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Custom 3" catless downpipe & midpipe (pics & dyno)

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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 10:29 AM
  #1  
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Lightbulb Custom 3" catless downpipe & midpipe (pics & dyno)

As promised here goes my report about the next mod I did. It's custom 3" catless downpipe & midpipe. Everything was done in our local tuning shop here in Kiev (this guys deal with M-bimmers, Mazdaspeeds and... Acuras now ). The preparations took me few months and the car been in work for nearly three days. Everything cost me approx $640. By evrth I mean downpipe, midpipe, V-bend, O2 fix, Thermo-Tec wrap, installation and stuff. Pipes were made of AISI 304 s\s steel.

I've been dyno-testing my car before & after to find out if the AFR is okay and to see the difference in exact figures and the figures are +20 HP and +15 lb-ft. Peak power was 201 hp but the guys from the dyno-lab could only print these results (see below).

The drive feels great! Very unlikely to RDX I've known before. It's less laggy and much more responsive in the low rpms. I'll definitely move forward with 3" catback to get the torque curve more flat and will try to find smb to fine tune my ECU.

Still have no idea how to ship this product to the U.S. but will keep you posted in case someone here will make it available at eBay. The only thing I can offer right now is to come & see David Guetta and Basement Jaxx live at Global Gathering here in Kiev and pick the downpipe

BTW, I have K&N 33-2382 and Hondata reflashed ECU installed.

Here's how an exhaust looks like, but keep in mind that downpipe is done instead of the cat. converter unit that is the part of Turbo system. We can see only midpipe here.



Before:


After:




Credits to PANG_CO. Thanks for the inspiration and advices!

Useful info, partnumbers & the installation info from the Service Manual, goes here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16958717/A...t-system-parts
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16958719/A...converter-unit
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16958769/A...r-installation







I've also purchased & got installed Hondata K20a heatshield gasket. Cheers, crazycated
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 03:25 PM
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Great stuff Azzie, looks good!! Did you get any pics of the finnished product?
And any reason why you did not put in a flex section?
I see an average A/F ratio of 11.7 ; what was it before? And what fuel octane do you use?
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 04:16 PM
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Thanks, man, I knew you're gonna like it

Well, it is the finished product in fact except for the wrap and O2 fix Max afr is 12,4 and it did not change (check both graphs). Local temp was nearly 90F and the best gas I managed to find seemed to have hardly the same figures for octane

Where should I use the flex section and why? I haven't even used the spare gasket - there's v-bend for this.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 10:10 PM
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Oh, I just asked because I think that Pang had put one in his mid-pipe!
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 01:29 AM
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Look's good Azzie nice job on the downpipe .
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 03:41 AM
  #6  
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Thanks, Eddie! BTW, have you measured u'r AFR w/CP-E, Hondata & the exhaust. Just AFR. Very curious 'bout it...

wspy, let's clarify what you mean by the 'flex section' - the connection between the J-pipe (downpipe) and the midpipe or some stuff that works like a silencer? I may assure you that Pang has used just the hollow pipes. Same did I.
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 01:42 PM
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Yes I did but don't remember the A/F number's it was back in March when I was at Church in Southern California but I was running very lean when we added the CP-E intake . But Doug from Hondata said it was also because of the altitude in SO CAL and I would be fine because I live in a higher altitude area and I run 93 or higher gas . I will have to find out from Shawn at Church what the number's were .
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Azzie
wspy, let's clarify what you mean by the 'flex section' - the connection between the J-pipe (downpipe) and the midpipe or some stuff that works like a silencer? I may assure you that Pang has used just the hollow pipes. Same did I.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82...X/DSC_0131.jpg
The piece on the left is Pang's mid-pipe with the flex section on it
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Old Jul 2, 2009 | 03:54 AM
  #9  
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crazycated, please be so kind to learn this and let me know. I have a bad feeling that Hondata reflash does not fit ANY engine mods well and one might need to fine tune his ECU when installed CAI or\and exhaust.

wspy, I see now, thanks for an explanation. My midpipe is just a hollow and polished inside, as you can see from my pics. It narrows from 3" to 2.5" when connected to the stock exhaust and can be easily adopted when upgrading the catback to the 3" one. The 'flex section' you've mentioned should be used when upgrading the resonator unit to bring more silence.
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Old Jul 3, 2009 | 11:52 PM
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Can this be used with the Church exhaust, Hondata, and just the regular K&N air filter?
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Old Jul 4, 2009 | 12:43 AM
  #11  
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Found the answer. Two out of three of the mods together at once.
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 08:55 PM
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i already have the atlp catback installed, what advantages does this turbo back have ?
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:06 PM
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Way more power and responce!!
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Old Jul 14, 2009 | 07:30 AM
  #14  
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JMJ3rd, the mythical 'Church exhaust' is just a 3" catback. The same as ATLP offers and the same that just almost any tuning shop can manufacture. Shawn made his car perform that great only in collaboration with Hondata. He has the custom reflash in fact. Then, the K&N insert does not make much sense, t'was just a usual question-of-practice for me, but Hondata ECU is generally is much more serious upgrade. Doug McMillan has assured me that their reflash will work fine w\exhaust until the AFR is in margins, but I'm not really satisfied with my dyno charts that's why I'm now ordering 3" catback and will wait till Hondata FlashPro will be available to make a custom reflash. Then it'll make sense to install CAI.

ucsmfu, catback will never be enough. There can only be the sense to install the complete 3" turbo-back with both cats deleted and both those cats are installed just after the turbo (see my pics & attachments).
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Old Jul 14, 2009 | 06:11 PM
  #15  
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Hey guys I'm new to the forum but I've been looking on here for a year now and just got a membership. I have a cpe intake on my 07 rdx and I'd love to know if you guys would recomend me getting a custom exhaust installed and if the ecu would know how to handle the added breathing room thanks!
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Old Jul 15, 2009 | 03:59 AM
  #16  
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Liles8, it's been discussed dozens of times. Throw away your CAI when upgrading smth else (reflash, exhaust etc) or install CAI + exhaust and order Unichip with custom fine tuning. It costs approx. 1k$ here in Ukraine.
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:40 PM
  #17  
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Azzie does the Unichip work with the RDX?

