Here's an e-mail I sent to Racing Beat, and their response.

-----Original Message-----
From: Marcus Kroll [mailto:marcus.kroll@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 11:47 AM
To: jlanger@racingbeat.com
Subject: RX-8 Exhaust

I have a very quick question about your RX-8 exhaust.

When you say its 3", does this mean the entire length of piping is 3"?

I plan on getting the GReddy turbo turbo and I'm looking to get some high flow -
a lot of people are recommending 3" over 80mm custom because it runs
at very low boost, so that's my main concern.

Thanks for your time,

-=> Marc

-----------------------------------------------------
JLanger@racingbeat.com to me
More options 2:41 pm (9 hours ago)
With a turbo application 3" OD tubing (80mm is virtually the same at 3.15")
is usually preferred. Since the turbo does a good job of suppressing the
sound, you can usually install a straight-through designed muffler for
optimum exhaust gas flow and decent sound reduction.

The RB system is not straight-through because it was not designed for a
turbo application. Shop around, I an sure that some of the "cheap" systems
on the market may work because of their simplicity.

Best regards,

Jim Langer
Racing Beat, Inc.
714-779-8677
www.racingbeat.com
--------------------------------------

So here's my idea - get a cheap high flow cat from Summit, along with a high flow muffler, get some 3" piping, gaskets, flanges, hooks etc . . to connect it all and go to town?

 

Wow

 

"cheap"?

 

Maybe I dont want there Intake....

 

hmm... i wonder maybe when they say "cheap" do they mean like... ppl who custom their exhausts and just make it a simple straight pipe instead of other exhausts like greddy or JIC or borla who tune their exhausts... maybe?

maybe theyll clarify what the mean?

 

When they said "cheap" what they meant was that the cheaper exhausts are just straight through pipes - I'd imagine the racing beat exhaust was crafted with bends on purpose to give it some usable torque for the street and actually create a little backpressure at places - those guys know what they're doing, and they were honest enough to tell me that their exhaust is not for turbo, its for NA.

 

We are going to be offering a "cheap" Stainless 3 inch exhaust for turbo applications with a mostly straight through exhaust for the best possible flow. But that is to be finished after the turbo kit management is finished. We will have one on our car asap.

But i have a question for all of you guys

What kind of muffler design would you guys want to put on your car...

Do most of you want it to look stock ...

Or would you guys like an apex or blitz or hks muffler on the back ...

Dual or Single exit exhaust .....

Give me some ideas because we made the piping for it a while back but stopped at the muffler we couldn't decide how to do it and got preoccupied with other things.

Jon

 

Dual exit, since that's what most body kits are designed around. It would look funny, IMO, with just a single exhaust pipe in the back.

 

Dual exhausts
Not too large (smaller than the greddy tips), thick walled if possible (like the cork sport)

 

Not to thread jack but doesn this make one wonder about other exhausts as well?

 

Awwww!!! I really wanted the RB exhaust too! I had finally made my decision and now this. That's a good question Foxman. I wonder how many other aftermarket exhaust aren't designed for FI. Oh well, I guess I'm back to looking for an exhaust again.

 

I would be interested to know the real difference between say the RB exhaust on a turbo-equipped car and a straight-through design. If it were actually that restrictive then you would think it would be hurting for power compared to the other exhausts on NA cars, although I realize the flow requirements are different once you add the turbo.

jds

 

It works so well on NA because it has bends - straight through and you start losing torque on an NA car (hence why we make fun of 1.5L Hondas with 3 inch exhausts) - the RB exhaust probably preserves torque AND increases efficiency.

As far as what I'd like to see - I'd love to seen an axle back, stainless steel, 80mm, straight through design with a classy tip - none of those melon shooters or fart cans please - dual is fine unless single is SO much more efficient.