Need some advice on cats

So, I had some exhaust breakage on my volvo, and I need to replace the cat pipe.

I can go one of two ways here: I can get a $120 stock replacement.

Or I can get one of those universal high flows, try to find a 3 bolt fixed flange (the type that uses a seal) and some pipes and try to use the slip fit unions to put it together, or have a shop weld it for me.

Is it worth the trouble to go with the High flow cat? If so, Where can I find that kind of flange/other required parts, are there wholesalers online? I'm a total newb with making my own exhaust parts, so talk slow and use small words

Contact Greg Jones at MBS. www.mandrelbendingsolutions.com/ Great service, GRM advertiser, and great equipment. I cheated and had them fab everything up for me, but that would require you to get to Pasadena MD.

Awesome. I'll check em out!

My advice on cats

They are useless

HappyAndy wrote: My advice on cats They are useless

earlier this evening I saw your "crazy cat lady starter kit" post in the hotlink thread. It made me smile.

If you get the right cat you will never have to pay for a cat scan----also if you get a black lab the same thing goes for lab reports---

Every inexpensive "high flow" cat I've seen looked like it had the exact same bricks inside as generic cats, and the same inlet and outlet shapes. Not worth the hassle of fabricating if you can get a (genuinely) direct fit unit for that cheap.

Real "high flow" cats tend to be in the $800-1000 range and are made of materials that won't slag when they get super hot. They also are catalysts in name only because of how small and wide-open the substrate bricks are. You won't pass emissions with them but you'll pass a motorsports rule that says cars must be equipped with a catalyst.

FWIW, I've seen plenty of 600-1000hp cars that still had catalysts on them, so they're not a performance liability.

That sounds even better.

I'm not looking to avoid the EPA stuff, I just dont want to end up wishing I changed it out down the line.

Knurled, do you have any links to this type of cat?

Brett_Murphy wrote: Knurled, do you have any links to this type of cat?

They are typically called high cell count cats. IE 100 CAT.

I do know from experience that the good quality ones that are not completely straight through with minimal substrate will pass smog. They will raise the numbers you get by a good margin though. they are definitely illegal out here in California or I would be running them on the Viper as for some reason they tend to run cooler and heat soak less.

Nearly as effective. Not nearly as allergenic.

LainfordExpress wrote: Nearly as effective. Not nearly as allergenic.

Eats a lot fewer songbirds,gamebirds,rabbits,etc. too.

Also won't jump on your car.

Also won't E36 M3 in your garden.

wearymicrobe wrote:

Brett_Murphy wrote: Knurled, do you have any links to this type of cat?

They are typically called high cell count cats. IE 100 CAT. I do know from experience that the good quality ones that are not completely straight through with minimal substrate will pass smog. They will raise the numbers you get by a good margin though. they are definitely illegal out here in California or I would be running them on the Viper as for some reason they tend to run cooler and heat soak less.

You mean like this $100 peice from Mistanfo's link?

300 Cell cat

I've used cheap high flow spun body cats sold under the brand name Thunderbolt:

http://performance-curve.com/thunderbolt-spincat.aspx

First one went on my truck about 8 yrs ago, last summer it barely did not pass emissions. I bought another of the same and the numbers went way down and I passed.

My 2.6 Impulse came from out of county & did not have a cat. Again went with the cheapie and it passed despite having a swapped motor with .6L more displacement.

bottom line is they work but they won't last forever.

I also have a Magnaflow/Carsound oval body universal hi-flow cat on my Hyundai, been on for over 10 yrs. car burned oil quite a bit for much of that time.

2 yrs ago I redid the exhaust when I replaced the head, cut the cat off & it had lots of carbon and crap on the leading face of the brick. blew it out, turned the cat around and re-installed. passed emissions. these cats cost a few extra $ but seem to have more longevity.

check ebay & amazon for super cheap flanges