DISCLAIMER - I am in NO WAY affiliated with any retailers or sellers of this product!

Just wanted to let you all know (we say "y'all" in Texas) - I just placed an on-line order for the Borla T-304 SS cat-back exhaust system from their on-line store.

Part Number, for those interested, would be 140078.

Do a search on "Auto", then pick the car model, type, etc. You'll find it.

Can not quote prices, etc. to prevent deletion of this thread, but it is reasonable.

Pics when installed - they say 2-4 weeks UNLESS BACKORDERED - we'll see.

Originally posted by tpryor
Just wanted to let you all know (we say "y'all" in Texas)

Being while since grammar lessons but isn't you both a singular and plural pronoun. Never understood the need to add an "all" to designate plural.


Anyways, love to see pics and before/after dyno results.


Magic8

Originally posted by Magic8


Being while since grammar lessons but isn't you both a singular and plural pronoun. Never understood the need to add an "all" to designate plural.

Anyways, love to see pics and before/after dyno results.

Magic8

You are correct, sir (see, I CAN do it). It (apparently) was a vain attempt at levity...................

Anyway, as I said, I will provide all info when available.

Originally posted by Magic8
Being while since grammar lessons but isn't you both a singular and plural pronoun. Never understood the need to add an "all" to designate plural.What Tim neglected to point out is that "y'all" is singular! The plural is "all y'all" - ask any Texan. :)

Edit: fixed a typo.

Dang...I moved to Texas 4 1/2 years ago and I learn something new everyday...lol

looks yummy :p

Cool...let us know how it sounds, the stock exhaust is way too quiet. Then again I don't want the "angry-bumblebee-Civic" sound, esp. not for the money they're charging hehe.

Better yet, do you ever get out to Stafford or the 610/290 area? :)

Originally posted by BaronVonBigmeat
Cool...let us know how it sounds, the stock exhaust is way too quiet. Then again I don't want the "angry-bumblebee-Civic" sound, esp. not for the money they're charging hehe.



Being the owner of 2 Borla systems (one on an '89 V6 SHO, the other on a '01 Audi S4) I can tell you that the sound is deep and full (SHO V6 sounds like a Porsche flat 6) but does not drone at highway speeds. During normal driving it is quite unobtrusive but if you dip into the power you will attract some attention (though in the SHO the attention is rarely paid to the right car as no one expects a grey Taurus to be making such sounds). I have never heard a Borla sound "buzzy."

Originally posted by BaronVonBigmeat
Cool...let us know how it sounds, the stock exhaust is way too quiet. Then again I don't want the "angry-bumblebee-Civic" sound, esp. not for the money they're charging hehe.

Better yet, do you ever get out to Stafford or the 610/290 area? :)

I am not in Stafford very often, but I go through the intersection of 610 and 290 every day on the way to work (around 5:15am) and on the weekends.

I live out 290 - at Jones Road. I'll let everyone know when it's installed (the DAY it arrives). It would be GREAT if it could be here before the meet on the 21st.

The Borla exhaust(s) I have heard, mostly on Miata's, has always sounded great. I just couldn't go with the "pimp" tip (a little carbon fiber looking band around the tip). The RX-8 one looks much better.

here's a photo of an 8 with the borla

http://www.borla.com/graphics/140078vs.jpg

It's insanely dissappointing that the exhaust is about to go into prodution...yet there are no dynos of the power gains....or losses :) ....:mad:

Originally posted by Bengal Tiger
It's insanely dissappointing that the exhaust is about to go into prodution...yet there are no dynos of the power gains....or losses :) ....:mad:

Actually, there are dyno test results. Email me and I'll send you the information you requested. davidb@borla.com

Thanks.

Will this exhaust void the warranty?

Just wanted to let everyone know we've got the exhausts availabel for sale if your interested...(delivery time about two weeks from today)

http://www.rx8forum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=59

Originally posted by brownchiro
Will this exhaust void the warranty?


Absolutely not.

Originally posted by david borla


Actually, there are dyno test results. Email me and I'll send you the information you requested. davidb@borla.com

Thanks.

um, can't you just post it here so we can all see? otherwise I can email you, and then I'll post it :p

pust the dyno!!!

will this work on automatic version also.

yes

I emailed u Mr.Borla! I got no response...anyway, maybe u get lots and lots and lots of emails...so i'll be patient.

Always respected Mr. Borla's work......

Emailed yesterday......

Cash in hand.......

Waiting for Dynos......

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doc

Guys check out the vividracing section on the forum. They have good prices

still no dyno!!!!

Originally posted by tribal azn2
still no dyno!!!!

How long can it take?

More to the point, HE made the offer. I actually have given him my money (Borla has always made great products, and I trust this will be another one), but I would like to know......

vivid racing says they give 10hp and will post dyno when possiable

No Dyno...No Dynero ;)

Saw an ad for the RX-8 Borla exhaust system from Gulf Coast Customs (on Ebay) ($599 + free shipping) and they are claiming a gain of 8 HP and 12 lb/ft. Also looked at the 350Z Borla system and they claimed a gain of 10 HP and 14 lb/ft. ($721)

Here are the HP gains. As you can see, they're as high as 15 over stock. Max power gain is about 8. We call it a 10hp gain to the wheels.

Torque

thank you

dynos were posted today

Originally posted by mikeb
dynos were posted today

Where is it?

Oops, found it, thank you.

I have the dyno results, however I just bought a new house and havent unpacked the computer yet. If someone e-mails me I can forward the dynos so they can post them.

In the mean time the results are as follows

Max power:

Dyno run .001: 172.6

Dynorun .004: 180.1


Max Torque:

Dyno run .001: 136.1

Dyno run .004: 137.9

hope this helps.

Mr Borla,

May be I ask for too much, but could you record the muffler sound in some kind of audio file? It would be nice if we can hear how it sounds like, thank you. :D Please.

Horsepower

Torque

It looks like it is only making performance gains in the upper 1/3 of the RPM range. That's fine by me because it is a first step to getting rid of the limp feeling top end. Hopefully I'll receive mine before I head to Watkins Glen (9/22 and 9/23)for a little track time. :cool:

Do you take Debit Cards?? :)

I have always been a fan of Mr. B's work.....

The system is on its way to sunny northern Canada at this moment.

Can't wait to put the 'tones' back in the exhaust ...and eight horsepower is just more icing on the cake!
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doc

Originally posted by rotary_it_up
Do you take Debit Cards?? :)

How true.

-Mr. Wigggles

I'm sure they take debit cards

Does anyone have experience with this mod.?

How many decibels does it add?

I've asked to hear a borla sound clip but havent heard one yet

The good thing about Borla and Greddy is that they are almost always quiet exhaust mods. Each company tries (to my knowledge) keep their products under the 95dBA limit that some states like California are impossing.

For either company, I feel comfortable buying their exhaust without having to hear it first.

My two cents,

-Mr. Wigggles

No HP gains until after 6k rpms and basically torque loss up until 6k rpms and only a small gain.

Not sure how there can be a lower torque at low RPMs, thats when you need the torque, this may actually make the car feel slower unless you rev to over 6k rpms regularly

Originally posted by Blue 350z
No HP gains until after 6k rpms and basically torque loss up until 6k rpms and only a small gain.

Not sure how there can be a lower torque at low RPMs, thats when you need the torque, this may actually make the car feel slower unless you rev to over 6k rpms regularly

I see zero torque loss anywhere in the graph. At low RPMs, the lines are on top of each other.

BTW, there will be a slight variation from run to run anyway.

-Mr. Wigggles

Is one test adequate to demonstrate the effectiveness of the exhaust? Torque does look close but I'd still say it's lower at the start.

Horsepower doesn't improve until the high end when the secondary ports open.

Why isn't the improvement proportionate through the entire graph?:(

I'd take an educated guess and say that the stock exhaust provides an adequate amount of air flow for the lower RPMs but once the RPMs and air flow increases the limitations of the stock exhaust become more apparent. If that is the case I would only expect to see gains in the higher RPMs.

Originally posted by MrWigggles


I see zero torque loss anywhere in the graph. At low RPMs, the lines are on top of each other.

BTW, there will be a slight variation from run to run anyway.

