Best CATS behind Long Tube Headers ?

[VictorCrown]

What do you run behind your long tubes? There are a lot of options in terms of Cats, X-Pipes and Mufflers. Here are the latest I'm toying with buying:

Spun metallic cats like those sold by SW with their headers:

http://www.planetmagnaflow.com/shop/Spun-Cat-100.html

This was the picture what had me rooting for them, they look so easy to place just about anywhere on the pipes, but they've got no oxygen sensor bung:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/2/7/5/exhaust-cats.jpg

There are also these polished stainless cats said by Magnaflow to be hi-flow and they can be fitted with air bungs:

http://www.planetmagnaflow.com/shop/Mirror-Finish-96.html

Any ideas on which Cats would work best?

TIA

[Joe Walsh]

I've got a set of the Magnaflow #54306 S.S. Cats behind my Kook's LT headers.
They are working great, and look 'nice and purdy' too.

[VictorCrown]

I've got a set of the Magnaflow #54306 S.S. Cats behind my Kook's LT headers.
They are working great, and look 'nice and purdy' too.
Hi Joe,

Thanks for the feedback on your install. I wanted to make sure that these were not way too big to fit behind the long tubes. Even if yours are Kooks and mine are SWs they shouldn't be that much different. Since the Stainless Works headers end in a 3" diameter, I would use the same ones only in slightly larger diameter to your 2 1/2 inchers. I figured on staying stainless throughout the exhaust path just to keep father 'Rust' away. Glad to know they'll fit!

Thx to your feedback I just ordered them from Performance Peddler for less than $150/pair using the code 'bestoffer4em' during checkout. :cool:

Cheers,

Vic

[Joe Walsh]

Here are some pictures of my install.
The Magnaflow cats fit just in front of the transmission crossmember.
I had all the piping Jet-Hot coated after the muffler shop was done welding them up.

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0361.jpg
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0363.jpg
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0364.jpg
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0365.jpg

[ImpalaSlayer]

JOE you must tell me where you go thatself adhesive heat sheild. my feet are burnin up over here

[Joe Walsh]

JOE you must tell me where you go thatself adhesive heat sheild. my feet are burnin up over here

Thermo-Tec adhesive backed Heat Barrier.
I think that I bought the 12" x 12" size...one for each side above the Cats.
It looks like it isn't enough coverage in the photos, but the transmission crossmember blocks/absorbs the heat where you can still see floorpan.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Product-Line/Thermo-Tec-Adhesive-Backed-Heat-Barriers/?keyword=

I also used Thermo-Tec's Express Velcro Sleeves to shield the fuel lines where the headers get close to them.
(On the passenger's side frame rail below the heater core box)

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=thermo-tec%20express%20sleeves&dds=1

[ImpalaSlayer]

did it make a noticeable difference?

[Joe Walsh]

I'm not sure, as I put the Heat Barrier blankets on the floorboards at the same time that I installed the headers.
Nothing seemed different, heat-wise, after the install....:dunno:
I don't notice any excess heat in the floorboards, but I don't drive in my bare feet either.

[ImpalaSlayer]

mine get HOT. as in my feet felt like they were sweatin.

[Joe Walsh]

mine get HOT. as in my feet felt like they were sweatin.

Then I guess that my Heat Barrier blankets are working!

[ImpalaSlayer]

yup! sorry for hijack!

[VictorCrown]

yup! sorry for hijack!
Ya had to find out somewhere, looks like good stuff but hope I don't need it. :coolman:

BTW Joe, where did you get those 3" flanges to hook the tubes to your headers? I'm hoping the exhaust shop carries them in stainless without needing to order them over the internet. I'm hoping that in not too long I'll be able to show off my own undersides like that, although your pictures shine! :beatnik:

Vic

[Joe Walsh]

Ya had to find out somewhere, looks like good stuff but hope I don't need it. :coolman:

BTW Joe, where did you get those 3" flanges to hook the tubes to your headers? I'm hoping the exhaust shop carries them in stainless without needing to order them over the internet. I'm hoping that in not too long I'll be able to show off my own undersides like that, although your pictures shine! :beatnik:

Vic

When I ordered my headers from Kooks,
I asked them to manufacture them with the "ball & socket" style bolt-up like my 5.0 Mustang shorty headers have.
It allows a lot more adjustment of the pipes vs. the traditional straight bolt-up flanges.
They included the flanges* and the short piece of pipe with the "socket" to mate to the collector's "ball".

*Kooks had to trap the flange behind the "ball" portion of the collector as they built them.

[RR|Suki]

Best cats behind longtubes? None ;):D

[VictorCrown]

Best cats behind longtubes? None ;):D
Hi RR Suki,

That's for sure, only my mechanic is also State Inspector so it sort of complicates things when I ask him to build it street illegal. :cheesed:

That's also why I plan on going with oversized 3" Cats rather than drop down directly to 2 1/2 inchers before the Cats, hoping this will further reduce the flow reduction, although a double negative doesn't always make a positive.

Vic