JKM

I've been doing some searching on the boards, looking at various parts websites, and checking my wallet trying to find a good exhaust solution for my 91 NA. Right now, the car has what is probably the original exhaust on it, which is in such bad shape that the passenger side pipe that comes off the muffler actually FELL off somewhere when I was driving. I haven't had the car jacked up much, but I would assume the rest of the system is in pretty rough shape too. Also, the car has started running a little roughly since that pipe fell off. Went to a local muffler shop to look at getting it fixed, and they wanted $350 for a set of mufflers. Screw that, for that kinda money I'm gonna put a REAL exhaust on it.

Emissions is a concern for me, so I can't toss the cat out the window as much as I would like to. So right now I'm looking at first putting in the Racing Beat catback system:

http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=16420

and using that for now so I can get the mufflers back to good working order. The bud that's going to help me put everything in mentioned that my catalytic converter is probably going to be in terrible shape too. I can't get a cat AND the RB kit at the same time, so I was thinking in another month or so I'd stick in a Bonez superflow exhaust system:

http://66.216.67.51/product.asp?0=210&1=341&3=615

That should get me running good again, street legal, and a tad bit faster, which is always good. What do you guys think about this?

One other thing: sound is a big issue. My next door neighbor is a COP. Sound is bad. Naturally, the car will never be quiet, but I'd like to keep it as quiet as possible, that's why I want the RB set, it seems to be the nicest balance between sound and power. Actual power increase is kinda secondary to me, it's just that getting a good setup like this isn't too much more than getting something that will simply work, and a lot of the other options I've seen would simply be too loud or too expensive.

wpgrexx

Go to a good exhaust shop. Bring with you a 2.5 inch pre silencer and a the 2.5 inlet muffler of choice. Tell them to just make a single exhaust from the manifold back. Put the silencer closer to the motor and the muffler obviously at the back. Depending on the muffler it won't be to loud and will be a nice performance gain. Should only cost you a couple hundred bucks depending on what muffler you choose. BTW also you can remove the air pump and the ACV, replace with block off. And for good luck slap the dual alternatoer pulley on there.

This is assuming NC doesn't have emmisions testing.

JKM

Unfortunately, NC does have emmissions testing. At least for now, there are rumors going around that older cars might not have emmissions in a few years, but as of right now I have to be able to pass. On my last inspection, I got a friend to do it since I couldn't pass, but I was in a bind and he won't do it again.

wpgrexx

That sucks. Get a good high flow cat instead of the presilencer, and i guess leave the air pump on if the new cat needs it.

cbrinega

I have the high flow cat on my 1990 GXL. It comes with a pre-silencer. I have to pass emissions here, and I have no trouble at all.

I have a generic cat-back from a local exhaust shop that ran me about $400. The Bonez cat was around $300.

My car has a good growl under full acceleration, but you shouldn't worry about the noise level if you go with the Bonez cat + pre-silencer and a decent set of mufflers.

You should probably check out your O2 sensor to make sure it is working correctly too. It can affect emissions and gas mileage.

JKM

Thanks for the input guys. I could probably use a new 02 sensor while I'm at it, the car's always ran a little rich.