Midpipe Exhaust question...

[sbeck37923]

I have a 99 with FFS coldside.

I currently have a Racing Beat header and muffler. My cat was plugged so I removed it when I installed the FFS kit. I thought that I would get used to the smell and raspy sound, but that is just not happening. I saw this advertised (RoadsterSport Stainless Steel Miata Midpipe with High Flow Catalytic Converter And Resonator :: 99-05) and was currious if anyone has tried it and can give me their opinion. I liked that it was a direct bolt on replacement.

Thanks...
Steve

[Serpico]

I've got one and it's under my workbench. The combination of the supercharger, big mid-pipe and Roadster Sport muffler had too much droning between 3500-4000 rpms. It did sound mean at idle & WOT though....:)

I'll put it back on if my stock midpipe (cat) ever craps out (or clogs up..) but the stock muffler will have to go back on at the same time to keep the droning under control.

[MiataMTF]

It's been my experience that the OEM catalytic converter is essential if you want to avoid that nasty droning between 3200-4000 RPM. My plan is to reuse the OEM catalytic converter but use 2.25-inch pipe from the manifold collector to the muffler instead of the smaller OEM pipe. I will, however, replace the OEM resonator with a high-flow aftermarket one.

[socal pat]

+1 I needed to get rid of my clogged CAT and for ease of install, and the inclusion of the etra bung I needed, I bought Goodwin's midpipe. It does drone :frown: and it does sound mean :)

[sbeck37923]

socal pat,

I did not realize that this midpipe came with an extra bung. Could you tell me approzimately where it is located? Did you use it for wideband O2?

Thanks...
Steve

[socal pat]

It's been a looong time and I can't really recall the setup. I do know that I had a bung installed for the 02 so it could be close to the header.

[Serpico]

It comes with a bung in the CAT and one after the resonator for your stock rear O2 sensor. You'll need to weld in a bung just before the CAT for a wideband sensor.

[sbeck37923]

Well, I went ahead and ordered one. Thanks to everyone for all of the info. I will give it a try when it gets here.

[elerner]

I just installed one this past weekend, as we got a heatwave up here in NY this weekend (high 40's). It feels like it unleashed another 20 ponies, got to be even more careful in 1st and 2nd now. Yeah, it's definitely louder below 3k. But above that on the highway it quiets down.

I'm also wondering if it will quiet down a little as it breaks in. My Roadster Sport exhaust seemed to have lost some of it's bark as the miles rolled on. I bought the packed insert from Brian which I haven't installed and I've still got my stock exhaust. So I've got some things to play around with. One of these days I'll even finish my tuning with my wideband. Just not enough hours in a weekend.