Trouble_07

Not too sure how intelligent all you guys are on the subject, but speaking from experience... I worked at an oil change shop for 2 years and was under at minimum 30 cars a day, graduated from a 2 year auto tech program at the top of my class as well as a 1 year auto body program from the same institution. I now work at a renowned upholstery shop where I see at least 2 cars a day. Yes I do own one car that was completely butchered by teenagers and well that's the only one that had a section to allow movement and separate the exhaust system. The other 2 cars were completely factory and neither of them had anything like mentioned. As for the info from my friends at the exhaust shops both of them were from the owners who have been in business for 20+ years and are very well recommended, so I doubt they would feed me a line of bull. But hey everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if it's your car do what you want with it no one can stop you.

Both the 86 and two 87's I picked up didn't have either style joint. I asked the 2 exhaust shops that sponsor our outlaw karts about their thoughts on adding a flex pipe on the starquests and they both said not to do it unless its a last resort. The flex pipe is designed more or less for front wheel drives where the engine rocks back and forth and need that movement in the exhaust. They both did recommend the other joint that was mentioned if you had a spendy exhaust and were worried about it being damaged. Another valid point one of them made was that if your engine is moving enough to the point where you need to install a flex pipe you have some serious issues like bad motor mounts, trams mounts, and other possible parts. I think I'll be picking up one of the funk lock engine mounts like someone else mentioned so I don't have to ever worry about that problem.

It's so nice to get all this info. Sounds like the TBI will be efficient enough for my goals at this point. If I can get a solid 350 whp ill be more than happy. Looked a little bit with not much luck but does anyone have a link to the company mentioned with the 52mm throttle body kit?

Well I'm in Minnesota so luckily we don't have that here. I've honestly never even had a cat on any of my vehicles most of them straight piped v8s and never had a problem with law enforcement about it.

A flex pipe on a car that didn't come with one from the factory is pretty dumb in my opinion. If you have quality rubber hangers that soak up vibration and allow for movement you don't need one. I've done dozens of exausts and never have I put a flex pipe on a vehicle that didn't come with one.

Idk too much about turbos but quite knowledgeable in other mechanical functions. If the seal you installed is on the shaft the turbine and compressor are on maybe it's not warn in yet or possibly a manufacturer defect. As far as spinning when warmed up goes but not when cold this could be because metal expands when heated and it may be expanding the housing enough to give that shaft and seal the clearance it needs to spin freely. If your not having any issues I'd put some miles on it and try to get it spooling and making boost most of the time. If it doesn't start working the way it should I'd just get another kit and fully rebuild it making sure all parts are to spec. Not an expert but that's what i'd do in your shoes.

Ill have to check out the lower shores kit and do some price comparing as well as drivability compared to going mpi...

Thanks for the info I somewhat expected I'd come to that conclusion as all the interchangeable Mazda parts only go to 88.. Oh well was just trying to get a free fix I traded a 5spd s10 transmission so I don't really have any money into it right now and wanted to keep it that way lol

Thanks for the positive feedback

Sorry guys not completely sq related. Anyone know if the cam, rockers and lifters out of my 87 quest could be useable in the 91 b2600i that I got her. She loves this truck and wants it back on the rd.

Wish my first car would of been a sq!

Yea but It might have to wait until Wednesday when my boss is back. He deals with most of our frieght stuff. Could I get an area code?

I have lots of fabrication skills and could easily fabricate a mpi intake. Was more so looking at a good factory set up but it sounds as if I want to make big power the only way is a custom mpi setup with a stand alone system.. Thanks for the thoughts guys. Guess I got a good winter project.

I have access to an mpi manifold from a b2600i pickup. Looks as if it would fit. Has anyone ever used one? Possibly picking up a ram-50 for parts also. I've read some stuff about using that mpi intake but having trouble finding any solid good info. Eager to learn here.

Thanks for the info. Guess ill be going mpi after get finished with all the body and interior work this winter.