downpipe and turbo questions, which to get? Options

[Rollout]

Well it seems as though no one on DSMtuners.com is willing to tackle my questions, so possibly some of u dsm'ers can help me out. Thanks A LOT.
Heres my post:

take all this into consideration when evalutating...
I have a 97 Eclipse GSX with upper and lower i/c piping (greddy), Greddy type-s bov, K&N intake, Apexi N1 catback, walbro 255

ok, at the moment i am looking at finishing off my exhaust system. I already have the Apexi N1 cat back and need to get a downpipe. In the future i plan to upgrade to the big 16g or the evo III b16g. here are my questions.

1. RNR 02 eliminator downpipe in SS is $440 on rnrracing.com, or i can get an evo III O2 housing (does this bolt right on?) for $190 and a apexi downpipe for $207 - thats $397 together, or i can just port my stock O2 housing (id like specifics on how well this works?) and get the Apexi downpipe also. This is all 3" and the downpipes will "remove" the cat.

what are your suggestions?

2. Which turbo? Price differences are minimal (around 500 i think?) but what are the real differences? the Big 16g i know requires a $200 kit for the 2g, im not exactly sure what the evo III b16g requires? i know that the evo has a bigger wheel but thats about it, so more lag, but more power?

thats about it for now... thanks in advance, i know a lot of questions
just dont want to order the wrong thing here.

[natedogg]

1. Depends on how much $200 is worth to you. The first one sounds like a decent deal for a downpipe and 02 eliminator. The second deal probably isn't worth for the measly 40 bucks you'd be saving as opposed to the first deal. The last deal saves you $200, but the eliminator from the first deal would decrease your spoolup time and increase your total pressure differential across the turbo. If it were me I'd go with the RNR deal, but thats just me. I don't mind burning money on my DSM.

2. You'll have to refresh my memory on the evoIII 16g vs. the regular big 16g. I know the evo III 16g has a larger compressor wheel (more power), but I thought the turbine wheels were the same size keeping the lag more or less the same as the regular big 16g. The problem to me would be the $500 price difference, but if thats minimal to you then I say go for the better evo III 16g.

[Rollout]

whoops, what i ment by the $500 is that they are both around the same price, which is about $500 where ever u look, that doesnt include the $200 kit that u need for the 2g's. both turbos need that kit i guess. So it seems to me the evoIII is the better turbo here and about the same price?

as far as the downpipes go... u think the RNR is better quality then the apexi downpipe + the OEM lancer O2 senser housing? i know that the apexi and rnr downpipes are 3", but im not sure what size the evo O2 housing and the O2 eliminator are, so im really not sure which is better. I think the stock O2 housing is 2.25? or maybe thats about the size after you port it... im not really sure.

[natedogg]

I'm pretty sure the O2 eliminator will flow better than the the Evo O2 housing. Most eliminators are tubular 2.5". The Evo one is a cast housing similar to what is already on your 2G which already flows more than a 1G housing. Its not worth the money to buy one when you could just port your 2G out to flow just as good if not better. To sum up my opinions, the O2 eliminator will flow the best, the evo housing isn't worth the money, and porting your 2G housing is the cheapest way to go to still get better flow than stock. The 3" downpipe is what's most critical. As long as its 3" mandrel bent SS, I could care less what the brand name is, I just go for whats cheapest, but thats me.

Oh and if the turbos are nearly the same price then the Evo III 16g is a no-brainer.

Remember these are just suggestions based on my own experience and opinions. Its your car so make sure you build it how you want. Whatever makes you happy with it.

[Rollout]

i appreciate it man, thanks

[awd4kicks]

Make sure the O2 eliminator has a 3" hole in the flange to the down pipe. Mine has a 2.25" hole, but it matches up with my tappered stock fitting 3" down pipe. If I remember correctly the cast EVO o2 housing comes with a 3" opening at the down pipe end which is much bigger than you could ever port a 1G or 2G O2 housing.

So get the O2 eliminator if it has a good flange hole size or the EVO O2 housing because it will flow like a biatch and probably seal better while being quieter as well.

If you really want to get technical though, look at RRE's down pipes. They claim 2.5" from the turbo to the flex section is the way to go. Then 3" from there back.

[natedogg]

No offense, but I think your memory might be a little off there, buddy. The Evo 02 housings are 2.5" all the way through...

http://www.machv.com/lanevoiiioxs.html

The one on my Evo VIII is the same size with a 2.5" opening at the flange.

[awd4kicks]

Theres no getting around it you just can't help it. J/k

So you might be right since you doctored up that web page and probably any others we will be able to look at now. That is still larger than the 2.25" O2 eliminator I have, which is bigger all the way through than any 1G or 2G DSM housing can safely be ported. Key phrase being all the way through. If you can get a 3" all the way through O2 and a turbo big enough to match up to it....that's the shiznit.

[natedogg]

I see your point. I just gotta keep the facts straight. Where did you buy your 2.25" from? Most of the ones I see for sale are 2.5".

[awd4kicks]

The piping on my O2 eliminator is 2.5" but the mating flange to the down pipe is 2.25. The RRE "2.5" gasket is just a bit bigger than the flange to boot, so there not much there. This was a hand crafted unit by some schmoe trying to get into the DSM fabrication game. Josh and I have reworked this puppy three times but the flange is a typical purchased unit like those found on RRE's DYI products.