which cat converter?

[jackal2000]

my car is suffering from a clogged cat (i blame the TOG headers) so i ended up buying two off ebay. the first one is a thunderbolt part #610250 which i bought because it was the cheapest one i found that claimed to be "high flow" at $47 shipped. i was advised that cheap might not be the way to go so i bought a magnaflow carsound part #94106 for $55 shipped (i pretty much stole it). i received both cats today and side by side the cheaper one is longer (total length), the chambers seem to be the same size and when held each one up to a light source i can see more light thru the cheaper one. both are obdII approved of course. the cheaper one has an o2 sensor port but i plan on deleting the codes for it anyway (on the assumption that i can still pass emissions testing. if i wont then please let me know). which one should i put on??


also, both are 2.5" in/out. my current catback is 2.25" but i plan on upgrading eventually, dont have the money for it now so i bought 2 adapters.

[SpyhunteR]

If you can delete the code you COULD just go catless.

Personally I'd say go w/ the carsound cat. High flow cats won't give you really much of a gain, but you do have a reason for a new one. Go w/ the one that's proven to do the job.

[O1GAGT]

I agree with spy, go with the carsound (magnaflow). I to was in the same position with a clogged cat after installing TOG headers. I ordered a carsound cat, but have yet to install it was so bad that my car was getting horrible gas milage and wouldn't rev past 4500 RPM. I just bypassed the cat with a home made test pipe, since I have a welder in the garage. It took about 600 miles before the SES light came on, so I tuned the car a little more with the DHP tuner, clear the trouble code and it hasn't come back on since and it has been over 7,000 miles (I did not delete it from the computer). I have no idea if it would pass a sniffer because Indiana doesn't do emissions testing, however I do plan on getting the carsound cat put back on here shortly.

[LoboMan7409]

Magnaflow is what I got

[Sprucegagt]

Carsound all the way on this and delete the rear O2 codes. You should still be able to pass emissions without it if everything is tuned right and you don't have an SES light.

[jackal2000]

welllllllll allllllrighty then, carsound it is. its getting installed on tuesday morning.

[AaronGTR]

I agree carsound/magnaflow is a much better converter. It's what I used to have. I use this now http://stores.channeladvisor.com/verociousmotorsports/Items/7101? , as it's the highest flowing cat they make, but's it more expensive and not really necessary for moderate power level cars. You'll be happy with the magna cat.

[SpyhunteR]

the only way you can fail emissions is if they actually put a sniffer on your exhaust, and you DON'T have a cat. if it's a state that only does an OBD2 test through the diagnostic OBD2 port, and you have all the codes cleaned up and the car running moderately okay. You'll pass no problem. :)

Since you'll have the carsound cat, you'll be right as rain. :)

[lone_wolf025]

Anyone in the Chicago area run w/out a cat? I've heard stories of some people getting checked for cats during OBDII emissions checks.

[Gizm0815]

mark doesnt have a cat on his mailibu you should ask him if hes had any problems

[lone_wolf025]

Hmm well does A-town do emissions checks?

[Gizm0815]

i believe emissions is a state thing not by towns but i could be wrong so im going on the assumption that it is all the same across the board as long as ur in illinois

[lone_wolf025]

I think emissions checks are state wide but I don't know how it all applies. All I do know is that here in Chicago for the older dyno'd cars they don't check for NOx emissions where as in St. Louis they do. But seeing as how most of us have OBDII cars they just plug in and check. I did ask last time I had my dad's van in for a check if they look underneath for the cat but the guy told me no. But like I said I've heard stories of people's cars getting the mirror and was just wondering.

[amerpwr]

i know in GA its a county thing...the county i lived in did the gas cap and plug in emissions test and the counties to the east, west, and north did not do any of it

[timberwoof]

becareful on which cat you get too. There are two different types out there. There are the ceramic ones and then there are the full metal ones. The ceramic's don't take as much heat at the metal one, obviously. And the metal ones are more for richer A/F ratios. Research Research Research

[zhd1000]

i believe emissions is a state thing not by towns but i could be wrong so im going on the assumption that it is all the same across the board as long as ur in illinois

i have lived in northern illinois (Rockford, DeKalb) for most of my life and have never had an emissions test.. i've only heard of emissions in chicago, it must be by city or county in IL..

