I've started doing some initial tear-down and am working on exhaust and IC connections.

The ETD downpipe does not match up to the stock 2003 NB exhaust. The length is right and I believe it would bolt up but the stock flange (and exhaust?) is larger than the ETD downpipe.

Some possibilities I've considered:

1. Cut the flange off the factory downpipe and weld it onto the ETD downpipe.
2. Cut off both flanges and weld the two together
3. Buy a full 2.5" exhaust (but also won't fit, I'm guessing)
4. Notch the ETD flange so the existing stock studs will bolt up.

I'm liking #4, maybe with a tack weld or two to support the notched/ bolted flanges.

Any ideas?

 

One more thing... I am planning to go to a full aftermarket exhaust but not until last (everything up and running well). Potential downside to the notching idea is that I'd be altering the downpipe which will stay.

I'm thinking the factory exhaust may help prevent boost creep at first (at the cost of total power and spool up).

 

Vband... /thread

 

The turbo downpipe is smaller than the factory exhaust diameter? That does not seem right at all. Either way, just notch the flange and call it good. Not like you are defacing a work of art here.

 

Yeah that was my thought, are you sure that downpipe isnt for like a moped turbo setup or something?

 

its a 2.5" downpipe made for an na miata, so the flange is in a different location and position.

 

Assuming you meant the stock flange is smaller, I've run into that before and just notched the stock flange and bolted it up. Simple, cheap, quick, and gets the job done.

 

I hacked both flanges off and will use a butt connector until the FM exhaust arrives. The. We'll go Vband on both. 18 is right- dp was made for a 94-97.