-Mr. Wigggles

Your looking at the HP graph, look again.

The torque is slightly unber with the borla up until 3800rpm.

No large amount just slightly. I am waiting for a full exhaust system, but the borla would be nice if the full system is too expensive

Generally speaking, I've always heard that reducing backpressure tends to give more peak horsepower, but also tends to move the torque peak up in the power band...good for all out performance, but not necessarily so great for "around town" driving. This curve is actually better at the lower RPMs than I would have expected.

jds

how come in the regional forum for ca the san diego dyno run with a stock 8 produced a 191 hp and this one with a modified 8 provided 180? I'm confused is the info on this site tainted or is there really that big a difference between locations, cause I'm not doin squat to mine if it's faster in San Diego than it is elsewhere.... which I don't believe.

im curious on how the borla exhaust will sound on the 8....thinking of getting it soon.

thx !!!!!!!!!!!1

BUT WHAT IF? (http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/gifs/rsx2.wav) I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN 8 BUT IF I DID LEMME TELL YUH, SHED WIND OUT HARDER THAN THIS:D

Originally posted by sandiegorx8
how come in the regional forum for ca the san diego dyno run with a stock 8 produced a 191 hp and this one with a modified 8 provided 180? I'm confused is the info on this site tainted or is there really that big a difference between locations, cause I'm not doin squat to mine if it's faster in San Diego than it is elsewhere.... which I don't believe.

different dynos.

NO sound clips of borla have been posted yet

no sound clip yet

Originally posted by Lee Chun


different dynos.

Same dyno model. Try stonger car. :D

http://www.virtualstream.net/image/rx8/rx8dyno01_result.jpg

Wonder if Borla is going to offer a non-cat back version. In Florida you do not have to have a catalitic converter unlike other states. So by just taking off the convert I'll get another 10hp.

it probably depends on supply and demand

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
Wonder if Borla is going to offer a non-cat back version. In Florida you do not have to have a catalitic converter unlike other states.

why?? it's a peice of cake to fab a straight peice of pipe with matching flanges on it.

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
Wonder if Borla is going to offer a non-cat back version. In Florida you do not have to have a catalitic converter unlike other states. So by just taking off the convert I'll get another 10hp.

Any machine shop can make the pipe for you. I might do the same lator

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
Wonder if Borla is going to offer a non-cat back version. In Florida you do not have to have a catalitic converter unlike other states. So by just taking off the convert I'll get another 10hp.

I thought in Florida that they don't check (i.e. emission test) but you still were supposed to have one on.

-Mr. Wigggles

Yeah, it's a federal law, not a state law. The DOT 0wnz j00 ;)

Socalmotorsports had an ad on eBay for the new RX8 Borla Exhaust, so I sent them an e-mail asking if they had a sound clip. They don't, but here is their response:

We do not have this on video clip, as they are coming in from Borla in a couple of days. But from the buzz I have heard coming from Borla and others this is one sweet system. Don't be expecting a loud sloppy flowmaster sound. Think more of a classic deep deep rumble that really lets loose at around 3000RPM'S.

With this system you get power and the perfect sound to accent your already highly advanced RX8.

Let us know what you think and maybe we can set something up so you can save some big $$$$$.

Thanks again for your time and interest in our products.

Does anyone know if this exhaust system will void warranty? How will it effect the power?

It will not void the warranty on anything other than the stock exhaust unless Mazda can prove that the Borla exhaust directly caused a problem with something else.

Dyno information is in this thread (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10805).

http://www.borla.com/welcome/

Part Number:140078
Product Description:T-304 STAINLESS STEEL
Product Type:CAT-BACK SYSTEM (Complete Exhaust System from Catalytic Converter Back)
Make:MAZDA
Vehicle:RX-8
Model:1.3L RWD MT 4DR
Year:2004
Price:$699.99

I have to hear it

Originally posted by o_town_racer
http://www.borla.com/welcome/

Part Number:140078
Product Description:T-304 STAINLESS STEEL
Product Type:CAT-BACK SYSTEM (Complete Exhaust System from Catalytic Converter Back)
Make:MAZDA
Vehicle:RX-8
Model:1.3L RWD MT 4DR
Year:2004
Price:$699.99


crazy money spending for how much improvement? (in whp, if any)

it suppossed to be 10 hp gain

Damn people, I gave you a link, click it!!!

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10805&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

They're calling it a 10hp gain but have seen up to 15. Not much of a torque gain though....

I'm in no hurry. I waited 3 yrs before I swapped out my stock exhaust for Corsa Indy pipes on the Vette. I'll wait until I hear somebody else's RX-8 before I make any decision on spending the $. Also, I kind of like having the stealth quiet stock exhaust.

Besides...I think an ECU reprogrammer would get better bang for the buck once they come around....

Originally posted by o_town_racer
I'm in no hurry. .. I

I think an ECU reprogrammer would get better bang for the buck once they come around....


you know thats one the most truthfull, most hope-reviving things i have read in this forum in a lonnnng time.
besides of anything else that may come out for it, this will be one handy tool (lets hope its well under $1,000 for your sakes) anything else is too early and those hp gains from the catback, dyno slips please from more than one real time owner with this mod made til then those 10-15 hp claims are vulgar!! just as any other claims made w/o proofs..

edit: i ment to say dynos from people like you and me that may have this product (as mass produced)

I personally don't need to hear it, as I know that anything with the 'Borla' name is good enough for me. (and hearing it thru tinny 2" 'clock-radio' computer speakers is not going to help anyone.)

Mr. B is a legend in the Nissan 'Z' community - there is 'Borla', then there is 'everything else'.....

Mine is in the mail.

As to bang for the buck, sound is a pre-eminent factor in my book, and I don't like the exhaust note of the factory '8'. (Yes, heresy, but someone had to say it!)

I am also in line for an ECU fix, why not both?, (I have more than ONE buck!) because if the ECU fix releases the smogged/choked up top-end, the first thing people will want is a 'cat-back' to maximize the new curve....
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doc

How difficult is exhaust to install? Could I (totally not mechanically oriented) do it myself? I'm good with tools, I've just never worked on cars much.

Originally posted by RotorMotor
How difficult is exhaust to install? Could I (totally not mechanically oriented) do it myself? I'm good with tools, I've just never worked on cars much.

Simple, really, even if you haven't done it before it should only take 30 min. A couple of bolts and the hangers, that's it! Hell, I think even wakeech could pull it off :)

D-san

I would take it to a shop for install its not expensive

The temp can effect the dyno#or hight from sea level or he could have a MODS on his car ?

Haven't found this anywhere or seen the question asked, but is there any weight difference between the Borla and stock exhausts?

Can anybody record and post the sound of Borla muffler?

Originally posted by therm8
Haven't found this anywhere or seen the question asked, but is there any weight difference between the Borla and stock exhausts?

I have no idea of the actual weight but the shipping weight was listed as 30 lbs. :confused:

Has anyone actually received their Borla exhaust? I placed an order directly with Borla the same day it was added to their website but after waiting a month and making a few phone calls they said that they lost/canceled my order. So last Friday I ordered the same Borla exhaust through Vivid Racing for significantly less and know that I'll have it in a few days (already have a FedEx tracking #). Hopefully Borla's engineering is better than their customer service. :mad:

no sound clips out yet

Speedracer -

You said you got your catback from Vivid Racing, right? Is that the same company as http://www.vividracing.com/ ? If so, I just hunted around on their website and found no listing for Mazdas, to say nothing of the Borla cat back system for the RX-8. Can you provide a link, and even more importantly, how much cost?

Thanks,
Omi

Originally posted by Omicron
Speedracer -

You said you got your catback from Vivid Racing, right? Is that the same company as http://www.vividracing.com/ ? If so, I just hunted around on their website and found no listing for Mazdas, to say nothing of the Borla cat back system for the RX-8. Can you provide a link, and even more importantly, how much cost?

Thanks,
Omi

I couldn't find any RX-8 info on their website either but don't worry you can find all of the info that you need on this forum. Just check out the first post of this thread (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10641&highlight=borla).

Excellent, thanks!

