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This downpipe looks really good

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Old 09-03-03, 06:42 PM
  #26  
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This has been the topic of endless debate. Some people say yes, but others say no. In one camp is the position that the flattened area is to clear the power steering pump on the JDM cars. This makes sense although I thought that JDM cars had a downpipe stock. The other problem with this theory is the US spec precat still maintains this flattened area, and I'm fairly positive the precat only came on LHD cars. Perhaps it still saves some money for Mazda to just use the same flange on the precat as well. The other camp maintains the flattened area is to reduce turbulence coming out of the turbo, because the full 3" downpipes mate a round hole to a square hole, which isn't very ideal either. If you buy into both of these theories, the ideal downpipe would have a cast flange that flattens to match the turbo outlet, but without the abrupt bend necessitated by the JDM power steering pump. The flat area would also quickly open up to the normal round 3" diameter pipe used for most downpipes. The bottom line is no one has proven one way or the other, so its really all speculation.
Old 09-03-03, 09:19 PM
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Originally posted by Nathan Kwok
This has been the topic of endless debate. Some people say yes, but others say no. In one camp is the position that the flattened area is to clear the power steering pump on the JDM cars. This makes sense although I thought that JDM cars had a downpipe stock.
They do have the front-pipe but I dont think they have the large canister like we do on USDM precats. According to a pic in my Hyper-REV mag, the pipe looks like it is the same diameter all the way with the flat upper pipe.

Originally posted by Nathan Kwok
The other problem with this theory is the US spec precat still maintains this flattened area, and I'm fairly positive the precat only came on LHD cars. Perhaps it still saves some money for Mazda to just use the same flange on the precat as well.
Isn't it also easier to install/remove the stock precat with all studs in place due to the flat upper pipe?

Originally posted by Nathan Kwok
The other camp maintains the flattened area is to reduce turbulence coming out of the turbo, because the full 3" downpipes mate a round hole to a square hole, which isn't very ideal either. If you buy into both of these theories, the ideal downpipe would have a cast flange that flattens to match the turbo outlet, but without the abrupt bend necessitated by the JDM power steering pump. The flat area would also quickly open up to the normal round 3" diameter pipe used for most downpipes. The bottom line is no one has proven one way or the other, so its really all speculation.
IMO, unless those people have some proof that the flat upper pipe reduces turbulence then they shouldn't be speculating.

One reason for so many full 3" DPs in the US could be ease of construction. The flat upper piping looks like it would require a little bit of extra work to make (casting) and integrate into a completed DP system. Whereas with a full 3" DP all you need is some 3" piping with Mandrel bends.
Old 09-05-03, 04:58 AM
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Question

Since the SS DP on eBay has that flattened end, wouldn't it install easily since you don't have to remove the manifold studs?
Old 09-05-03, 08:38 AM
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This looks alot like the dp I have, I had problems getting the bolt heads to clear the weld material. Some other people had this problem too, but we worked around it using some spacers.
Old 09-08-03, 05:41 AM
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Originally posted by LAracer
This looks alot like the dp I have, I had problems getting the bolt heads to clear the weld material. Some other people had this problem too, but we worked around it using some spacers.
Did you get yours off of ebay too? And spacers for what?
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