convertor??? or a bs name for a cat delete??

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/93-97-MAZDA-MX3- ... 469wt_1088

That is a catalytic converter, but probably not a very good one. I don't run one at the moment as I have no emissions testing where I am.

Ryan is right, get the best deal on a header you can, and take it to a muffler shop and have them do up a 2.25" system and you're good. My whole system was about $500, but there was some custom work to do on the header.

thanks guys.

does the modifying to the header just mean plugging a hole for the EGR valve??? cause if 2 headers and a downpipe come together, my only thought was that the downpipe length would be different.

Ryan wrote:Emissions where you roll?

No emissions . Just gas thats 1.11 per litre ($5.33 per gallon) today

mikeetown wrote:thanks guys.

does the modifying to the header just mean plugging a hole for the EGR valve??? cause if 2 headers and a downpipe come together, my only thought was that the downpipe length would be different.

The EGR hole can be plugged with a threaded plug. In my case, I'm not sure if it was the brand i bought or what but the front collector didn't line up with the Y-pipe and I had to have the flange cut off and rewelded. which he charged me an hour for.

wytbishop wrote:

mikeetown wrote:thanks guys.

does the modifying to the header just mean plugging a hole for the EGR valve??? cause if 2 headers and a downpipe come together, my only thought was that the downpipe length would be different.

The EGR hole can be plugged with a threaded plug. In my case, I'm not sure if it was the brand i bought or what but the front collector didn't line up with the Y-pipe and I had to have the flange cut off and rewelded. which he charged me an hour for.

the kit that I posted comes with a y-pipe i believe though so it should just bolt up to my catalytic converter.

Mind did too...it just didn't line up. the flange was clocked about 15º off.

Not all the headers will clear the subframe... Thats usually why they need to be modified...

This is how I modified mine... You can see the 2 pieces that are welded in extending the y pipe..




When ever brand you get might be a little different, I forget what brand of headers these are..

Yes get headers, put them on yourself, then drive to the exhaust shop with open headers and get a 2.25 or 2.5 inch system made up using your existing cat converter.

Then when it's all done, take out the cat, and hollow out the inside so it becomes just a through pipe and you'll have a complete system.

I did my ZE swap, was running the stock intake and exhaust system at first...

Few months later, the exhaust blew out, needed to be done, so I did a 2.5" cat back (no resonator, magnaflow 4" skewed tip), but to think of it, I was probably running the stock cat, didn't really know better at the time. Car still ran a 14.7 that way.

A year or two later, put on headers (with new 02 sensors), stupid OBX/SS Autochrome ones that needed to be quite modified to fit. No wonder they passed through 2 previous owners and were never installed. Put in a test pipe since I had to have the car running for the weekend. Mx-3 was stupid loud, like STUPID LOUD.

Few months later the car was going in for body kit and paint, had planned to put a high-flow cat on her to make her legal since I knew she'd get attention after that. Got a ticket for loud exhaust 3 days before she went in. Car was there for over a month. First week I got her back, she went in and got a high-flow cat installed, quieted right down.

Coles Notes:
- ZE Swap
- Then Catback
- Then Headers
- Then Emissions Legal

Truck is going through the exact same process (minus the engine swap), just at Stage 2 of 3 for the exhaust. Exhaust was leaking in '11, so I did a 2.5" catback. Manifolds were cracked in '12, so I did headers. I guess I need a ticket first before I get the cats done, lol, but cats are probably going in this year since I'm hoping to be back in Ontario before Spring '14, and I'll need them then...

thx for the pictures man. i appreciate it. i ordered the headers in the link above. i guess ill be swallowing the cost Haha.



did everyone get a noticeable in power after the exhaust being done?? i bet you all did.

mikeetown wrote:thx for the pictures man. i appreciate it. i ordered the headers in the link above. i guess ill be swallowing the cost Haha.



did everyone get a noticeable in power after the exhaust being done?? i bet you all did.

Couldn't tell you since my car never had stock exhaust on it, with the swap..