I received and installed my Borla cat-back exhaust today. Construction looked top notch with its smooth welds, oversized mounting flange, and gentle pipe bends. The size of the 3" tubing looks gigantic in comparison to the stock exhaust and should help the car breath a little easier. Likewise the 4" exhaust tips fill out the cut outs in the rear body work a little better than the stock setup but that may also cause the plastic near the exhaust to melt. With that in mind it may be wise to add the metal exhaust trim pieces to act as a heat shield.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't take any photos of the install because I was in too much of a rush to try it out.

When you turn the key and bring the Renesis to life you'll notice that there is something different, something a little more menacing. At idle the tone is deeper and a little louder than stock. Blip the throttle lightly and you are greeted with a satisfying growl. With a quick lift of the throttle it is followed by a light pop that adds a little punctuation. Once on the road you'll notice that you can finally enjoy the sound of the rotary that lies beneath the hood and as the revs climb the music turns into a mellow whine until you hit the redline chime.

In my opinion it is all good but you will be sorely disappointed if your the type of person who enjoys the deafening sound of a riced out Civic. :p

Thanks for the review, any chance you can get us a sound clip? :D

if you dont mind , please let us know how the mpg varies after the exhaust

Take some pix:D

Thanks and great review. You didn't mention and difference in performance however. Was it noticeable?

How long did the install take?

this is great news
congrats

I actually can't believe mikeb didn't ask this already, but could you possibly post some pics? It would be greatly appreciated! Would you definitely recommend this exhaust?

nice review...

i would like to hear a sound clip..

i for 1 can not stand loud cars.. it was kewl in HS but now its just ANNOYING!!!! i like a nice low rumble.

and the last thing i need is a fart pipe sound. I have a hole in the muffler of the civic its driving me nuts! i dont have the $$ to repair it yet

anyway good luck with it and hopefully u can get a sound clip and pictures

< chanting> sound clip sound clip sound clip.... :p

Any noticeable power improvements?

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by SuperRex
Thanks for the review, any chance you can get us a sound clip? :D

Hmmm... I've never tried to record the sound of an exhaust. I'll try using my camcorder but I'm not going to make any promises on the quality of the recording. I know that you guys are eager to hear it so I'll try to post a clip tomorrow along with a photo or two.

Originally posted by Dugless
Thanks and great review. You didn't mention and difference in performance however. Was it noticeable?

How long did the install take?

The removal of the stock exhaust was straight forward and self explanatory.
[list=1]
Jack up rear end and place on jack stands
Remove rear tires, rear wheel well trim, and exhaust trim
Remove spring bolts from exhaust pipe
Remove grounding strap from muffler
Remove rubber exhaust hangers - I had a bear of a time trying to remove them so I just cut them off with a utility knife
Remove the exhaust
[/list=1]


Installation proved to be a little harder.
[list=1]
Loosely assemble 3-piece exhaust
Attach rubber exhaust hangers to underside of car - I bought new hangers for less than $10 from Autozone
Line up exhaust and attach to rubber hangers - adjust spacing of parts as necessary
Install spring bolts - this step was a major pain in the butt (M10 1.25)
Verify exhaust alignment and torque the exhaust clamps
Attach grounding strap - a nut (M6 1.25) was not supplied with the exhaust
Reattach exhaust trim, rear wheel well trim, and rear wheels
Remove jack stands
Turn the key and listen to the Renesis come to life :D
[/list=1]

The sound is awesome and it is just as smooth as the rotary which I think is fairly unique in an aftermarket exhaust.

The difference in performance is fairly small and you will only notice the change between 6k-9k RPMs. In that range the engine revs a little easier but I don't think that it will make an appreciable difference in the 0-60 sprint or the 1/4 mile.

I'd love details about the installation. Did you do it yourself? If so how difficult, how long, etc.

Anybody interested in a sound clip?

I also have a short video of what your hear in the sound clip. I just need someone to host the file (~1MB).


P.S. I wasn't able to attach a .mov file so I cheated and zipped it. Hopefully you'll be able to open it with QuickTime.

Rear 3/4 view

Rear view

Notice "Borla" embossed in the exhaust tip? I think it is a classy looking detail.

nice! How much was it?

I like the fact that is sticks out a little further than the stock tips.
I have had a bit of melting around my stock exhaust

I you don't mind me asking: What did this cost you?

Borla (http://www.borla.com/automotive/?cartID=20031013061946208.5.238.200) is asking $700 plus S&H.

Vivid Racing (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?threadid=10641&highlight=borla) wants $595 and that includes S&H.

I originally placed my order with Borla but after waiting almost a month and making a few phone calls they finally admitted that they lost/cancelled my order. On that same day I called Vivid Racing and a week later I have it installed on my car.

Less money and better service, that's the way it should be. Thanks Vivid Racing!

Would you recommend this exhaust, speed racer? In terms of quality and sound. I just don't want it to sound like some fast and furious, ricey car! By the way, what is the warranty on that exhaust, if there is one?

:D Oh, man, that's just the kind of sound I was hoping for. Thanks so much Speed Racer!!!!

Originally posted by 8th1der
Would you recommend this exhaust, speed racer? In terms of quality and sound. I just don't want it to sound like some fast and furious, ricey car! By the way, what is the warranty on that exhaust, if there is one?

If you are looking for a high quality (Million Mile warranty (http://www.borla.com/warranty/?cartID=20031013061946208.5.238.200)), classy sounding/looking exhaust then I would highly recommend Borla. I think that the sound and look matches the RX-8 perfectly. This is what Mazda should have put on the car and from what you have said I think you would love it!

Sounds nice!

Great sound. Mingles very well with the rotary engine sound.

Is there any noticeable droning in the cabin at highway cruising speeds (60-80mph)? A friend of mine has a Borla exhaust on his Z28 and it sounds great (very mean), but it just drones too much for my taste when cruising. Since my RX-8 is my "road trip" car, I prefer it to be as quiet as possible for long trips.

yeah, that's what i am concerened about too.

1) how loud is the noise while cruising.


2) how did it affect the mpg? I guess you'll have to wait a tank or two in order to determine that.


oh and I assume that You've reset the ECU as well?

great pics
glad your happy

So does it hurt MPG

Originally posted by nash
Great sound. Mingles very well with the rotary engine sound.

Is there any noticeable droning in the cabin at highway cruising speeds (60-80mph)? A friend of mine has a Borla exhaust on his Z28 and it sounds great (very mean), but it just drones too much for my taste when cruising. Since my RX-8 is my "road trip" car, I prefer it to be as quiet as possible for long trips.

If there is not a load on the engine (i.e. cruising or at idle) the exhaust is very quiet, almost as quiet as stock. Also in the short time that I've had the exhaust installed I have not found any conditions that cause the exhaust to "drone".

As for the MPG, you'll have to give me a chance to burn through a few tanks before I can comment one way or another.

Slightly off topic...SpeedRacer....When you removed the old exhaust, did you look inside the pipe? I was curious because all the soot on my tailpipes........how does the inside look.
I'm kind of obsessive but, I just picture that stuff building up over time and cloging my cat.

Just ordered mine from Huff at Vivid. Great to work with on the phone and I think the price is great too! Can't wait til it gets here :D

Speed Racer -- your sound clip sold a few exhausts for Vivid -- they should give you discount ;)

how loud do u think it would be if catless?

love that sound... i can't get the grin off my face when i think of that on my car.... then i realize it'll take me about 2-3 months to get the cash for the exhaust and my smile goes away. awesome clip though... nice pix too

Originally posted by RXhusker
Just ordered mine from Huff at Vivid. Great to work with on the phone and I think the price is great too! Can't wait til it gets here :D

Speed Racer -- your sound clip sold a few exhausts for Vivid -- they should give you discount ;)

Cool!!! Let us know what you think of it after you get it installed.

It would be nice to get a discount from Vivid but I doubt that it will happen. Actually I am a little surprised that they didn't through in any Vivid Racing schwag with the order.

P.S. You'll find a Borla baseball cap and sticker packed in with the exhaust.

Damn. Lets just say I was hoping to put a Borla off the shopping list for a while, but Damn. That sound clip has me sold.

Now I just need MONEY!

Anybody wanna take pity on a poor mexican boy?

