ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

I have had a few inquires about my single exhaust so here is the info: Built it myself, borrowed a small portable wire feed welder, cut some bends and went to work. As you look at the pics be nice, I am not a great welder. It is possible that you could do this system with clamps if you do not have a welder, but you would most likely have some leaks as clamps never seal that good.

pics: http://www.cactus.org/~edj/rx8club/muffler/

I cut off the stock muffler about 6" down from the slip fit at the muffler. Then used the U bend to make a large curve, around 110', into the muffler the other end slips over the stock cat-back pipe. I have the muffler tilted up slightly as it goes from the center of the car out. Then cut the J bend at 90' to make your exit. Keep in mind you need to make the exit long enough that it clears the plastic area of the bumper. With the single exhaust there is A LOT of heat coming out of that one pipe and you can melt the plastic if you are not centered in the opening or you make it to short. For a tip I just cut the end of the pipe at about 30' and painted it black with high temp paint. For a hanger I used a piece of 5/16" round bar from Lowes. I bent a 90' on each end, making a squared off U shape, so that it would line up with the factory hangers on the passengers side then welded it to the top of my outlet pipe.
I do not have any HP/Tq info on this system. Due to the lack of credible dyno numbers, damn ECUs, I did not bother with dyno runs. I figured it was not important to worry about a few HP, as most after market systems make 2-3hp, I just look at it as saving 22lbs.
I do not have a DB reading. I can tell you at the San Diego Natl tour they were monitoring Dbs and I was no where near the 93db limit. There is another RX8 in SD with a single side system using the 12" long XR-1 and it has hit 93db once, may have been a fluke as it usually is under, and my car is significantly quieter. I know a few members were in SD and may have heard the system and could comment. Also while in AZ I had a couple of members ride in the car at an autoX and they might have sound/volume feedback as well.

All of my parts came from Summit Racing: All parts are 2 1/2" diameter.

Borla XR-1 16" long: PN# BOR-40942 $132.95
Summit U bend: PN# SUM-622003 $16.95
Summit J bend: PN# SUM-621008 $16.95

ChopsMcgraw

Sounds like my cue. The sound reminds me of a first gen with the racing beat street port exhaust, very distinctive, but not quite as deep. Sounds good to me, but I grew up driving a 12A with a header and the stock muffler, so I may have a different view (ear) on things. The car in SD with the 12" Borla sounded the same to me, just louder. Kind of what you expect from a smaller muffler. I didn't think either were annoying, but the 12" on a road trip might get old, at least from what I heard from outside the car. Bottom line from me: Sounded Good, I plan on doing it myself once I get off my lazy bum. I just wish that the car would do the wicked bad rotary fart/burp/ball o' flame.

ChopsMcgraw

rotarygod

The link says "this page intentionally left blank"

Even though there may or may not be big power gains, how does it feel? does it feel any faster or is it honestly too hard to tell?

edj

The link ULLLOSE lists above should now work. I didn't get a chance to add the
pictures until this morning. Sorry about that, Chief.

The big question I have is how does the car sound driving on the highway? I
presume it is louder than stock but how does it sound inside?
Does it get annoying/painful after a few hours?

clyde

Neither car sounded very loud from where I was watching during your heat (the corner of the paddock that kind of jutted into the course area next to the grid). Now that I think about it, though, I can't really remember much else about it.

edit- And thanks for the info, too. :o

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Very mellow on the road, you can tell it is not stock, but it wont drive you crazy.

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

You can not tell. Anyone that puts on a cat back, air filter or does a ECU reflash and says they feel it is full of $hit.

For reference, on my vette we built a similar exhaust, 12" XR1 single side 3" pipe. It gained 4hp and 18tq at the wheels, you could not feel that at all.

Your butt dyno is not a good tool. :D

Think about the fact that your RX8 weighs around 2900 lbs.... Has 238 crank Hp, yeah right Mazda, and if you pick up 2hp with a muffler change that is less than a 1% change in power. NEVER EVER GOING TO FEEL IT. You would see more of a change if you ran your car with a full fuel thank and then ran it with a 1/4 tank.

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Me too..... I was so bummed it does not do that. Maybe if we take of the resonator and cat. :D

Andy Mckee's SM2 RX7tt shoots out about 4' of flames.

Parmer8

Any thoughts on having the single exhaust coming out of the center? Maybe through the rear rotor symbol?

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

I did think of that, would look sweet. However not solo2 stock class legal as it would require us to cut a hole where there was none.
Also for racing in stock class we can not corner weight this car, no factory adjustments. However what we can do it put the muffler in the corner where you need extra weight, pass rear, this helps to offset the drivers weight on the left side of the car.

clyde

For local events (where we're allowed to do it), SoloII///M has taken a different approach to that question and the right side still won't stay down.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

damn your front wheel is off the ground, thats some hard suspension and cornering there

Dark8

More like soft suspension, sticky R compound tires, and a front sway bar.

clyde

Koni DAs but OEM front bar

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

The weight in the rear is to keep the back tire down, you need it that way to put power down, its all good if the front is up. :D

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

whatchatalkinaboutwillis

rotarygod

For some reason I just smile at that! :D

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

:D :D :D It took me a moment to figure out what you were talking about. Then I saw the ballast in the right seat. I thought the whole idea was to get weigh out of the car.

clyde

It does have a Torsen type dif, you know. :p

PedalFaster

As a service to my RX-8-driving friends, I will be providing free lead weights to anyone who wants to wants to improve their traction at the upcoming Atwater Tour and Pro.

In other news, who told Barbara (?) to invite Randy Noll to drive her car?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

true, but if you have it setup and driven such that the rear wheel is off the ground at the same time the throttle is being applied you should go take up crocheting sweaters instead

clyde

Re: setup...depends on how much advice I've taken from my codrivers. :o

army_rx8

hehehe sweet looking picture. i think i soo need some suspension mods and it's time to go play:D weather is finaly nice enough to go out racing again:D

John V

iTrader: (1)

I'd rather be fast than have neat looking pictures. Only a little over a month until Toledo

Jason, I'd like to be the first to encourage you to remove your cats and start shooting flames. I promise I won't protest you.

John V

iTrader: (1)

Only I am allowed to call her "ballast!"

And only when she's not within earshot. :p