Which catalytic converter for my Daily Driver?

[skate1968]

In my perfect world I'd put a high flow afermarket exhaust system on my 91 civic DX to allow for a little more HP. But in reality that's too much of an investment for a car that has issues. Then again i'd prefer, if possible, to get a cat that allowed for as much air flow as possible. (I'm not real worried about emissions).

Can anyone recomend a nice compomise between inexpensive and high-flow? A good cat for the money?

thanks

(if i had the tools, knowledge and motivation i'd rig up some test pipe. sorry green peace folks)

 

[surfstar]

Catco claims hi-flow converters and their universal ones are quite cheap - just have a shop install it and you're set. I think I got mine from Summit or similar.

 

[Doc8404]

just go to rockauto.com and order whatever...____, it's a 91....I wouldn't want to start decreasing the back pressure or messing with it.

 

[NYEngineer]

I just bought Catco for my Yukon because it's a big, stupid dual cat. On a few hot rods I've done, I've used Random Technologies. They make a nice part.

 

[alanu]

I will never ever use a CATCO brand for a customers car. Typically I'll use a walker "regular" or the ultra OBDII speced walker cat.

I had alot of CATCO fail very quickly. Magnaflow high flow cat are absolute junk!!! They have so little precious metals that they are basically resonators disguised as catalytic converters.

 

[Gary Allan]

Go Type-R!

 

[sprintman]

Just fitted U.S Magnaflows to my Outback and Mazda 626 turbo. The difference in power is still hard to comprehend. Better fuel economy should pay for the upgrade

 

[skate1968]

Thanks to each one of you who has volunteered their opinion on this matter. I shall weigh in all of your recommendations against cat prices.

(AlanU, special thanks to you.)

 

[alanu]

One time a person drove by my shop and asked me to install a magnaflow highflow in his newer generation toyota supra turbo. I said NO. He was actually irritated and gave me a dirty look. I told him he'll be honestly removing that catalytic in a year (if that)

A muffler shop down the road says the stainless steel magnaflow high flow cats are constantly removed off of cars due to failures or reducing NOX and they do a poor job in oxidizing HC and CO. They are truly junk and should not be used.

On the other hand if you have a non OBDII car with only 1 02 sensor I'd make a flanged setup to put a test pipe everytime you go through smog tests. YA YA alot of people do it.

Buy a real catalytic. If you want a resonator buy a resonator. The Magnaflow is truly a joke and I bet they know it too. If you look at the inside of the Magnaflow you can literally see less catalytic material (honeycomb).

Catco was dropped as a product at my local big supplier. They were getting more grief in returns (so I've been told). I did have issues on some cars.

Walker seems more of a solid product. They have good support in warranty too.

Skate, do what a high percentage of 91 civics do. Test pipe!!adn remove the restrictive downpipe. A cheap header alternative is the Pacesetter/holley brand (nice quality). it might get raspy though with no cat.

 

[sprintman]

Sounds like I bought the best cat. No smog laws here.

 

[skate1968]

Quote:

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...and remove the restrictive downpipe. A cheap header alternative is the Pacesetter/holley brand (nice quality)....

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alanu,

again, thanks much for the input

i've thought about getting a bigger exhaust system before. But it's my understanding that an aftermarket header wont do me any good because i have the stock exhaust pipes. I believe that i'd have to replace everyting to get a result.

(whereas i believe a high flow cat could help because i burn a lot of oil which produces soot that would clog it)

 

[porcupine73]

Hi, not trying to hijack, but do you have the part #'s for those U.S. Magnaflows for the Outback? I have an '00 Outback that I'm thinking about doing something like this on. I've heard of people using Borla and Perrin...

 

[sprintman]

If you mean me I'll go ask the dude who fitted it?

 

[porcupine73]

Oh no that's fine. I'll try a parts search. I thought you might've fitted it yourself. Thanks!

 

[JHZR2]

OE, OE, OE ONLY!

Just finally got over the annoying itertions that has been emissions on my BMW. A NEW aftermarket works about as well as a used OE one with 100k on it - seriously.

OE makes my emissions so squeeky clean that its amazing. Plus, the exhaust note is much better too...

OE ONLY! Spend the bucks if the car is worth keeping.

JMH

 

[sprintman]

Magnaflow 54306M 2.5" ID inlet and exhaust

 

[porcupine73]

Great thanks!

 

[sprintman]

He had another with 3.0" inlet and exhaust but not sure if that would fit. Sure frees up a lot of power over OEM.

 

[porcupine73]

Really...that's cool. I the one you listed available from performancepeddler.com for not a bad price. I've bought KYB GR-2's from them before so maybe I"ll give it a try.

 

[sprintman]

I didn't expect much from naturally aspirated Outback unlike my turbo Mazda but was really surprised at the difference.