I put a Borla muffler on my Ford ZX2 a while back, and it was exactly what I wanted, with a deep, noticeable (but not too loud) sound. Anything that makes an Escort sound good has got too be quality :)

They make excellent products though (if a bit pricey sometimes). This one seems to have a decent price though. That million mile guarantee is really nice too, so the exhaust will definitely outlast your car.

Originally posted by Gyro
Slightly off topic...SpeedRacer....When you removed the old exhaust, did you look inside the pipe? I was curious because all the soot on my tailpipes........how does the inside look.
I'm kind of obsessive but, I just picture that stuff building up over time and cloging my cat.

No, I can't say that I paid too much attention to the old exhaust but after reading your post I pulled it out of storage and snapped a couple of photos.

As you can see the pipes are thoroughly covered with soot (7,500 miles worth) but I can't imagine that it would ever build up enough to clog up the pipes or muffler especially when there is considerably more build up in the exhaust tips versus the mid pipe. Well at least that is my opinion. Maybe someone with more knowledge than I will jump in and teach us a thing or two. ;)

Originally posted by SuperRex
how loud do u think it would be if catless?

Swapping out the cats for a straight pipe is definitely going to change the sound quality and volume. How much I don't know but I bet it would be loud. :eek:

If one took the cats out I would suggest adding in a free flow resonator, like a Magnaflow. Just a fibre pack wrapped around a straight through perforated pipe to reduce the rasp a bit.

Something like their 10416 or 10426..

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/universal/round.htm

Sounds great, looks great, I'll take two.

Yeah, you did a great job with the sound clip, speedracer. Was that from inside the cabin?

Originally posted by B-Nez
Yeah, you did a great job with the sound clip, speedracer. Was that from inside the cabin?

I set up my camcorder about 5 feet behind the car. I've got a cool looking video clip (820kb .mov) that really shows you what was going on but I can't find a way to post the file.

On another thread someone suggested using Imagestation. They only allow MPEG-1 for video and I can't get iMovie to export to that format. Do you have any suggestions on finding a place to host the video?

i can't open the clip... help/! is it .php ? what program to use for that?

Originally posted by U. N. O.
i can't open the clip... help/! is it .php ? what program to use for that?

It is a .moov file and you should be able to open it with Quick Time (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/).

Add a .mov extension and double click it for simplicity.

Originally posted by Speed Racer
It is a .moov file and you should be able to open it with Quick Time (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/).

got it working.. thanks a lot.. its hard to grasp the sound thought .. what would you say that sound like? it seem to me it had a melody of the G35 or the Z but not as the sti

Here is a link for some nice pics of the exhaust.
Found it on another thread.

http://www.geocities.com/subarumazdaservice/

Originally posted by rotary_it_up
Here is a link for some nice pics of the exhaust.
Found it on another thread.

http://www.geocities.com/subarumazdaservice/

Nice find!

nice, very nice find and pics...

there is a place/section that it needs to be whelded? am i wrong? i though this is something you could do it yourself..!!

Originally posted by U. N. O.
nice, very nice find and pics...

there is a place/section that it needs to be whelded? am i wrong? i though this is something you could do it yourself..!!

The exhaust comes in three pieces: mid pipe, muffler w/ left tail pipe, and right tail pipe. Everything is secured with two "accuseal" clamps and no welding is required.

Originally posted by Speed Racer
The exhaust comes in three pieces: mid pipe, muffler w/ left tail pipe, and right tail pipe. Everything is secured with two "accuseal" clamps and no welding is required.



ffiiuuuuu :p good to know, cool, cool , can't wait for dyno results..!

Originally posted by rabinabo
I put a Borla muffler on my Ford ZX2 a while back, and it was exactly what I wanted, with a deep, noticeable (but not too loud) sound. Anything that makes an Escort sound good has got too be quality :)

I too had the Borla kit on my zx2 and i was VERY impressed. I know it was an escort and all, but that was still a DAMN fine car for 12,900... :-) The Borla exhaust, along with some minor tweaks and mods here and there, and that was an amazingly fun car to drive for the money.. a whole lot more fun than some riced out civic.. :-)
My experiences with that exhaust along with that sound clip and photos, are making me REALLY want to justify spending the money on the kit.. maybe i'll have to push off some of the accessories i was looking at buying...

Maybe I'll play that sound clip for my wife, and she'll decide it's worth it too.. :-)

sounds very deep
nice

So nice, in fact, that I took the plunge and ordered my Borla cat-back exhaust yesterday. Speed Racer, if you hadn't posted that sound clip and the first decent pictures I've seen of the Borla, I never would have gotten it.... MANY thanks!

I ordered my exhaust from John at http://www.socalmotorsports.com , and got a pretty good discount too. John was really prompt in returning my calls, and very helpful. Highly recommended.

Now I just have to wait to get my Borla.... ARG, the waiting is already killing me! :)

Originally posted by Omicron
So nice, in fact, that I took the plunge and ordered my Borla cat-back exhaust yesterday. Speed Racer, if you hadn't posted that sound clip and the first decent pictures I've seen of the Borla, I never would have gotten it.... MANY thanks!

I ordered my exhaust from John at http://www.socalmotorsports.com , and got a pretty good discount too. John was really prompt in returning my calls, and very helpful. Highly recommended.

Now I just have to wait to get my Borla.... ARG, the waiting is already killing me! :-)

Hey, I'm just glad I could sway a few people away from the ricey sounding exhausts! ;)

Originally posted by mikeb
great pics
glad your happy

So does it hurt MPG

Actually, it will help improve your fuel economy

Originally posted by david borla
Actually, it will help improve your fuel economy


any proofs of such statement?

were waiting

Originally posted by david borla
Actually, it will help improve your fuel economy
Hahaha, not if my lead foot is taking full advantage of that extra 10 ponies!!! :D

any proofs of such statement?
Genereally speaking (I have a feeling Wackeech is going to come in and b*tch-slap me for this) if the exhaust is flowing more freely, which is what gives you the extra power, it will also increase economy if you drive the same way.

Originally posted by U. N. O.
any proofs of such statement?

The Borla exhaust for the RX8 improves the overall efficiency of the engine resulting in improved MPG only if you drive the same speeds you did before you installed the aftermarket exhaust.

Most enthusiasts drive a bit faster after installing an aftermarket upgrade which makes it difficult to notice the improved economy.

If you drive the same speeds as you did before the upgrade, there is significantly less flow restriction resulting in improved efficiency.

Most enthusiasts are interested in HP gains which tells you that they want to go faster. If you drive faster, there will not be an improvement in fuel economy. (Am I making any sense?)

There are many testimonials from reputable publications touting the improved MPG of Borla exhaust.

Here's a quote from Truckin' magazine.

"In addition, the new Borla system offers a deeper exhaust tone as well as a 1-to-3-mpg increase in fuel economy."

I'll try to post more testimonials as I find them.

its true we want hp
I just figured mpg would be worst after upgrading exhaust

Originally posted by mikeb
its true we want hp
I just figured mpg would be worst after upgrading exhaust

This is true for MOST efficiency based upgrades... things like intakes, exhausts, headers, underdrive pulley's, even some head porting (that's the top part of one of those 'piston' engines) all increase the efficiency of the engine, so it has to do less work when cruising, which is what increases efficiency... Of course, on the other hand, if you put the pedal to the metal, they also allow MORE air and gas into the engine, so you burn more.......

Originally posted by david borla
The Borla exhaust for the RX8 improves the overall efficiency of the engine resulting in improved MPG only if you drive the same speeds you did before you installed the aftermarket exhaust....

There are many testimonials from reputable publications touting the improved MPG of Borla exhaust....

I'll try to post more testimonials as I find them.

these testimonial will not be too acurate since it won't be from people with an 8 but with other cars.. the exaust behaviors in each car are different as so it is the intake so some aftermarket exhaust (borla in this case) might be a "downgrade" instead of an "upgrade" making mpg worse.. please note that i am not saying that this is the case with the borla to the 8 but it could be. until we have REAL proofs with tests and owners experiences we won't know 100% therefore saying a testimonial like yours is just too vegue.
I might even say that it could be purely marketing/ advertisement given your screen name.. thats my hole point!

