Been asking the same question for weeks....:dunno:
Do you have any dyno proof that the MZstore header makes any more power than stock when tuned properly (i.e. stock tuned vs. MZstore header tuned)? I don't mean to sound overly skeptical, but many prototype designs have failed and not made it to market or those that have reached the market have never been proven much more effective compared to the stock header. The well designed stock header with e54 and cat-back would already make some decent gains tuned. So the question is... how much of the gains that you are seeing can be attributed to the new header? As I recall, the MZstore header had a disadvantage when they put the primary O2 sensor in one of the primary exhaust tubes rather than the final collector. You get O2 readings from just 1 cylinder rather than all 4. This created AFR control issues on the MSDS 4-2-1 skyactiv header which used similar O2 sensor placement. You could move that O2 sensor bung though.
It is certainly is a great design, and you brought up a good point. The stock Mazda headers on the Mazda 3 and Miata ND skyactiv have unequal lengths. This wasn't done by accident or to cut costs... Unequal length 4-2-1 headers worked best on this engine based on much prototype dyno testing done by Goodwin Racing and OVT on the Miata and Mazda 3 skyactiv platforms. Unfortunately, the MZstore header is equal length...
yikes that's like 4 sets of RE71R's. It also puts the Miata out of C-street where its absolutely kicking ass.Quick question. On the OEM headers, is there a catalytic converter built into it?
Yes, therefore the ones being discussed are ineligible for any sort of CARB certification and probably will not pass any sort of emissions inspection.
Thanks, I'm thinking I should get them cut out of the headers so I can be a ricer. :001_tt2: I live in Michigan anyway so we have no CARB stuff or certification or eco tests of any sort here. On a more serious note, I was thinking that cutting the cats is the only way to get more power out of these ingeniously designed headers, but realistically won't see any measurable gains. If it ain't broke don't fix it I guess.
Have you seen the cat?:surprise: No realistic way to get to it or even remove it if you could. It seems to be an integral part of the header.
Yes, there is a large cat situated after the secondary pipes meet.
Corksport managed to remove the cat in there Mazda 3 NA track car. They replaced that portion of the header with a curved pipe that was welded in. There is a thread around showing how they did it. I don't think they had any dyno tune results posted.
