Exhaust Cut-Out - Performance/Sound?
 

Those electric cut-outs arent very expensive. Supposing I installed one before (or after) the cat... any opinions on how the car would perform?

What about sound?

Thanks

Insane.....
 

The raw tone of the unmuffled/unresonated rotary exhaust is nasty, and INSANELY loud. There is also virtually zero power to be made from opening it up.

It's not like a V8 running thru open headers, there is no rumble or growl to it - just an angry raspy "blart" noise!

Before you even consider a cutout, break the middle joint in the exhaust, the one with spring bolts, (careful not to lose the gasket - you'll need it when you have to put it back together) then take it around the block. Then decide if you could live with that, even part time.

Another point about cutouts is they rarely seal off completely, so your car always sounds like it has a hissy little manifold leak.

S

Damn. I cant think of what to do to my 8 then, that wont cost an assload with little to no gain.

At least you came to that realization before spending a bunch of money:D, Go pay for some track time, that’s a good place to spend some bucks.

Alright, I know you guys touched on this previously, but I know that when you take off the exhaust about a foot or two after the cat, you really change the powerband.

I took the exhaust off my Escort to get it copy-bent and it really pulled in the upper rpms. Also it would carry power well after the cam would fall off... I know it doesn't apply to the rotary since it has no cams, but it would still increase the top end an awful lot wouldn't it?

Back from the dead. Has anyone ran cutouts at the track?

wise words

^ Agreed.

I realize cutouts would make the 8 sound like shit but if you did it before the mufflers I cannot see how it wouldn't increase power output.

Revved it while changing my midpipe with nothing hooked up.. I'm sure it woke the neighbors, and I was in a garage..

Don't bother with cutouts. Even if you can stand the noise, you'll still be lucky if they last more than 6 months.

FYI, back from the dead again but my friend has been running cut-outs on his S2000 for the last six months at the drag strip and there is no leakage. I don't know the exact numbers and I know you cannot compare a S2000 to a RX8 but he did see a significant gain on the Dyno. His are manual cutouts (held on by wing nuts).

I had a cutout on my74 RX4 and was on the track one day. My buddy in the stands heard the announcer say that my car "sounded like a low flying P-51"

I was so happy. :fruit:

You should hear a S2000 with cutouts, hahaha. I imagine a RX8 with cutouts would be insane. The question would be where to put them.

actually... i cut the muffler off of my 8 and ran a center straight pipe... theres another guy here in tulsa I got the idea from who just cut off his muffler... truth is... it sounds VERY good... and everyone who hears it, from M3 drivers to civic riceboys say the same thing...

because i didnt have bolts, i ran with my midpipe disconnected from my cat. below 5.5k rpm it sounded pretty.. i dunno, ricey, not ok. whatever. above 6k ... man that thing sounded beautiful.

also, a cutout will cause you to lose torque and gain a few top end ponies in v8. in rotary, i dunno. but i do know we cant afford to lose any torque as it is. cutouts = no. my friend has one in his camaro, and the difference between open and shut is pretty crazy. a lot like the difference between whether the silencers are on or off with my turboxs headerback exhaust. except he can do it with the touch of a button. handy.

and jeez, i cant stand the popular misconception that bolts do do jack shit. thats just not true. im personally crusading against that paradigm.

you want horsepower, fine, here we go. this is my personal knowledge, and im sure similar products will be fine.

turboxs headerback. full 3" exhaust and test pipe starting at the header. ~10whp $500
my intake is custom. but any decent intake + racing beat duct. or the mazdaspeed/AEM. ~5whp $200+
cobb accessport ~10whp $700

get those 3 mods and you'll be adding at least 15whp. if not more. supposedly the BHR ignition adds 8whp. and @ $375 thats not a bad buy, but i cant comment personally on that. spend 2 grand and you might pick up 30whp, especially if you have your car tuned. and why not throw some RB or fluid motorsports headers in there for good measure.