I apoligize if this is confusing, I guess I need to explain it better.

There are certain elements of physics that apply to all vehicles and this discussion is a classic example. What we are discussing applies to all gas powered vehicles including motorcycles, airplanes and boats. The testimonials I posted are just examples.

Most importantly it applies (as Crazzifuzzy stated) to more products than just Borla products. As a matter of fact, many aftermartket exhausts will improve your fuel economy.

Any aftermarket performance product that provides more HP than stock at the same RPM will help your MPG if you drive at the same speed you did before the upgrade. This is because it will take less effort from the engine to reach the same speed.

Originally posted by U. N. O.
these testimonial will not be too acurate since it won't be from people with an 8 but with other cars.. the exaust behaviors in each car are different as so it is the intake so some aftermarket exhaust (borla in this case) might be a "downgrade" instead of an "upgrade" making mpg worse.. please note that i am not saying that this is the case with the borla to the 8 but it could be.

I have never seen a borla system that made the exhaust less efficient... I have, however, seen many MANY exhaust systems and mufflers for other 'ricier' imports that sacrifice efficiency to tune the sound to a certain note. I think everyone knows what I'm talking about. A 5 inch tip on a 2 1/2 exhaust system, with a restrictive resonator after the muffler is definately a downgrade.

Originally posted by david borla
Any aftermarket performance product that provides more HP than stock at the same RPM will help your MPG if you drive at the same speed you did before the upgrade. This is because it will take less effort from the engine to reach the same speed.


While I would agree with you that in most cases this is true, mods like putting a turbo or sc on a car will cause more restriction when cruising, slightly hurting mileage. Most driving IS cruising, so mods that add a certain amount of drag on the engine regardless of throttle position, will, on average, lower mileage.

Originally posted by david borla
I apoligize if this is confusing, I guess I need to explain it better.

There are certain elements of physics that apply to all vehicles and this discussion is a classic example. What we are discussing applies to all gas powered vehicles including motorcycles, airplanes and boats. The testimonials I posted are just examples.

Most importantly it applies (as Crazzifuzzy stated) to more products than just Borla products. As a matter of fact, many aftermartket exhausts will improve your fuel economy.

Any aftermarket performance product that provides more HP than stock at the same RPM will help your MPG if you drive at the same speed you did before the upgrade. This is because it will take less effort from the engine to reach the same speed.

as crazzyfusy said, this is not true since a turbo and/or a sc WILL reduce your mpg efficiency yet increasing your hp...
don't get me wrong, "your theory" is to be right. never the less this is a new car, a new engine and we don't know with certainty how it will react with certain changes. thats a fact. I know borla is a very reputable company with very high quality (and prices) and would make mods for the better BUT this being a brand new things no one just no one has the experience on it to determine sust conclusions.
And i know you might be right but i rather still be skeptical until proven wrong by phisical proofs from that car itself not just logics and theories and past w/ other cars (i am a big logic person but sometimes..)
heck i might get it to see myself..u never know

I understand your point. We need to think of a test scenario that will be accurate so we can find the answer we are all looking for.

Any ideas of how we can run a scientifically accurate test? In my opinion, it would have to be a comparison between aftermarket and stock exhaust with the same exact route, similar driving conditions, same weight and over the same time period/distance. If you want to get super accurate, RPM's and shift points should probably be kept close as well.

What other variables am I leaving out?

This will be an interesting test. Most of us are normally concerned with power, so this is kind of unique. I can't recall ever reading about an aftermarket exhaust MPG shootout. It's especially appropriate in California these days. We should sell the idea to a magazine!

I think it shows the 'overall' maturity of this forum. Quite different from others Ive visited.

Seems my orginal post was deleted. Maybe an admin fat fingered my post, next time inform me why.

I found the Borla exhuaust for $549.99 at:

http://www.rx-7parts.com/default.php

Shipping is about $25, plug your zip in to get a more accurate price.

You can use your Mazda screw-up AMEX card there too. I asked the owner if they would split up the price over two credit cards since it would be more than $500, no problem.

D-san

Originally posted by Digisan
Seems my orginal post was deleted. Maybe an admin fat fingered my post, next time inform me why.

I found the Borla exhuaust for $549.99 at:

http://www.rx-7parts.com/default.php

Shipping is about $25, plug your zip in to get a more accurate price.

You can use your Mazda screw-up AMEX card there too. I asked the owner if they would split up the price over two credit cards since it would be more than $500, no problem.

D-san

i believe it has a lot to do with the fact that vivid racing is a core sponser of this board.

why would they let your thread take away their business?

i think alll in all, since their price isn't that much higher than posted, go buy it from vivid to support the board.

Originally posted by energie
i believe it has a lot to do with the fact that vivid racing is a core sponser of this board.

why would they let your thread take away their business?

i think alll in all, since their price isn't that much higher than posted, go buy it from vivid to support the board.

That is a pretty piss poor way of doing business and I don't think Vivid would promote anything like that, I think someone took it upon their self to make that decision. Hmm, who is the mod for this section??? Any guesses? Thanks for the suggestion but I'll save the $25 for gas. Looks like Vivid price matches, so there you have it, saved everyone a bit of money.

OK - installed my Borla last night. There are some Hi-res pictures at the link in the signature, but here are the small versions.

I also took "before" and "after" sound recordings, but they are too big (1 Meg and 1.85 Meg) for the site, so if anyone wants a comparison taken 1 hour apart, in the exact same location, with the recording device (iPaq 3850) at the same location (by the rotary crest), PM me with your email address and I can email them to you promptly.

Pic 1 - the Kit - before installation:

Pic 2 - before:

Pic 3 - after:

Tpryor,
Excellent photos! They really show the difference between the exhausts.

I have a couple of questions for you about the install.

Did you have any problems reinstalling the spring bolts?

Did your kit come with a M6 nut to attach the ground strap to the muffler?

very , very nice pictures...! tell us about any change in mgp IF ANY!!

one question fo r every one.. what if we just do a straight pipe to the back?with a couple of resonators to lower the tone? that will increase the hp lots more, better mpg? and cheaper!! . on time for an inspection, just bolt the factory back on and u set.. would this work?

Originally posted by david borla
I understand your point. We need to think of a test scenario that will be accurate so we can find the answer we are all looking for.

Any ideas of how we can run a scientifically accurate test? In my opinion, it would have to be a comparison between aftermarket and stock exhaust with the same exact route, similar driving conditions, same weight and over the same time period/distance. If you want to get super accurate, RPM's and shift points should probably be kept close as well.

What other variables am I leaving out?

This will be an interesting test. Most of us are normally concerned with power, so this is kind of unique. I can't recall ever reading about an aftermarket exhaust MPG shootout. It's especially appropriate in California these days. We should sell the idea to a magazine!

thats sounds more like it..now we need enouhg peps with the aftermarket one to compare

Originally posted by Speed Racer
Tpryor,
Excellent photos! They really show the difference between the exhausts.

I have a couple of questions for you about the install.

Did you have any problems reinstalling the spring bolts?

Did your kit come with a M6 nut to attach the ground strap to the muffler?

You know, it's interesting. I had heard on the forum (possibly from you) that the spring bolts were an issue. We actually had the LEAST trouble with those bolts - they went on by hand!

We assembled the system on the ground (all clamps loose), removed the plastic pieces surrounding the exhaust tips, hung the B-pipe hanger first, and the rest went together in 10-15 minutes (adjusting and tightening clamps, etc. and putting the plastic "surrounds" back on). The very last thing we did was reinstall the springs and bolts, and it was no issue.

We did NOT get a nut to attach the ground strap in the kit. On the parts list, it is not listed, so we assumed that they had no intention of including it. Luckily, we had one handy.

OK - SL01 (not the real name) has converted the files for me to post on the forum (THANKS!), so here goes:

Stock Sound:

Borla Sound:

damm this sucks. The good side of me told me "danny dont buy anything for the car yet"But the bad side said "Buy it buy it u know u want to" guess who one im buying next week.:D

zoom zoom

General

Man, is this a great board! Great info, mature "audience," and some real experts. I look forward to reading it almost as much as I do driving my 8! :)

Coupla things: First, John at http://www.socalmotorsports.com says he will do the same price he gave me for the Borla ($560 including shipping) if you mention my name (Paul).

