Mk1 1.8 exhaust

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
2

Hi

Looking to upgrade our Cat back exhaust system, appreciate Mk1 owner recommendations on what to go for in the £200 to £300 bracket.

thanks

Andrew

3

A lot depends on the model you have; if you have a late 1995 or newer UK car, your choices are very limited, due to a longer catalytic converter on these models. £200-300 is the budget end for stainless steel systems; you are best attending a club meet and speaking to members.

4

thanks for the sound advice, will get along to a club meet soon 

 

 

5

It is only limited by the bespoke front pipe and longer cat fitted to some of the last UK spec MK1 cars(1996 - 8).

Replacement of the front pipe and cat is possible, either with used genuine parts or aftermarket parts to facilitate the fitting of the available catbacks, if that is what you really want. 

 

 

6

[quote=rhino666]

It is only limited by the bespoke front pipe and longer cat fitted to some of the last UK spec MK1 cars(1996 - 8).

Replacement of the front pipe and cat is possible, either with used genuine parts or aftermarket parts to facilitate the fitting of the available catbacks, if that is what you really want. 

 

 

Thanks, mine is a '97 P reg. Think we’ll look at Cobalt seen some other +ve comments on those on the Forum

7

I would expect your 1997 ‘P’ car to have the 475mm cat but check measurement at midpoint, outside flange to outside flange.

These aftermarket catback systems are normally designed to fit the earlier 375mm cat and the later 435mm cat, where the catback is the same length.

The only other standard Mazda cat fitted to the MK1 is the 475mm cat car - this has a shorter catback by about 50mm(2 inches). 

Just looked up the cobalt system and is specifically says - ‘Notes: Not suitable for cars fitted with the long type (475mm) catalytic convertor found on some models.’

If you are looking for aftermarket parts to facilitate fitting please PM me.

We recently developed the front pipe to go with the 475mm cat. It took until this year to finally work out there was a difference to the one that fits to the 435mm cat after one of my customers had a fitting issue. We collected his original front pipe and patterned the replacement.  

8

Thanks Rhino666, I will get this checked out. 

 

9

So the total budget would be £500 through this route. Alternatively, a local Powerflow agent, or similar, would likely be able to construct a cat back to suit for around £300.

https://www.powerflowexhausts.co.uk/

10

 

Really? - Dual system from Moss is £245 delivered

Aftermarket front pipe and cat delivered < £100 

Total £345 less sale of your old front pipe and cat which have a value

 

Worth checking out what price Powerflex would make you a bespoke dual exit catback for on your existing system though.

I believe they have a good reputation and the part should not be that different from others they have no doubt made for the shorter cat MK1/Eunos cars.

If you investigate this please get back on this thread with the price quoted. 

 

11

Significant correction to my estimate above, thanks to the previous poster’s scrupulous diligence, and I thank him.

MX5parts Catalytic Converter: £85. That is a competitive price for a decent quality 440mm cat deserving of the car. Hopefully none of us will countenance or recommend an ill fitting and poor flowing budget part here, for what is a very important part.

Stainless Steel front pipe for 93-96 (so for 440mm cat?): £153. I assume the previous poster made an inadvertent decimal point error when estimating this part to be around £15.

Add to the previous poster’s quotation of £245 for an exhaust (though the one recommended does require non-reversible body modifications to fit, there are others, and this will attract an additional labour charge. Many garages make a complete hash of this, even with a supplied template, not that most garages particularly care).

So, my estimate of £500 was too high, £483 is closer, based on costings of parts I would choose. Thankyou again to the previous poster for pointing out my error.

Typical recent Powerflow catback system quotes seem to be £400 and less, so there is a £80 saving, and you get to retain much more of the factory spec exhaust and emissions equipment. Non-franchise fabricators may be significantly cheaper, and likely use the same South African silencer parts. I did not know Powerflex though had branched from suspension parts into exhausts.

Having said all that, there is a very reasonable off the shelf system for long cat cars:

http://www.mx5city.com/performance/stainless-exhaust-mk1-long-cat

12

As a specialist in these items, thank you to the poster above for this opportunity…

 

http://www.mx5bitz.co.uk/mx5/view_product.php?product=102 - front pipe - £28.66

http://www.mx5bitz.co.uk/mx5/view_product.php?product=20 - cat and fitting kit - £55.23

Next day delivery for two parts - £17.95

Total - £101.84 - sorry a little over £100 as missed off fitting kit

Parts made with 409 grade stainless steel tubing, supplied with a 2 year guarantee.

 

I use MX5Parts myself but their catalytic converters for the MK1 anyway are not recommended - see reviews…

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/catalytic-convertor-aftermarket-mk1-pr-326.html

  

 

13

cheers Saz, will have a look. Bit more than I want to spend, will chat to club members tomorrow on a run and see where that goes. Andrew

14

thanks Rhino, top info and help. Noting all this for club run tomorrow and meeting next week. Will update thread once purchase complete 

15

trying not to make any body modification in order to fit. thanks Saz

16

Great Rhino, those prices look top value