Curly's boring mt.net circle of life completion (Turbo->N/A conversion)
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Ebay special, I've been very happy with it. Recently moved it's location and Scott is informing me that the leak hole on the hose barb is on the wrong barb. It's between the signal source (cold side intercooler pipe) and the MBC, instead of between the MBC and wastegate.
Edit: and to clarify "not working", I meant I'm not able to turn up the boost past what is possibly my wastegate pressure, of 8psi.
Edit: and to clarify "not working", I meant I'm not able to turn up the boost past what is possibly my wastegate pressure, of 8psi.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Video time!
idle with a little free revving.
Near WOT to 6k. Watch the whole video to see how whinny my transmission is, fast forward to 1:05 to hear 1st and 2nd gear pulls.
All in all, extremely happy. I think I'm gonna wish I went with a louder muffler for track days, but this one is great. I can't believe that getting rid of a cat and going 3" kept it roughly at the same sound levels, but that's probably because it's not rattling all over the chassis and has no exhaust leaks.
idle with a little free revving.
Near WOT to 6k. Watch the whole video to see how whinny my transmission is, fast forward to 1:05 to hear 1st and 2nd gear pulls.
All in all, extremely happy. I think I'm gonna wish I went with a louder muffler for track days, but this one is great. I can't believe that getting rid of a cat and going 3" kept it roughly at the same sound levels, but that's probably because it's not rattling all over the chassis and has no exhaust leaks.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Straight pipe would have to be ungodly loud, no? I mean without the cat the muffler is doing ALL the muffling post turbo, ya know?
I've gotta try twisting the v-band to see if I can get the tip a little further from the bumper plastic, maybe I'll take it off completely and see just how loud it is. I drove with an open downpipe to the exhaust shop originally, and it was unbearable. That's reverberating directly under me though.
I've gotta try twisting the v-band to see if I can get the tip a little further from the bumper plastic, maybe I'll take it off completely and see just how loud it is. I drove with an open downpipe to the exhaust shop originally, and it was unbearable. That's reverberating directly under me though.
Do not do a straight pipe. Buffon01 had a 3" straight pipe and the last time I rode in that car I was nearly deaf. However, it sounds like a jet and a gorilla spooning, so that part is always cool.
Ebay special, I've been very happy with it. Recently moved it's location and Scott is informing me that the leak hole on the hose barb is on the wrong barb. It's between the signal source (cold side intercooler pipe) and the MBC, instead of between the MBC and wastegate.
Edit: and to clarify "not working", I meant I'm not able to turn up the boost past what is possibly my wastegate pressure, of 8psi.
Edit: and to clarify "not working", I meant I'm not able to turn up the boost past what is possibly my wastegate pressure, of 8psi.
Weird, it makes no sense why it wouldnt work. Usually if you flip it it would run all of it, not standard wastegate pressure.. gotta check if your ball bearing is still there.
Ebay special is the T valve one right? There shouldnt be a hole on the barb of that one. It should be on the actual T valve.
Last edited by curly; Sep 3, 2012 at 03:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Yeah I'm probably not going to do that. I love it the way it is. A little quiet for the street, and loud enough for me at WOT.
I gotta take the top off for a ride and really enjoy it. Soon...
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Weird, it makes no sense why it wouldnt work. Usually if you flip it it would run all of it, not standard wastegate pressure.. gotta check if your ball bearing is still there.
Ebay special is the T valve one right? There shouldnt be a hole on the barb of that one. It should be on the actual T valve.
Ebay special is the T valve one right? There shouldnt be a hole on the barb of that one. It should be on the actual T valve.


Ball and spring are most definitely still there, I just took the barbs off to switch them the other day. Braineack said to put the hole (which you can see in the pic) between the MBC and wastegate so it can bleed off after the MBC closes.
I've gotten it up to 10 now, but it's really cranked down. I'll have to investigate further.
P.S. I'm moving this discussion to my build thread.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
You know that's the one thing I didn't consider. I put that 90* fitting in there to ease routing, I'll take that out and see if it works again. Thanks for the idea!
I'd like to chime in with my noobishness, I had the opportunity to drive curly's car before and after the exhaust was installed, and holy cow did a make a difference. I was amazed how much it opened the car up above 4500 rpm. He needs to dyno it again though.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Yes indeed. Real dyno coming soon I hope.
In other news, an RX-7 diff is being rebuilt in my garage, and some RX-7 stub axels are on their way. Just in time to test my drifting skills in the rain!
In other news, an RX-7 diff is being rebuilt in my garage, and some RX-7 stub axels are on their way. Just in time to test my drifting skills in the rain!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
Martin, dude, got a rep to keep up here.
It's true though, although I'm only borrowing his craptastic miata to slap it together for a track day.

Feel free to criticize his hood cuts, I think only one of them is effective.
It's true though, although I'm only borrowing his craptastic miata to slap it together for a track day.

Feel free to criticize his hood cuts, I think only one of them is effective.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,192
Total Cats: 1,398
From: Oregon City, OR
I know I know, he's a little over exuberant with the angle grinder.
It weighs 1980lbs without a driver and a full tank of gas. On bilsteins. With one of the more potent 1.6s I've driven, a VLSD, and smooth 5spd. It's a hoot.
Multifunction:


It weighs 1980lbs without a driver and a full tank of gas. On bilsteins. With one of the more potent 1.6s I've driven, a VLSD, and smooth 5spd. It's a hoot.
Multifunction:









Looks and sounds great!