I hate asking a question i think i know the answer to but still not sure. But im gonna ask anyways for the saftey.

Ive searched On here for Catalytic Converter and got 35 results all which did not answer my question, got me some insite though. Or mabey i just didnt read hard enough i did read about 30 of the posts.

My question is. Im about to redue my whole exahust system from header to tip, and i knwo the 96 + have a ob2 sensor or whatever it is in the cat. converter. My question is, if i were to leave that converter there (its in great shape and basically brand new) and install the pipe on to the tip and the pipe on to the headers (bolt on) would it be ok? or woudl the pipe not fit, for any reason. Im probably gonna go 2.5" piping and was wondering if that would be a direct bolt on, or woudl it just better to save my money and wait to get a "high flow" converter to install with the whole thing.

I mean i know the oem cats arent for performance, so its why im asking if i even shoudl bother keeping it there and replacing everything else. thanks for the questions.

again i hate asking questions i might know the answer to but still some guidence!

 

It's a topic well worth discussing and will surely elicit a lot of differing opinions. Basically, it comes down to this.
If the engine / vehicle will spend the rest of its career Naturally Aspired (no Turbo):
1) You need to go no larger than 2 1/4" system. (You would actually hurt performance with a too large system (loss of salvaging action)
2) The stock OEM Converter, in good condition, has sufficient excess flow capacity.
3) You would gain no appreciable advantage with a High-flow (N/A) since the system restrictions would now be either the stock down pipe and/or the oem exhaust manifold.
4) Even an unmodified Header Assemble would be a choke point. What is traditionally called the "collector" is normally designed to bolt up to what? The Stock OEM Converter.
Look at some of the available Headers DC Sport Etc and pay particular attention to the collector. It looks like it was designed as an afterthought.

Then there's the noise penalty of a High-Flow Cat, and the possible State Inspection ramifications (if it's not a true Cat)

P

 

Always apprciate your input P.

1. I am thinking of getting turbo but not in a few months to a year, so i would rather get the 2.5" pipe now instead of getting smaller pipe now and then switching over again to bigger.

2. Yes the BIGGEST reason as to why i did not want to change my converter is b.c of the sensor thats on it and b.c of inspection, i didnt want to mess with my converter and would rather just leave it up on there feelin confident the next time i get an inspection.

3. Im DEFINATLY getting headers when i do get the exhaust just so i can do it all at once (sorry i didnt mention about the headers) So ill have the infamous I/H/E conbo.

But thank u for answering the question, i feel a sigh of relieve

 

1)if you are thinking about turbo, don't even think twice about loosing your oem cat, get a high flow unit(quality made one such as random tech), ask any turbo guy and they will tell you the same thing.
CEL problem could be corrected by defouler or o2 sim.
ask me how


2)with turbo, you can't pass inspection(except kit, such as greddy, which only availble in japan) with or without the cat.
not exactly sure what do you guy have to do in your state inspection.

3)why bother with a header now? if you going turbo soon enough.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2)with turbo, you can't pass inspection(except kit, such as greddy, which only availble in japan) with or without the cat.</TD></TR></TABLE>
not necessarily - that depends on the each state's laws.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by notoriousB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
not necessarily - that depends on the each state's laws.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm... I'm looking at Honda_Accord's location... Cedar Park, TX. Isn't that outside Austin? If so, Austin doesn't have emissions inspections, just a safety inspection (mostly visual). Although just a safety inspections, they'll pop the hood and check for visual violations (which would include turbos). Well, they're supposed to at least. Half of the inspectors in the Austin area don't give a rat's *** and barely look at the outside of the car, much less under the hood.

Of course, I'm basing all of this from when I lived in the Austin area (near Round Rock) a few years ago. Things might have changed since then.

 

leaveing the OEM cat, converter and redueing the rest of the piping and tail pipe.. It wont make anything sound crappy will it? ive heard alot of good things with flowmaster and that it has a deep sound and thats what i want. I dont want a crackle crappy misquitoe type sound lol.

 

I'm partial to the MagnaFlow Systems. Flowmaster makes excellent systems for Diesels and a lot of stuff you see on Spike TV's "Trucks" series, but I was more anamored with the MagnaFlow's when I heard a system at a local Speed Shop.