Secondly, question for David Borla or anyone who has put this exhaust on. Looking at that lovely 3" cat-back pipe, I began wondering if I will lose ground clearance as compared to stock. Will I?

Thanks...

Originally posted by tpryor
Borla Sound:

What a great growl!!! I was almost expecting to hear "Zhoul" and see my eggs pop out of their container and start cooking themselves on my countertop!! :D

Originally posted by RotorMotor
What a great growl!!! I was almost expecting to hear "Zhoul" and see my eggs pop out of their container and start cooking themselves on my countertop!! :D

So who are you going to call?!? :p

Originally posted by Omicron
Secondly, question for David Borla or anyone who has put this exhaust on. Looking at that lovely 3" cat-back pipe, I began wondering if I will lose ground clearance as compared to stock. Will I?

Thanks...

We actually measured that, as it was a concern for us as well. The pipe bends through the same "hole" as the stock one, and the ground clearance (at it's lowest point) seemed to be very miniscule (less than 1/8"), and the more rearward you went, the ground clearance actually increased slightly.

Not a concern.

Originally posted by eclps0
damm this sucks. The good side of me told me "danny dont buy anything for the car yet"But the bad side said "Buy it buy it u know u want to" guess who one im buying next week.:D

zoom zoom

General


I have two devils on my shoulders, your lucky to have one side of reason



glad you finally got it tpryor
you waited so long, great pics

So Borla must have bent the cat-back pipe up a bit from the run of the stock pipe, to offset the additional width of the new pipe. Nice!

I'm really torn between borla and mazdaspeed. any advantage of one over the other?

Mazdaspeed offers full warranty still... thats a biggy. It sounds like borla gives a few performance gains, and I think the Mazdaspeed is only offers a richer rotary sounding exhaust note. what are your thoughts?

Originally posted by pmacwill
I'm really torn between borla and mazdaspeed. any advantage of one over the other?

Mazdaspeed offers full warranty still... thats a biggy. It sounds like borla gives a few performance gains, and I think the Mazdaspeed is only offers a richer rotary sounding exhaust note. what are your thoughts?

That puts some water on the fire.

I find it hard to believe that they would void the waranty to the powertrain because you went with a cat-back Borla exhaust.

Would that mean aftermarket mufflers void waranties too? Mineke might be out of business if that is the case.

I seriously doubt they would bring up warranty issues for a Borla catback.

Mr. Borla, what are your thoughts?

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by pmacwill
I'm really torn between borla and mazdaspeed. any advantage of one over the other?

Mazdaspeed offers full warranty still... thats a biggy. It sounds like borla gives a few performance gains, and I think the Mazdaspeed is only offers a richer rotary sounding exhaust note. what are your thoughts?

I have put cat-back systems on all of my cars (even my wife's Volvo) for 20 years, and have NEVER had a warranty issue. The Borla (or any other system) will not affect the warranty coverage.

dealer must prove that aftermarket exhaust is causing whatever the problem may be to void warranty

so could we just do a straigth pipe with a couple of resonators to reduce the noise?

Mr. Borla, are you really the guy that is responsible for Borla, the exhaust?

Originally posted by energie
Mr. Borla, are you really the guy that is responsible for Borla, the exhaust?

We have over 150 employees here at Borla performance. It's truly a team effort! However, it's not just a coincidence that my last name is Borla. I do have an ownership interest.

Mr. Borla
I admire your humility:)

Ok, so where does this leave us, from warranty standpoint? Mr Borla, can you elaborate?

I think it's pretty clear. Borla has a warranty on their product, since I'm certain Mazda won't guarantee a product that's not theirs. It is the law that Mazda has to honor their warranty on the rest of the car UNLESS they can prove that the aftermarket parts contributed to any damage. Now that doesn't prevent individual dealerships from being total jerks however. Then you could simply find a lawyer or another dealer. There are some mod-friendly dealerships out there. Some will even install the aftermarket parts for you.

That said, I think as long as you keep the cat, most dealers should still honor your warranty.

And UNO, you can definitely just get a straight pipe with resonators, but I think it would still be very loud. These mufflers are all straight-through design so they don't restrict all that much.

Originally posted by rabinabo


And UNO, you can definitely just get a straight pipe with resonators, but I think it would still be very loud. These mufflers are all straight-through design so they don't restrict all that much.


thanks :D i hate it when i am ignored :mad:

As others have already stated, the dealer would have to prove that the aftermarket cat-back caused added stress to the engine or drivetrain. As we have dicussed, the opposite is the case so there's really no issue here regarding the factory warranty. As a matter of fact, there are many Maza dealers that sell the Borla exhaust for the RX8 as well as the Miata. Regarding Borla's warranty; All of our street products are warrantied up to one million miles. I believe that we have the most reputable warranty in the business. If warranty and customer service are a concern, you should really consider Borla exhaust.

I've done more than just consider it, I *bought* a Borla system for my RX-8! :-)

Thanks for the answers...

Hey guys that sound is awesome , it sounds real angry, really shows that the rotary can scream, if it wants too! I have a question though, why do the aftermarket exhausts pop all the time, can someone expalin it to me, and can it be avoided?



Thanks

That popping sounds to me like a backfire, and I think it was audible in the stock soundclip too... not very good. Maybe something is wrong with that 8? :eek:

Based on my experience with RX-7 rotaries, I believe the popping/backfire sound is normal, and a function of the rotary engine's design.

I test drove a new Volvo S60R ($54,000 300HP Inline 5 engine AWD) and it also popped in the exhaust. Dealer proudly stated that he can even get a little flame/spark at times. I am no expert but I think it is just part of having a more free flowing exhaust that is more concerned with performance than quietness.

I wouldn't really call that a backfire, I had a 1980 rx-7 for about 4 yrs , it was my first car and the start of my love for rotaries, but I can undoubtly say that that car used to back fire when cold , in fact my friends used to tease me about it, they said it sounded like a gun going off!! Anyway , Mr Borla can you please comment on why aftermarket exhuasts have that popping sound, Im very interested in knowing why.




Thanks...

The stock exhaust also pops if you let up on the throttle quickly but because the exhaust is so quiet it doesn't really catch your attention. Where as the Borla exhaust is noticeable louder and so is the resulting pop. So I think the pop is inherent with the Renesis.

FYI - If you don't like the pop then just ease off a little slower on the throttle and it never happens. ;)

BTW...people are calling it a back fire. I could be wrong....but I always thought "backfire" was when (in carburated engines mostly) combustion occurred in the intake manifold. Causing that Whoooosh pop inder the hood. Scares the christ out of anyone near the engine bay.

It is not backfiring, it's "burbling". This occurs when you lift off throttle. When the throttle body closes, you lose pressure in the exhaust, forming low pressure bubbles. These bubbles are what cause the burble when they "pop". An aftermarket exhaust that is freer-flowing than stock will accentuate this behavior. For even more burbling fun, remove the cat.

congrats ryan on the mod

Awesome posts to all. My 8 is only 2 days old and I am raring (or should that be rotoring?) to go for the Borla exhaust.

An open question to the folks who have converted to the Borla exhaust. Are you getting the same amount spluge residue as the stock pipes or has it decreased with the high flow exhaust?

Dynojet offers corrected hp. What that essentially means is that two cars on either side of the country can jump on the same model dynojet and their numbers can be compared. Dynojets correct for altitude, temp and barometric pressure (anything else?). So theoretically, if the input parameters for the correction factor are not fudged, the numers are "precise" in relation to one and other. Meaning, if one car records 180hp and one records 190, the 190hp car really is stronger.

Things such as dyno maintenance come into play as does the operator. it is possible to fudge the numbers through correction factors.

Originally posted by rx7tt95
Dynojet offers corrected hp. What that essentially means is that two cars on either side of the country can jump on the same model dynojet and their numbers can be compared. Dynojets correct for altitude, temp and barometric pressure (anything else?). So theoretically, if the input parameters for the correction factor are not fudged, the numers are "precise" in relation to one and other. Meaning, if one car records 180hp and one records 190, the 190hp car really is stronger.

