Any reason not to remove the stock downpipe (stock midpipe) brace bracket that attaches at the transmission? Looks like that piece is going to cause some rattling, so I'd like to remove it. Any problems in doing so?

 

yes, you are putting a lot of stress on your headers and attachment points to the head. That brace is there for a good reason and without it you can have cracked headers and other such unwanted problems.

 

I'd say the opposite. The brace secures the DP in place causing stress to the dp and mani when the motor torques over. With the brace removed, the dp has the ability to jiggle around some.

 

This is not correct, the motor and downpipe should be held together without any moving points between them and the vibration from the exhaust is absorbed by the flexpipe. Mazda wouldn't have designed it this way if it wasn't the case.

 

1) I think those who have had their downpipe seperate itself from its bracket would disagree with you.

2) What flex pipe in the oem exhaust? I don't remember having one.

3) When did mazda design the maita exhaust to live up to a 230 rwhp turbocharged motor?

 

Lex, I don't have, and won't have, the stock midpipe on there. The bracket will NOT be attached to the new turbo downpipe. In fact, the downpipe brace has not been attached on my car since I've owned it...the hanger has rusted and fallen off long ago. Besides, who said anything about a flexpipe? The stock Miata sure never had one.

The turbo downpipe, though, will rattle against that old brace. I'm more curious if removing the bolts through the transmission housing to remove the brace bracket is fine for a minute.

 

Looks like we're on the same page Ben.

 

ok, because the motor does not torque front to back there is no flexpipe ... but hard acceleration and stopping apply a lot of force to whatever is holding the exhaust in place. If all you have are rubber hangers and the attachment to the head, there is a lot of leverage on that attachment point ... in any case, I would still brace the exhaust somewhere after it is under the car if possible.

 

cut it off.

 

what do Begi and FM and turbo tony downpipes do? I had one put on my custom dp, but it makes an intensely annoying rattling noise unless it's perfectly tight, and I'd like to just pull the two trans bolts and take it off.

 

no provisions for one...

 

alright then that ****'s comin off.

 

I'm having a **** of a time getting my Tony DP not to rattle.

 

There is no problem removing the bolts to remove the bracket if you re-torque them when you replace them.

That being said, I made a bracket to hold my RMDP to the transmission at that point so that I didn't have the weight hanging on the turbo.

 

How long have you been running it like that Bruce? Details on what you fabricated?

Jay

 

38K

Just made an "L" bracket with a hole large enough for the tranny bolt and attached the "L" with a nut on the extended bolt thread. Standard muffler clamp (think it was 3 1/2") around downpipe and "L"

 

The RacingMazda DP was made on my old car. We did not use the stock bracket, and we used no flex pipe. The DP never gave me problems and is now living in AZ

 

So was I. https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/sh...36&postcount=7

 

eff that bracket in the a-hole.. it came off, and the stock mid pipe met it's maker at the hands of my sawzall..