And what do you think about AEM fuel/ignition controller (they now make a patch cable for the RDX)
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:56 AM
  #18  
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Thanks for the hint, Mark. I'll discuss this availability with the local ECU tuners. Nevertheless most of them dislike AEM for some reasons it's a good deal to fine tune ignition & boost.

As to the Unichip, I am pretty sure that our local Unichip dealer will be able to connect it to the stock harness.
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 04:30 AM
  #19  
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that shit is sick
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:23 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Azzie
JMJ3rd, the mythical 'Church exhaust' is just a 3" catback.
I disagree on the "mythical Church exhaust" being only "cat back". It's from the dp and no cat. My cat is in the garage.





Where did you get your info?

Though, I will be doing the reflash in the future. Gotta sell a knife.

Last edited by JMJ3rd; Jul 21, 2009 at 12:27 AM.
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Old Jul 22, 2009 | 04:25 PM
  #21  
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Cool

Does anyone sell the down/mid pipe for our RDX? Or is it just pioneers leading the way building their own stuff?
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 03:08 PM
  #22  
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VeNeNo;"Or is it just pioneers leading the way building their own stuff?"

You got it!
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 09:17 AM
  #23  
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JMJ3rd, assuming that there's no official information from Shawn about what he sells it was just my opinion based on rumors in fact. Still I know that his Project RDX had DP+catback. How much did this exhaust cost?

Talking 'bout the reflash... I'm not definitely sure that both this mods will work fine. Just because:
Phase I
Shawn's still working out the details of pricing and packaging, but he feels that the modifications he's developed (along with Hondata) to this point might be offered as a "Phase I" package. The basic ingredients of the package include alignment tweaks, a +1 wheel and tire package, exhaust system modifications, and a special ECM reflash program developed and tuned in cooperation with Hondata.
http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...icle_id=687615

BTW, could You pls be so kind to bring here pics of Your RDX. I want to see how 20" rims look with an offset & Eibach upgrade.


VeNeNo, there's no problem to manufacture DP+MP here in Ukraine but I don't clearly see the possibility to receive an advance payment and to arrange the shipment. Nevertheless I'll try to contact the guys who manufactured this parts for me to find out if they have any ideas for it's their business - not mine. The price should be less than 600$.
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 11:11 PM
  #24  
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Azzie, hopefully I'll be taking some better pics tomorrow, but for now all I have is this.

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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 11:22 PM
  #25  
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Pics of the exhaust at Church Automotive that crazycated took.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11094192
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Old Jul 25, 2009 | 08:56 PM
  #26  
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There ya go, 20's on Eibachs!

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Old Jul 28, 2009 | 01:54 AM
  #27  
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Looks good there wspy! Weather's been bad. I'll post pics asap.
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Old Jul 30, 2009 | 05:01 PM
  #28  
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Talking

looking good fellas I'm saving up for my 20's as well but i need that dp like you read about!!
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Old Jul 30, 2009 | 05:05 PM
  #29  
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Lightbulb

VeNeNo, there's no problem to manufacture DP+MP here in Ukraine but I don't clearly see the possibility to receive an advance payment and to arrange the shipment. Nevertheless I'll try to contact the guys who manufactured this parts for me to find out if they have any ideas for it's their business - not mine. The price should be less than 600$.[/QUOTE]

Azzie lets get a couple of guys who are interested and do a group buy/ shipment to the good ol' US of A (of course with the manufacturer)..?
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 09:51 AM
  #30  
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JMJ3rd, I like U'r ride. Hope mine will look & perform not worse when finished

VeNeNo, I suppose that anybody who wants to sell smth here should be registered like a vendor or trader and pay some dough to Acurazine so I'll advise them to go to eBay.
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by JMJ3rd
Azzie, hopefully I'll be taking some better pics tomorrow, but for now all I have is this.

how do you darken your tailights ?

will it look good on a white car ?

let me know

thanks
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 05:20 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by ucsmfu
how do you darken your tailights ?

will it look good on a white car ?

let me know

thanks

I bought a film tint kit for the RDX. I'll try to find the place. It's been two years ago.
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 05:24 PM
  #33  
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[quote=Azzie;11161604]JMJ3rd, I like U'r ride. Hope mine will look & perform not worse when finished

Thanks! It's appreciated.
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Old Aug 1, 2009 | 04:33 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by JMJ3rd
I bought a film tint kit for the RDX. I'll try to find the place. It's been two years ago.
looks sick

let me know how it works

thanks
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Old Aug 2, 2009 | 02:17 AM
  #35  
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Found my receipt. I bought it from here:

http://www.cleardefender.com/auto-br...cura/RDX/2007/
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Old Aug 3, 2009 | 12:10 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by JMJ3rd
Found my receipt. I bought it from here:

http://www.cleardefender.com/auto-br...cura/RDX/2007/
did you just buy the first one ?

so you have to take out the tailights etc.. to apply it right ?
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Old Aug 3, 2009 | 01:46 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by ucsmfu
did you just buy the first one ?

so you have to take out the tail lights etc.. to apply it right ?
Pm sent. We kinda hijacked this thread. Sorry to all.
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Old Aug 19, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #38  
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I hope someone will manufacture a DP with CAT. The welds on Azzie's DP look real good.
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 10:45 AM
  #39  
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We all been hopeing that since Aug '08!!!
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