Things such as dyno maintenance come into play as does the operator. it is possible to fudge the numbers through correction factors.

Dynojets correct their readings for differences in pressures and temperatures, but the engine itself will make more or less power at different altitudes and temperatures. Plus the fact that a rotary engine builds up deposits that actually affect it's powerband, so the way a car is broken in will actually affect the power curve of the engine (to an extent). The important thing in this situation is that this was the same car on the same dynojet, at near the same atmospheric conditions, so it is an accurate portrail of the HP gain offered by the only changing variable, the exhaust. Even though it may be a different absolute value, the relative change is what is important here.

Put on my Borla this evening :D The 8 has a little attitude now! As has been said -- it sounds a little deeper -- a little meaner. Just as I hoped it doesn't sound like a Civic fart can -- definitely sounds more mature and refined. At idle it rumbles a little more than stock --- during hard acceleration you can really hear the difference -- cruising at speed I really couldn't tell any difference from stock.

Installation -- this took me about 4 hours! Most of the time was spent trying to remove the dang rubber hangers - estimate 3 hours. I was going to just cut them off as tpryor suggested but I went to two auto parts stores and could only locate 1 replacement hanger! (Need 5 total) So I decided to remove them instead of cutting them off -- wow what a pain! I did end up cutting one off and using the one replacement I found -- not sure that was any easier -- the new hanger was so stiff I couldn't quite get it all the way on. If there is some secret to this -- I don't want to know at this point :( Everything else was as expected (except I broke another clip off of the exhaust cover plate -- broke one off when I put the exhaust finishers on). The spring bolts were actually the easiest part of the process. Well I managed to break a screwdriver and gash up my hands pretty good on those exhaust hangers -- still have one that I don't think is totally on right (the one closest to the spring bolts) -- just can't get it to stretch far enough.

Fired her up and went for a quick spin (1 am) -- sounds great and seems to rev a little more quickly. Didn't want to wake up all the neighbors so I will have to play with it more tomorrow.

Are you guys using liquid soap on those rubber hangers? It makes them slide on and off much easier.

jds

Hey Rotorgeek, if you do plan on that let me know! I aint that far from you and while a newbie in this arena, I am a good worker :D I'd love to find someone semi-local with an 8 so we can try this stuff out :D

Originally posted by RXhusker
Installation -- this took me about 4 hours! Most of the time was spent trying to remove the dang rubber hangers - estimate 3 hours.

I was going to just cut them off as tpryor suggested ...... -- wow what a pain!


OK - I didn't suggest cutting them off! I removed mine (10 minutes, Dawn and a looong pry bar) and reused them. Total installation time was about 40 minutes.

I did hang the one nearest the spring bolts first, putting it on the pipe first, placing it into position, and sliding the one on the car. I actually thought this was the easiest of the hangers..

Sorry if I mislead anyone about the labor involved.......

The guys at my local exhaust shop use WD40 and a long flat head screwdriver to remove and install the rubber hangers, maybe it's their experience but they make it look easy.

Its defently the experience

Originally posted by tpryor
OK - I didn't suggest cutting them off! I removed mine (10 minutes, Dawn and a looong pry bar) and reused them. Total installation time was about 40 minutes.

I did hang the one nearest the spring bolts first, putting it on the pipe first, placing it into position, and sliding the one on the car. I actually thought this was the easiest of the hangers..

Sorry if I mislead anyone about the labor involved.......

Sorry tpryor -- it was speedracer who cut them off.

Impressions after 150 miles -- really like it! Was a little concerned with morning that it was too loud but after a good long day of driving I think it is just right. Plus the fact that I took my wife out this evening and she said it sounded great :D

Never hurts to have the wife buy-in :)

I'm in South Jersey and I can't find a decent thing for my car. I hear that alot of people on the west coast find parts faster. I was wonderin if anyone knew where I could find a Borla exaust and intake around here.

there's an earlier post that listed a few places. I think $575 was the cheapest I've seen. I also know vividracing.com can get them for you for not much more.

Check out this thread, there are several dealers listed in it:
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12631

This weekend I found out that the Borla exhaust puts on a good aural and light show.

I spent yesterday driving through the White Mountains of NH with the M'sters Miata Club (http://mstersmiata.org/index.php) and had a little fun hanging out at the back of the pack with Luke. Occassionally we would let the pack pull away and then we would quickly reel them back in.

Everytime time we did that Luke, who was following behind me, said that I had flames shooting out of the tail pipes!!! :eek:

Is the plastic at the tips of the pipes holding up to the extra tight fit? The extra heat? Thanks.

Originally posted by Speed Racer
This weekend I found out that the Borla exhaust puts on a good aural and light show.

I spent yesterday driving through the White Mountains of NH with the M'sters Miata Club (http://mstersmiata.org/index.php) and had a little fun hanging out at the back of the pack with Luke. Occassionally we would let the pack pull away and then we would quickly reel them back in.

Everytime time we did that Luke, who was following behind me, said that I had flames shooting out of the tail pipes!!! :eek:

I think I've only seen forced induction cars put flames out the back.

Wow,

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by brownchiro
Is the plastic at the tips of the pipes holding up to the extra tight fit? The extra heat? Thanks.

Even after the pyrotechnics the rear bumper looks fine. So if it put up with that we shouldn't see any problems. :D

Does this all mean cooked cat? Or is that temp making it through the cat regardless - lust a case of "now you see it"?

Originally posted by Kev
Does this all mean cooked cat? Or is that temp making it through the cat regardless - lust a case of "now you see it"?
It was always there, and if you run it hard the stock exhaust will pump out sufficient heat to melt and char the rear underbumper valence around the tips.
At least the Borla seems to have longer tips.

Here is my rear under-bumper valence:

The borla gets just as hot -- in fact since it sticks out from the back of the car more you have to watch not to catch your leg on it :eek: Ouch! that said -- I have the exhaust finishers and they seem to deflect the heat -- I would worry about melting the plastic if I didn't have the finishers.

i take it you own an rx-8 and you are a husker? you go to the game against A&M yesterday?

good win, yall played well. and our 8 turnovers didn't hurt either :mad:

good job though, beat texas tech (or lubbock communtiy college as we say here in aggieland).

Originally posted by rx7aggie
i take it you own an rx-8 and you are a husker? you go to the game against A&M yesterday?

good win, yall played well. and our 8 turnovers didn't hurt either :mad:

good job though, beat texas tech (or lubbock communtiy college as we say here in aggieland).

Good guess! Yes I did go to the game (my son and I drove the 8 down to Lincoln). Game was fun but I won't make any comments -- the loss to Mizzu last week is still too fresh in my mind :( We don't play Texas Tech this year but I hope we play as well when we visit Austin in a few weeks .... GO BIG RED!

Hmm. Flames out the back sounds like a ticket from the same place.
Can anyone confirm this?

TIA,
Vince

Originally posted by DrMike
Awesome posts to all. My 8 is only 2 days old and I am raring (or should that be rotoring?) to go for the Borla exhaust.

An open question to the folks who have converted to the Borla exhaust. Are you getting the same amount spluge residue as the stock pipes or has it decreased with the high flow exhaust?

Yes, the inside of my exhaust is now fully coated with soot. With the car running so rich in the upper revs I think that this is to be expected.

I would imagine that Canzoomer's work on the fuel maps (leaning out the top end) will help to clean this up a bit. Hopefully he will see this post and throw in his own comments.

my 8 is just a baby still, only 300 miles old, but as soon as i break her in i would like to purchase the borla exhaust system. can anyone verify that the dealer will NOT void my factory warranty by doing this? i knoe it has been discussed a little bit, and i knoe that the general policy of dealerships is to not void the warranty unless they can prove that the part did any damage to the car, but alot of dealerships are also anal about any kind of aftermarket parts.

my local dealer is anaheim mazda, however browning in cerritos, and tustin mazda are not too far away.

It's not a general policy of dealerships, it's the law. Just read this:

http://www.impalaclub.com/naisso/magmoss.htm

Like you said though, some dealerships will refuse the honor the warranty because any aftermarket part is on the car, because most people won't bring lawyers into the picture so they save money. What you have to do is find dealerships that have no problem with that? One can always just call them up and ask.

great
thats a good link

i am very very tempted to purchase the borla right now!! however, id like to hear some more opinions about the rattling issue that was just brought up. i cant live with a rattling noise, it will just drive me insane.

i want to spit flames......

