Front Pipes. Also known as down pipes or sometimes incorrectly referred to as dump pipes.
Larger diameter front pipes have many benefits. As you can see in the below diagram the front pipes are only a small portion of the overall exhaust system. Let's not forget that the rest of the exhaust is important too but I'll just be focusing on the front pipes here.
A more free flowing set of front pipes can be likened to uncorking your turbo's. Here are just a few benefits in doing so.
Benefits:
- Larger diameter and less turbulent exhaust path means higher flow
- Higher flow and reduced back pressure allows for:
- Improved response
- Allows more advanced timing with tuning
- Easier on the turbo's to provide the same output level or more
- More prominent spool sound - cool!
After market front pipes are typically 60mm (2.36") OD and 57mm (2.25") ID from the downpipe. The exit pipe is typically 76mm (3") OD 70mm (2.75") ID. The factory outlet from the turbo dumps is measured at around 57mm (2.25"). Here is a list of common off the shelf front pipes for EC5W/EC5A Legnum and Galant:
Meek front pipes
Pro: - Cheap at $400 AUD
- The design looks acceptable with a collector used at the merge of front and rear down pipes.
- Located in NSW
Con: - No info known, please post in this thread if you have any feedback on these front pipes.
RPW front pipes www.rpw.com.au
Pro: - Improvement over stock pipes
- Good flow
- 2 flex joins
- Cheap at only $360 AUD
- Located in Perth
Con: - 301 grade stainless steel is not high quality, salted roads have been found to cause damage to these
- RPW pipes sit lower than factory pipes. They are more prone to scrape, especially in lowered cars
- Low quality flex join - some people have scraped and broken the flex relatively easily
Pro Shop Iida front pipes http://www.ps-iida.co.jp/galant/galant.html
Pro: - Probably the highest quality ready-made front pipes available for VR-4's
- Good diameter and merge - efficient design.
Con: - Expensive at $750 AUD + delivery from RHDJapan http://www.rhdjapan.com/pro-shop-iida-stainless-front-pipe-ec5w-ec5a-25120
YR-Advance front pipes
Pro: - Improvement over factory
- Sits nice and high, good for lowered cars and able to fit on cussco front braces
- Lighter than factory front pipes
Con: - rear down pipe merge does not promote smooth flow. It is almost at a right angle.
- The diameter does not appear to increase at the merge, rather after the merge. This is not an efficient design.
- Very expensive at $850 AUD + delivery from RHDJapan http://www.rhdjapan.com/yr-advance-front-pipe-mitsubishi-ec5a-ec5w-64701
Some people on OZVR4 have individual or handmade designs:
Tim's front pipes
Paul's front pipes
Modifcations
Some people have modified their RPW font pipes to sit higher to prevent scraping on the ground over speed humps and drive ways. Some people have used heatwrapping on their front pipes. This is not necessarily a good idea as it weakens the stainless steel. The benefit though, is that by trapping heat the flow is maintained. Here is a picture of a heatwrapped front pipe.
Disclaimer: I have used other people's pictures. Please PM me if you want me to take them down.
Larger diameter front pipes have many benefits. As you can see in the below diagram the front pipes are only a small portion of the overall exhaust system. Let's not forget that the rest of the exhaust is important too but I'll just be focusing on the front pipes here.
A more free flowing set of front pipes can be likened to uncorking your turbo's. Here are just a few benefits in doing so.
Benefits:
- Larger diameter and less turbulent exhaust path means higher flow
- Higher flow and reduced back pressure allows for:
- Improved response
- Allows more advanced timing with tuning
- Easier on the turbo's to provide the same output level or more
- More prominent spool sound - cool!
After market front pipes are typically 60mm (2.36") OD and 57mm (2.25") ID from the downpipe. The exit pipe is typically 76mm (3") OD 70mm (2.75") ID. The factory outlet from the turbo dumps is measured at around 57mm (2.25"). Here is a list of common off the shelf front pipes for EC5W/EC5A Legnum and Galant:
Meek front pipes
Pro: - Cheap at $400 AUD
- The design looks acceptable with a collector used at the merge of front and rear down pipes.
- Located in NSW
Con: - No info known, please post in this thread if you have any feedback on these front pipes.
RPW front pipes www.rpw.com.au
Pro: - Improvement over stock pipes
- Good flow
- 2 flex joins
- Cheap at only $360 AUD
- Located in Perth
Con: - 301 grade stainless steel is not high quality, salted roads have been found to cause damage to these
- RPW pipes sit lower than factory pipes. They are more prone to scrape, especially in lowered cars
- Low quality flex join - some people have scraped and broken the flex relatively easily
Pro Shop Iida front pipes http://www.ps-iida.co.jp/galant/galant.html
Pro: - Probably the highest quality ready-made front pipes available for VR-4's
- Good diameter and merge - efficient design.
Con: - Expensive at $750 AUD + delivery from RHDJapan http://www.rhdjapan.com/pro-shop-iida-stainless-front-pipe-ec5w-ec5a-25120
YR-Advance front pipes
Pro: - Improvement over factory
- Sits nice and high, good for lowered cars and able to fit on cussco front braces
- Lighter than factory front pipes
Con: - rear down pipe merge does not promote smooth flow. It is almost at a right angle.
- The diameter does not appear to increase at the merge, rather after the merge. This is not an efficient design.
- Very expensive at $850 AUD + delivery from RHDJapan http://www.rhdjapan.com/yr-advance-front-pipe-mitsubishi-ec5a-ec5w-64701
Some people on OZVR4 have individual or handmade designs:
Tim's front pipes
Paul's front pipes
Modifcations
Some people have modified their RPW font pipes to sit higher to prevent scraping on the ground over speed humps and drive ways. Some people have used heatwrapping on their front pipes. This is not necessarily a good idea as it weakens the stainless steel. The benefit though, is that by trapping heat the flow is maintained. Here is a picture of a heatwrapped front pipe.
Disclaimer: I have used other people's pictures. Please PM me if you want me to take them down.
