Any suggestions for exhaust system upgrade to a 90 323 1.6L SOHC, 5-speed? I just installed an air intake adapter & Hiper cone filter.

I have digital pics of the stock exhaust system and have taken some measurements if it helps in discussion.

Although unorthodox, I was kinda thinking of putting a high flow 4 or 6" round Magnaflow muffler where the resonator is and after the first 90 degree bend towards the passenger side, exit the exhaust there in front of the right rear wheel, instead of taking the next 90 degree turn to go to the muffler in the back to exit in the stock location. From the converter back go with\maintain 2.25" ID mandrel bent piping.

Obviously if there's a bolt-up aftermarket system that will fit, I'd consider that first. Pacesetter has a system for $187 at ptuning.com but it may only fit 1.8L. I have a question into them, as I don't know how similar the exhaust system routing is across the SOHC and DOHC's.

All this said I'm probably nuts to even bother, as increasing the stock 82hp\92ft-lb torque is probably fruitless, but since I have done the air intake I've noticed an improvement and if I can do the exhaust for not too much and notice a little more, I'm probably as far as I'd want to go, shy of an engine\turbo transplant.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions on the exhaust mod.

 

Hey due, I have a 1.8L 1991 DX that has just been fitted with a 2" mandrel bent system complete with the exclusion of the Cat. but has the hi-flow resonator, and Dynomax muffler. My stock HP is 104 with 114 ft.lbs of torque. As you know, YOU of all the Protege owners need all the HP/Torque you can get! Do not go any larger thatn 2" on your exhaust pipe size as Mazda has configured and reqires a ceri\tian amount of back pressureto attain maximum power. If you go any larger you begin to shave off any gains: IE: .6sec in the quarter mile for every quarter inch of increase without massive work to the engines head, exhaust manifold etc! Yes, it's true. The real gains for you are in increasing your ingnition voltage... Ie: Jacobs Ignitions' ICE PaK , or the FC-1000 Multispark Ignition Module. Check that out! My Dx has been clocked at 175hph by the RCMP ... Ooops! LOL, They didn't catch me doing 219 kph last summer!

Later!

 

I've been use to upgrading v-8s. Your suggestion of keeping to 2" ID makes sense on the exhaust, or I'd probably start to lose gains on the low end. Starting at 82hp\92 torque stock I'd kinda doubt I'll be able to get the hp up to 100hp on a 1.6L SOHC, no?

I appreciate the input. Ignition, wires, plugs, coil should be pretty easy, since I don't have AC and under the hood everything is pretty accessible.

Side note: Some on this forum have mentioned Corksport. I must say they offer alot, but their prices aren't cheap (compared to comparable upgrading on larger engined US cars).

 

All Mazda parts are high as hell. Go price a 20B 3 rotor engine from Corksport....

 

I feel your pain, bro... I have the exact same car... '90 323 1.6 5spd. I love it to death but it is seriously slow as *****... The fastest 0-60 I ever had with it was 9.9sec... And that was beating the ***** out of it.

Are you happy with your cone filter? I have a k&n dropin replacement for it, and haven't really noticed much, if anything. I didn't expect to, though with such a small engine.

Once May comes and I'm done with school and have a job it's go time! I'm not stopping until I have a BPT crammed under my hood!!!!

If I were you, I think I'd just hold off and get a BPT swap and THEN worry about exhaust... Because 1-7/8" exhaust won't cut it with 180HP!

 

Cost for adapter & cone filter < $50. Noticable difference to me on take off from this modified intake, but feel slight exhaust can't clear air\exhaust flow out fast enough. I'll probably only do the exhaust mod if I can cut & take off existing so I can reconnect if I find the mod doesn't make much difference other than increased noise level. I'm trying to heal my 323 from a big deer hit last week (hood, right headlight, right front fender).