I just bought a new 3.5” SMb downpipe and thought I’d post a few pictures since I couldn’t find any good ones when I was searching. Overall, looks like a quality unit

 

Where'd you source it? Can you measure the inner diameter of the rear outlet?

 

Beautiful, I was going to snag one of these if I couldn't source a knightsports twin tube. The bigger the better for expansion right after the turbos.

 

I got it from Marcus in Australia from one of give FD Facebook groups. It was $1300 aud

 

I got the pipe from Marcus in Australia from one of the FD facebook groups. It was $1300 AUD. I bought it last Thursday and first delivery attempt was yesterday so pretty quick shipping to get halfway around the world. Im going to get it coated to try and beat the legendary rotary heat.

 

I've had good luck with him too. I plan to get the SMIC from Sasha eventually but I'm always amazed how fast I get items from Japan and Australia vs somewhere in the states. I can usually get something from Japan faster than I can get something from one or two states away for some reason.

 

I’m leaning towards that SMIC as well. Per Sasha, they are two weeks away

 

Good to know. He didn't have an ETA last time I spoke with him. Was waiting on the ducts to be made.

 

We really need a vendor to make something like this for LHD cars, as ours can be larger since it doesn’t need to be compressed to accommodate the steering column.

 

I bought one 5-6 years ago for the original owner of SMB, who quit making them a few years later. This one looks almost identical to mine except my bellow was not welded except for the flange connection. It is a great downpipe which 4" tapering to 3 1/2" in the mid pipe area and tappers down to 3". I had mine ceramic coated professionally both inside and out and the heat under the hood was significantly decreased. I have an SMB 3" mid pipe small muffler and a 300-cell metal cat and an old racing Beat RSR* rear muffler from 2005. It has been a nice combination although the Racing Beat is more restrictive than some newer catbacks but has a nice tone.
Mike

 

Mine is LHD. SMB made them both ways back then. Does Sasha make a LHD version?
Mike

 

I just noticed that yours is LHD, that’s awesome! I checked their website, and it looks like there’s no option for a LHD version, so that makes yours a rare piece. I wonder if they'd make it again

 

i would be surprised if the LHD version made much more power than the RHD version. Could be wrong.

 

I got mine back in 2007, still in the car Back then the transmission mount was welded and mine eventually broke off but it doesn't seem to affect anything.

LHD version, 4" tapered to 3.5" with a full 3.5 exhaust. HKS to compare.




COMPARED TO HKS FOR FUN

 

It's a good unit, just crazily priced compared to other downpipes that work just as welland from a company that acts horribly and provides fake dyno data that makes no sense.

 

SMB has made some top quality parts, I still have a high flow cat from them that I've beat on for like 15 years with zero issues.

Also I've never seen evidence that RHD downpipes are more restrictive. On the contrary, I think the large expansion chamber enhances flow. Also makes it WAY WAY easier to install/remove.

Dale

 

Fake dyno data?

 

Once Upon a time there was a fight between downpipe makers including SMB. They criticized each other's designs and each one was better than the other and flowed more than the other.
Some think one produced fake flow and dyno results, some think the other did. Who knows.
Here's the other, main difference is the cast expansion section with bolts through it. The makers say it flows better, SMB say they tested those designs and they flowed worse. Like everything, different people believed who they wanted to believe.

 

I'd be curious to see some data from a third party testing these downpipes against each other. I’d also like to see a comparison between LHD and RHD SMB DP, if there was even a 10hp difference, that would be huge. The cast design of the DP above is interesting; I remember reading about how people favored the HKS design because, being cast, it was specifically engineered to handle intense heat cycles and, in theory, match the turbo manifold's thermal expansion for better durability and performance. However, I’m skeptical of that since our turbo manifolds aren’t 100% cast iron. That’s a whole other story. Anyway, I’m rocking the Knight Sports twin downpipe, it looks pretty cool, although the two Aussie downpipes probably flow better; it's nice to see some good pictures of the SMB DP finally.

 

If you haven't upgraded to larger turbines or had the housings machined for complete Garrett CHRAs comparing the two designs is pissing in the wind regardless in terms of potential power with sequentials.

 

At some point the restriction becomes the TT turbine outlets with the exhaust gases fighting each other to exit the small flange. I have an interesting bolt in replacement flange I hope to dyno sometime early next year...

 

I see, I had no idea the turbo housings were the bottleneck. So putting on some BNR Stage 2s would be ideal before making the comparison? I believe Australia had a set of upgraded twins available, but I can’t find them. I think 'The Doctor' used to sell them

 

Marcus is selling an upgraded turbine & compressor set, but other people can machine the housings for Garrett cores. I'd say the stage 2 or 3 gt28 based BNRs would make sense but worth comparing prices.

 

Raceonly show FD Motorsports SP Twin Turbos on their website. I enquired about them a few months back. This was their response:

“Our twin turbos are roller bearing Garrett units machined into the OEM housings.

Marcus Read turbos are just rebuilt OEM turbos with some unknown wheels (you would have to ask him for those specifics ) etc.

We don’t do OEM upgraded turbos anymore since we had many failures. The bush bearings just don’t hold up to the weight of upgraded wheels.

We don’t sell FDMotorsports parts anymore and haven’t for some time now.

Our units require good exhaust housings supplied by customer”

Just passing on the info.

 

What's the lore behind the battle of Marcus Read and FD Motorsports? I think I came to the scene a little late and missed a few episodes.