Exhaust/Catconverter Advice - Performance Forum

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Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 6:17 AM
Hey guys, i'm getting a new exhaust for my 98 Z24 im planning on getting pacesetter ceramic header / Catback, that will run me about 500 hundred bucks (employee discount) then i will get a Journeyman dual ticket mechanic/heavy duty mechanic at my work to put in on on a Saturday for a very good price. Thats my plan but what i need advice on is my Cat.
I have 4 options:
Stock cat: less hp, quiet, FREE, legal, more back pressure (could be good or bad?)
Straight pipe: free flowing, HP, ILLEGAL, 10 bucks, loud, no back pressure
Test Cat (Fake Cat): free flowing, quieter than straight, HP, some back pressure, 60 bucks, ILLEGAL(i would tack a heat shield on, might trick an newbie cop)
Performance Cat: BEST in every way, expensive(over budget)

So what do you guys recommend, i want quiet as possible and most performance, i know the performance cat is the best but for 300 bucks... eh. I would like to be legal but its not a huge issue since i like in canada. Would a stock cat (ten years old mind you) work good for example, maybe give the backpressure needed? I have the 60 bucks for the fake cat( basically another resonator) but not 300 for the real cat.
I am a newb please do not flame.

Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 6:34 AM
i say go pick up a resonator put it in place of the stock cat and call it a day.



Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 8:43 AM
Ok, so dont most catbacks come with a resonator? I would have 2 then right, also would it be a good idea to put a heat shield on the new resonator to look stockish
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 9:05 AM
I got rid of my cat and have straight pipe all the way to the muffler.It gave me the sound I was looking for.



Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 5:02 PM
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Sunday, August 03, 2008 9:32 PM
Thanks for the link, i will probably get this. It will be alot more for me though since it costs an arm to ship stuff to Canada
A friend told me they are about 300, maybe he got ripped off.
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Monday, August 04, 2008 10:24 PM
Keep looking on ebay.. theres like a ton of exhaust components for a good price on there..



Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 7:07 AM
I WOULD GET AN O2 SENSOR SIMULATOR FROM AFTER THOUGHTS AUTO AND RUN NO CAT. I HAVE ONE AND IT HAS WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR FOR ME. IT YOUR CHEAPEST BET, AND YOU NEED NO FABRICATION.
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 8:58 AM
Joel Steward wrote:500 hundred bucks (employee discount)

At $50,000 I'd say that's a pretty bad discount. (five hundred hundred, rofl)


2001 Olds Alero (LD9)
650 whp / 543 ft-lb
@turboalero
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 1:38 PM
I would stick with the stock cat, and make sure ur cat back comes with a resonator that is atleast 22" long otherwise you will get owned by raspiness and noise levels.



Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 6:52 PM
Dude, Phil... Caps lock ftl...


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Yes, noob, the search button is for you...


Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:17 PM
Sorry, i got new quote today, Its 650$ shipped for catback and ceramic header. I did not want to get no-name pipes off eBay, i have had bad experiences getting absolute garbage. You also have to consider i live in Canada and everything after market is way more expensive. I went with a 2.25" Magnaflow catback for 85$ shipped to Canada. You guys don't know how frustrating it is in Canada, i have seen shipping/handling charges on ebay tripling the actual value of the item.
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Thursday, August 07, 2008 2:46 AM
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Thursday, August 07, 2008 10:28 AM
Joel Steward wrote:Sorry, i got new quote today, Its 650$ shipped for catback and ceramic header. I did not want to get no-name pipes off eBay, i have had bad experiences getting absolute garbage. You also have to consider i live in Canada and everything after market is way more expensive. I went with a 2.25" Magnaflow catback for 85$ shipped to Canada. You guys don't know how frustrating it is in Canada, i have seen shipping/handling charges on ebay tripling the actual value of the item.


I can agree with you there. Us Canadians get wallet-raped. Living up north is even worse, as everyone tacks on even more for "shipping costs" (aka "you're getting screwed because it's another ~500 km from Edmonton to get to you").


2010 Honda Fit LX
Re: Exhaust/Catconverter Advice
Saturday, August 09, 2008 6:33 AM
Can someone link me some pic's of a header downpipe/Cat/front catback installed close up so i can see what i'm getting into, my new cat converter shows up on wednesday UPS.
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