Originally posted by djmano
i am very very tempted to purchase the borla right now!! however, id like to hear some more opinions about the rattling issue that was just brought up. i cant live with a rattling noise, it will just drive me insane.

i want to spit flames......

I am not getting a rattle -- a lot of burble but no rattle :D

I have put 200 miles on since install and no rattle. The hanger by the diff is closer than the other 4 but it is still about an inch from making metal on metal contact. After reading Rikki's comment I put a piece of tape on the spot and am going to check on Wed and see if there is any rubbing.

Originally posted by djmano
i am very very tempted to purchase the borla right now!! however, id like to hear some more opinions about the rattling issue that was just brought up. i cant live with a rattling noise, it will just drive me insane.

i want to spit flames......

Out of the last 500+ miles I haven't heard any rattles from the exhaust. In that time it has also had the chance to open up a bit and it sounds & looks (flames) even better. One of these nights I'll have to setup the camcorder again and try to catch the fiery bursts that shoot out of the tail pipes. :D

Bottom line: I highly recommend the Borla exhaust!

I really suggest waiting for the racingbeat exhaust and some of the other manufacturers to come out with their exhausts before you buy. Everyone seems to be jumping the gun on the borla. What is another month or 2? Let some other people get some longer term impressions and wait until you get to hear some competition. my 2 cents.

I have a borla for my miata- this one sounds even better- I have to upgrade!

if your car does break, and the dealer will have a problem, the switch it back to stock when you take it in. assuming it still looks stock and all the hangers are there...

it cant void warranty unless it caused the problem... its like i have new rims and then boom my engine blows up... if they said it was the rims well then they would have to prove it

Originally posted by pmacwill
I really suggest waiting for the racingbeat exhaust and some of the other manufacturers to come out with their exhausts before you buy. Everyone seems to be jumping the gun on the borla. What is another month or 2? Let some other people get some longer term impressions and wait until you get to hear some competition. my 2 cents.

im waiting on what GREDDY or HKS has coming... just my 2 cents...

Honestly... i know Borla has a great product, but how do any of you feel about what Greddy or HKS may have? i mean, is it worth it or is it the fact only Borla has something for the 8? Im all ears.. rx8 gurus, please stand up... you are all being summoned.;)

Originally posted by flipstream
im waiting on what GREDDY or HKS has coming... just my 2 cents...

Those are a bit to loud for me, typically...dunno what they'll do for the 8 though.

if GReddy and HKS are promising to release a cat-back system within the next 2 months, ill wait.

another thing i wanted to add.......with alot of the exhaust systems for the rx8 being equal to and above $1K each, the pocketbook is very much an issue to me. i cannot really spend 1200 on an exhaust, and being as the exhaust will probably be dual, its justifiable being that expensive. if the borla can perform almost as good or just as good as the other brands, ill take borla anyday.

Originally posted by flipstream
Honestly... i know Borla has a great product, but how do any of you feel about what Greddy or HKS may have? i mean, is it worth it or is it the fact only Borla has something for the 8? Im all ears.. rx8 gurus, please stand up... you are all being summoned.;)

Some very professional tuners make their own exhausts, including building the actual mufflers from scratch. This can be quite expensive way to go, but you can probably develop a very unique and personalised result.

It's a budget thing. If money is even remotely an issue, skip it or go Borla. (I'm not saying the Borla option is "cheap" in quality, I'm just saying it's very well priced).

Originally posted by Digisan
Those are a bit to loud for me, typically...dunno what they'll do for the 8 though.

HKS is typically loud, but Greddy has many exhaust that are below the 95dBA California limit.

-Mr. Wigggles

What types of materials does Greddy use in their exhaust systems? Do they offer a warranty?

Originally posted by david borla
What types of materials does Greddy use in their exhaust systems? Do they offer a warranty?

ahh.. i would like to know as well.. that's why i was asking. Perhaps someone might have an inside scoop.. im very impressed with the Borla system, but wanted to give the others a chance to show their product. (BUT NOT TOO LONG... 'cuz the longer i wait, the closer i am to grab the Borla.. hehehe <--- good for you folks eh?)

Originally posted by david borla
What types of materials does Greddy use in their exhaust systems? Do they offer a warranty?

Taken straight from their website (http://www.greddy.com/technical/Exhaust_Systems_Frame.htm).

"With laser-cut, computerized mandrel bent aluminized tubing, thick flanges, OEM style hangers, and a polished stainless-steel muffler can and tip... 3-year warranty"


The aluminized tubing is one thing that really stands out to me. The Borla exhaust is made out of stainless steel. I read a post recently that said that stainless steel retains more heat and that helps to increase flow. That sounds like a good thing to me. Plus the Borla has a "Million Mile" warranty. :)

Where can I get the Borla exhaust system in Toronto, Canada...also what is the cost in Canadian price?

I can't wait to hear the new sound on my 8 and to have it spits frame.

Has anyone confirm increase in mpg?

Thank you all!!!:D

I can't really compare MPG to the stock exhaust because my driving habits have temporarily changed. It seems that my right foot is connected to my ears and I love the sound of the new exhaust. So my average MPG has recently dropped from 18 to 16 with the new setup.

Don't blame the exhaust, blame my lead foot. :p

i dont want to jump to any conclusions.....but most dual exhaust systems offered by greddy and hks are around 800+ dollars. im assuming the rx-8 will be the same or more.

Originally posted by flipstream
Honestly... i know Borla has a great product, but how do any of you feel about what Greddy or HKS may have? i mean, is it worth it or is it the fact only Borla has something for the 8? Im all ears.. rx8 gurus, please stand up... you are all being summoned.;)


Those other companies wil be releasing their poducts in due time. Some after SEMA. The companies also carry some type of warrenty. Depending upon how well the RX8 does in Japan as a tunner car will have a direct effect upon the aftermarket performace market world wide. That's the bussiness end of it. The larger companies like HKS, GReddy, Apexi, etc may take alittle more time since they usually need to change things in production like tooling and they will service thier own patrons first before the US. It's a good thing that american companies are stepping up to the plate and delivering because it adds more variety and competition to the market and as a consumer, competition is good.

The full stainless construction of the Borla should last longer, and be lighter as well.

One thing about GReddy...their Power Extreme exhaust is almost always voted as one of the best-sounding for the RX-7 in every poll I've seen. You have to be a fan of the giant tip style though, because at least on that one, its frickin' huge.

jds

Originally posted by Speed Racer
Taken straight from their website (http://www.greddy.com/technical/Exhaust_Systems_Frame.htm).

"With laser-cut, computerized mandrel bent aluminized tubing, thick flanges, OEM style hangers, and a polished stainless-steel muffler can and tip... 3-year warranty"


The aluminized tubing is one thing that really stands out to me. The Borla exhaust is made out of stainless steel. I read a post recently that said that stainless steel retains more heat and that helps to increase flow. That sounds like a good thing to me. Plus the Borla has a "Million Mile" warranty. :)

Originally posted by Speed Racer
Yes, the inside of my exhaust is now fully coated with soot. With the car running so rich in the upper revs I think that this is to be expected.

I would imagine that Canzoomer's work on the fuel maps (leaning out the top end) will help to clean this up a bit. Hopefully he will see this post and throw in his own comments.

I looked at my WRX pipes and they seem sooted too. I have to look under my other cars to see the tail pipe and was wondering if this is why the RX8 is more easily seen; I do not have to bend over to see inside the pipes.

Originally posted by brownchiro
...was wondering if this is why the RX8 is more easily seen...

Maybe because of the design of the tips makes it more visible???

Originally posted by Omicron
Maybe because of the design of the tips makes it more visible???

That is what I was trying to say, thanks.

please post video of flames

Originally posted by Astor
please post video of flames

The weather for the next couple of days looks kind of foul (rain/snow showers). It should clear up for the weekend. If it does I'll try to get the flames caught on video. :cool:

Has anyone else seen flames with their Borla exhausts?