Test and Reviews

BUKU POWER .21

Intro

Did you ever heard before of BUKU POWER?
Probably not, as this company was founded in 2007.
Dave Maslar, president of this company had some ideas about some technical designs for years.
But before he wanted to try them in large applications he switched to his hobby and started to make his ideas alive into 1:10 scale model cars.

Looking at the fully USA design and production of the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe of which we have the first production sample of the .21 version.
It distinguish itself from the rest by having two stingers instead of one.
But more is happening in the inside of the pipe!

The first designs were made for .15 and .18 small block engines but .21 versions are available now too.
If you like the .21 can be used with a .28 too.

Initial Dyno results showed that this BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe really worked.
As said the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe has an active part inside the main body.
These parts can move and therefore adapt to the exhaust gas flow!
Yeah, you will ask yourselves does this has an benefit?
Certainly it has.
All current pipes are designed for a certain power band of the RPM.
Many times you hear people talk about a TORQUE a MEDIUM or a HIGH POWER pipe.

The BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe is a marriage between them all.
The shape of the main body and the shape of the internal resonance cone inside a regular pipe determents the RPM range it resonance the best.
A long pipe gives optimum power at LOW RPM

where a SHORT pipe give optimum power at HIGH RPM

The cone in the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe can move a certain range due to the pressure of the exhaust gas flow.
The cone can move to make it SHORT or LONG based in a split second itself.
A back pressure to the cone is provided by a spring (three of them come standard with  the pipe).

The BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe is set at the factory.
Run this set up first before disassembling or changing the internals or any other settings on the pipe!

This is what you get in the box.

First read the manual thoroughly a few times even if you consider yourselves a PRO

So lets see the internals of the pipe.
from left to right as they are placed when the pipe is fully assembled
1] The main body
2] The minimum initial distance ring
3] The cone
4] The spring
5] The end cap

1]
The internal of the pipe, the main body, is simply EMPTY but coned shaped at the entry.
A small ridge in the middle is the starting point where the other internals will do their job.

2]
This is the first part that goes into the main body first.
This split ring gives a starting point distance for the next to be placed resonance cone.
By varying the width of the ring other setups can be made if needed.
An option ring comes with the pipe.

3]
The resonance cone is the next to be placed in the main body.
The number of holes and the shape of the cone can determine the pressure in the pipe.
This cone is mowing up and down in the main body depending on the exhaust gas flow pressure.
An extra tuning cone is supplied and coded with a color in this case RED.

4]
Next part to be placed is the back pressure return spring.
The pipe comes with three color coded type of springs.
Green
Silver
Red
The pressure of the spring makes the cone to move to its initial position when there is no exhaust pressure gas flow from the exhaust.

5]

The final part to be placed at the end of the main body is the end cap.
This end cap exist out of two parts.
One to close the main body of the pipe and the other is the nut to adjust the pressure on the internal placed return spring.

For a general explanation of the how the pipe is working, an animation and a video of the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe is explaining more then I can do with words!

The animation of what happens internally in the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe.

Better to see what happens is to view the video below of the pipe with a clear cover over it, so you can see and hear the working of the resonance BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe.

The pipe can be adjusted by the return spring load with the supplied wrench at he end of the pipe.
The full range of the nut in the end cap is 5 full turns.
Due to the fact the end cap is not a regular one, the pipe connector is placed on top.

With the kit comes as long pipe wire that can be altered to the desired shape for your car.

To make initial adjustments as clearly described in the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe manual, you need to first fit a plug in the first stinger.

All though it all looks complicated setting up and adjusting the pipe is simple in 5 basic steps.
1] If you have a pipe on your engine and this has been set up correctly remove it and replace it for the BUKU POWER ACTIVE one.
2] Set first the high speed and low speed needle a 1/4 turn richer (turn anti clockwise).
3] Place the plug in the first stinger (this blocks the internal moving cone) and makes it a regular resonance pipe you already have.
4] Adjust the high speed and low speed needle engine as usual. (if you are not known to this ask a local EXPERIENCED driver to do this for you)
5] Remove the plug and fine tune by the pipe characteristics by changing the position of the center screw in the end cap turning it in or outward.

As there is no engine the same and the need to adjust the pipe to the engine (instead of swapping the pipe) is needed you can also change to the other springs , ring or cone supplied.

The end cap can be removed also when it is in the car with  the supplied tool.
It does not have a seal but very fine thread and an excellent smooth finish.

As said the pipe is set up at the factory, try this first.

The location of the pipe wire connector is on top, so you have to make little different setup as usual.
Here the example how we put it in an ASSOCIATED RC8

The length of the supplied pipe wire is long enough.
As you can see there is enough room at the end of the pipe to adjust the nut or remove the end cap itself with the supplied tool.
No need to remove the pipe to adjust it.

The BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe mounted in the ASSOCIATED RC8.
For this set up we used the Hong Nor inline exhaust coupler, springs and rubbers (does not come with the BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe)

J What are the pro's?  J

*  Works with every inline style exhaust coupler
*  Designed and produced in the USA
* All parts are nicely machined
* Manual is clear even if a medium experienced driver likes to try the pipe
* Power band is enlarged at BOTTOM, MEDIUM and HIGH SPEED without the need of buying more then one pipe for several conditions or engines.

L What are the bad moves?     L

*  Maybe to many adjustments for a new bie
*  No homologation for sanctioned racing under IFMAR and EFRA (active pipes are not allowed yet)
 

The pipe and all its parts are nicely machined and in combination with the excellent manual you need to know about the working of the pipe really quick. The mounting of the pipe wire is different but no problem in general. For back yard bashers that like to adjust their engine without buying many pipes this BUKU POWER ACTIVE pipe might be the ticket. Due to the fact the pipe is not homologated for sanctioned racing the use is limited. But if you think you are an experienced driver in the need for s challenge then do not wait to long and see how it works yourselves. Due to the cold weather (it is currently winter in The Netherlands) we have not run the pipe yet.

 

This pipe is provided by

USA