[williamGT]

I just bought a magnaflow car sound#43006 cat, would that be any good?
I have the ZZP catless downpipe with a borla cat back.

[Torrentman]

just wanted to add that here in texas, all they do is check to see that u "have" a cat... which is why i took my stock cat and hollowed it out and put it back on :D

[SpyhunteR]

I just bought a magnaflow car sound#43006 cat, would that be any good?
I have the ZZP catless downpipe with a borla cat back.

you'll be happy.

[williamGT]

you'll be happy.
So with that cat and my Borla exhaust. It would be louder then the stock cat?

[timberwoof]

just wanted to add that here in texas, all they do is check to see that u "have" a cat... which is why i took my stock cat and hollowed it out and put it back on :D

Unless you are in Houston then, its a crap shoot to find a shop that won't hook the exhaust up an inhaler.

[AaronGTR]

So with that cat and my Borla exhaust. It would be louder then the stock cat?


It should be slightly louder. Putting the cat back in will drop the noise level a touch though and it will take out some of the rasp so it sounds better.

[nivek98]

I think emissions checks are state wide but I don't know how it all applies. All I do know is that here in Chicago for the older dyno'd cars they don't check for NOx emissions where as in St. Louis they do. But seeing as how most of us have OBDII cars they just plug in and check. I did ask last time I had my dad's van in for a check if they look underneath for the cat but the guy told me no. But like I said I've heard stories of people's cars getting the mirror and was just wondering.

I used to work for the emission program in chicago as a field service guy. I worked on the dyno's, and gas analyzers and computers for the testing stations. They test for NOX only in lane 1 of each station... Illinois only requires emission testing in "Metro Areas" so STL and Chicago areas only. They are suppose to use the mirror to check for leaks, or holes or anything else obvious. 96 and newer only use ODB, it used to be that all 95 and older got the dyno test. The new thing now will be 95 and older no longer need tested, and all other cars 4 years old have to be tested every 2 or 3 years. If you have no CAT, and your not in a metro area, no one will ever know or care.

[drumking1721]

hey to bring this back up,im ordering one here this weekend,does anyone know what site i can order that magnaflow car sound#43006 from at a good price?

[williamGT]

heres this one: 43006
http://www.hottexhaust.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=43006&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&btnSearch.x=9&btnSearch.y=7

This is the one I got, I love it:
http://www.hottexhaust.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=59956&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&btnSearch.x=9&btnSearch.y=10

[williamGT]

Sound clip:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1975459769917660306&q=grand+am+exhaust

[zhd1000]

#94106
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-5-2-1-2-Magnaflow-Carsound-Catalytic-Cat-Converter_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33629QQihZ004 QQitemZ140107899421QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

#53006
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/53006-Magnaflow-Carsound-Catalytic-Cat-Converter-2-5_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33629QQihZ019QQitemZ8 072158761QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

both of these should work, right? they're 2.5" in/out magnaflows for 1/4 of the price of #43006

[drumking1721]

heres this one: 43006
http://www.hottexhaust.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=43006&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&btnSearch.x=9&btnSearch.y=7

This is the one I got, I love it:
http://www.hottexhaust.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=59956&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&btnSearch.x=9&btnSearch.y=10

that does sound sexy.......i have an SLP,which size should i get?

[drumking1721]

Oh and did you feel a difference?

[cardude007617]

wow EBAY is a lotttttttt cheaper

[cardude007617]

i think these 3400s just sound goooood. cuz my parent's have one in thier 2006 torrent and it sounds pretty beasty wen u gun it hard. like up around 3-4000 rpms it sounds like a v8, and hauls ass like one too haha

[williamGT]

Oh and did you feel a difference?
I got the 2.5 ZZP downpipe, so I had to get the 2.5 size for the cat..If you still have your stock Downpipe you will need the 2.25 size.

And I did feel a little bit more power, I just want more exhaust flow to my car.

[williamGT]

Heres a pic of the cat on my car. and It only the size of my hand.

[drumking1721]

Yea im literally about a half hour from ZZP....i do still have the stock DP...ill get the 2.25 then....