Cat-Back Exhaust Install hints
 

Hey folks.
Since I'll have the 5 on the lift to replace the busted strut and swap out a tire, I was wondering if anyone has any helpful hints about installing a cat back. I'd love to kill 2 birds w/1 stone. So it would really help if you guys helped ya boy out.
K.
Thx.
:evilgrin:
-Phil

nevermind...I'm off to do it right now!
Peace!

How'd it go? I need to hear your exhaust too if it sounds nice. I gotta get rid of this magnaflow.

Just a heads up for everyone else; if you're thinking aobut putting a magnaflow on a catless exhaust, DON'T! Every time I step on the gas I think I'm racing a Honda. It buzzes so bad. It might just be the unit I have in particular, but one way or another, it sounds like total shit.

That might have something to do with the fact you have an obx header and a catless midpipe. Ever hear lukes car without either cat?? same principle.

Mines pretty loud also, no cats, and a fartcan exhaust

Well, install went well. I have to take it to a muffler shop and have them redo my hangers for me...and then it'll be perfect. It's a bit heavy for the stock mounts..lol.

As for the sound department, man it's sweet. It does not whine, it has a nice deep throaty sound. Sounds sexy when i use the tiptronic...lol. Strut replacement went well also.

One thing though...I may have them remove that bloody heat shield that goes over the mid section of the piping. It's barely vibrating against it...but it getts annoying, esp. on start ups....ha ha.
See pics:
https://www.mazda3club.com/attachmen...tid=4431&stc=1
https://www.mazda3club.com/attachmen...tid=4432&stc=1
https://www.mazda3club.com/attachmen...tid=4433&stc=1
https://www.mazda3club.com/attachmen...tid=4434&stc=1
See how low it's sitting...I'm getting that dixed at lunch today.

what cat back is that?

Tsudo N1...purchased on ebay.
After looking around, I'm kinda contemplating getting a seperate muffler (also from ebay for $3.00, yes THREE DOLLARS) and having the shop run piping to the end and have them weld the muffler for me. We'll see after I have them do the adjustment for this one though.
I have caught a likeing to the canister type mufflers.

good looking exhaust if the tip weren't so large. anything over 4" is going to touch the bumper.....i can't have that.

im going to get the MSP muffler with a catback...nice car and pix man!

Yeah...I'll be heading to Steve's Muffler Shop or Child's after work (scratch that, I'm getting off early)...I'll see what they can do for me there...if I'm not satisfied, I'll get that other canister style and go that route.
Thanks though.....I wanna dyno to see if any gains over stock...

very little...maybe 3-5whp

Cool cool...This is a budget build...since it seems my boss at JVC is dragging his legs, I think I'm going cheapy on everything and see where that takes me.

I've found my car a name by the way:
Cheap Thrill
It seems to fit....:evilgrin:

Guessing til I suck up and get an OBX exhaust manifold, I really won't see much eh?

MSP muffler - 120$
OBX 4-1 Header - 150$
Machine shop Cat back (guessing) - 50$

obx header will be your biggest gain aside from FI.

The Mazdaspeed ale back will fite right now there if you don't like the sound. And I just so happen to know someone who has a Mazdaspeed axleback lying around............

Pardon the dumb question ... but is the MSP axleback a catback system or is axleback its' own type of exhaust system. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I never quite understood the diff between the two, for example comparing a magnaflow to the axleback ...

An axle back system is not a cat back....cat backs run from the cat back...heh heh.
The axle back...runs from just in front of your rear axle.

Cutting, adjusting and welding the mid pipe to stop & prevent future vibration against the mid-vehicle heat shield (it's VERY ANNOYING!)....Adjusting the rear section to sit just right under the bumper...no rubbing either....rear end final.

Also:
The state that she is currently in.
You gotta love the look of our front end...it's uber sexy!!!
(Oh yeah, I cut the T TEIN stickers in 2 so I could put the green T's under my side marker and the TEIN's on my rear glass)....looks pretty good.
I need a new set of aftremarket wheels & tires. :)

the tip is sticking out kinda far

*edit* ok from that last angle it doesn't look to bad

Last:

have you thought about painting your emblems black... would look good with the tailights (which look awesome by the way)

I have as a matter of fact. I think I'm going to invest in the Familia badge though. I'll have to sand it down and do it in black. The mazda badge will most likely get the same treatment.

The exhaust looked REALLY bad in the first set becuse the stock hanger holders were too soft for the heavy after market SS system. But after the adjustments and the installation of the new hangers, it worked out perfect. I'm still contemplating getting the canister type and doing a HKS-style up-at-an-angle type deal...I think it looks pretty dope.

Good looking out on the comments though....Cheap Thrill is getting there....hopefully by the end of summer, I'll have majority of the work done to her. I just wanna be able to show her off at NOPI up in Atlanta in Sept.
:evilgrin:
-Phil

Ha ha..I told you I could get it done w/out it rubbing pal....may the budget build-off continue!

Oh yeah...my exhaust was:
CATBACK N1 FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM 02-03 MAZDA PROTEGE 5
Subtotal: US $130.97
S&H: US $120.00
S&H Ins: US $000.00
Total: US $250.97


:evilgrin:
Phil

Hey Phil I just remembered my friend has to canister exhaust tips laying around here if you are interested throw a price out and I am sure he will sell it to you (not sure the brand but I know the sound damn good on his car/deep tone). here is the pics.... The out let on them are 3"

where / how did you get those dark tail lights?

Here you go Stueck

https://www.mazda3club.com/photo-video-gallery-29/%2A%2A%2Anew-pics%2A%2A%2A-my-mad-tizite-rizzide-40008/

Yep...it's all about shade-tree mechanics folks. Whatever can be done to this car for free (within reason of course...) will most likely get done. I was going to do the lower amber lights up front also, but the dame rain won't stop...so maybe sometime during the week I'll get to them. There are a few P5 owners that have been popping out of the woodwork here in town & on base and the majority (the guys not the soccer moms), usually give the thumbs up or the nod of appreciation...I even had one guy stop me to ask about the tails also...so I gave him the quick run down and let him check out the ride for himself.

Thanks for the comments again guys...stay tuned, there's more in store.

:evilgrin:
-Phil

Hey I got that some exhaust. Its got a very nice sound to it, but the intake is slightly louder when I get on it. BTW not to bite your style but howd you get you tail lights like that.

^^ Yeah my bad its been a while and was catching up on old threads and saw how you did it. If you dont think youll need your silencer let me know ill take it off your hands. Mine got blasted down the high way a 90mph. Scared me shitless.

HA HA HA...are you serious??? That's hilarious!! I'm going to hold on to it...for now, if I get another can like I want to, I will. But, you know how it is in the military...If I end up in Cali...I gotta have that damn thing just in case. :(

Kool man....it was funny when I look back at it. I was doing about 80 and down shifted and then BOOM!!!! I looked in my rear view and saw the silencer flying through the air like a rocket. Luckly there was no cars behind me. That wouldve been ugly.

Ha ha.....roflmfao!

hahaha that would suck to be behind u if that happend but would've looked sorta cool before it smashes the windshield :eek:

*Driving*
"Woah, what's that?"
"What's what honey?"
"That silver thing."
"Looks pretty cool from he---...oh...oh shiiit!"

yes do it! :bounce: cars looking better all the time bro
peace
dante

I will...I'm working on it.

LOL!!!


Hey Phil I'm still checkin' around for you on that, if you hold on a while I'll probably get a bunch for you.