It's really a matter of personal taste, but if there's one thing I'd suggest would be to ride IN a car the has the system you're interested in. Audio .files don't give the true idea of what you'll experience INSIDE the car.

This is an important point on cars with fold-down rear seats because the sound which radiates thru the trunk floor echo's thru the entire car's interior because there's no barrier between the trunk and the passanger compartment.

P

 

Was wondering if the white circled part is a "test" pipe that would replace the cat. converter if i wanted to even replace it (which i dont) and if it is, if i were to buy that exhaust system and go and put it on, do i just leave that pipe part alone and just put the pipe with the tip and the pipe that hooks up to the header on.

 

That is the primary resonator; and it doesn't replace the converter. It's incorporated into the first pipe the the Cat-Back system (be it a two or three piece system) and if laid side by side (side by each for French Canadians) it would be in the same location as the factory resonator.

In the supplied illustration ('97SE coupe) for example it's the equivilent to #14, the "B" Pipe. Note the 3 bolt flange, that attaches to the rear of the converter.

http://www.hondaautomotivepart...81%29

P

 

ahh ok, so the new exhaust system replaces

#2
#14 (number 14 is two pieces in my pic)

then when i get headers the new headers will replace the headers in the engine bay and then

#8 or 37 (its hard to see where the lines go to )

sorry if im a pain just dont wanna purchase something for nothing

 

First off, I believe the picture you're refering to is not for a '97 Accord F22b2 DX,LX or SE. The bends are all wrong.

If this works, here's a picture of the Magnaflows' layout:



The "b" pipe has no bends. This system replaces everything from the Catalytic converter to the rear bumper.

P

 

The way it works:
The Header assembly (DC Sport, Whatever) replaces the factory Exhaust Manifold and Downpipe (often refered to as the "A" Pipe). The header assembly bolts directly to the Converter and the Cat-Back system bolts to the rear of the converter.
It's important that you select a Header which is not listed "For Off-road use only". One rated for street use (E.P.A. / DOT approved) will be no different than their "Full-Race" cousins but for one important difference - the provision for mounting the Primary O2 Sensor.

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First off, I believe the picture you're refering to is not for a '97 Accord F22b2 DX,LX or SE. The bends are all wrong.

If this works, here's a picture of the Magnaflows' layout:

The "b" pipe has no bends. This system replaces everything from the Catalytic converter to the rear bumper.

P</TD></TR></TABLE>

ya i know the first picture isnt for my 97 se, it was really just a sample.. but i did find this picture and it looks alot like the magnaflow. what yall think?

 

That's more like I'd expect to see 4 a 5th Gen.

P

 

Ok thanks for all the help and patients P i really apprciate it and value your opionion the most

 

your right, i did get the pics off ebay as refrence, however the guy selling it does have 100 percent feedbak (over 5600 sold) , so not to worried about it, but anwyays again it was just refrence thanks though for the input

incase u wanted the link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1

 

The reason why people say to stay away from the ebay systems is that they tend to be pretty loud and have a raspy sound. The mufflers use cheap sound insulation, which isn't as effective as sound insulation found in higher quality mufflers.

My suggestion would be to go ahead and buy that system, but replace the muffler with a Magnaflow or something similar. You can get a Magnaflow muffler off ebay for ~$60. Then have a muffler shop weld the new muffler on for you. In other words, buy that system just for the piping.

The end result is a quieter, nicer sounding exhaust.

 

If I recall correctly, that IS one of the ebay brands.... It's just one of the older, longer lasting ones.

Either way, that's the system that my friend put on his 5th gen Prelude (Tsudu, Tsudo, whatever it is). And it sounds like ***... Raspy as hell... WAY too loud for my tastes...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philadd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The reason why people say to stay away from the ebay systems is that they tend to be pretty loud and have a raspy sound. The mufflers use cheap sound insulation, which isn't as effective as sound insulation found in higher quality mufflers.

My suggestion would be to go ahead and buy that system, but replace the muffler with a Magnaflow or something similar. You can get a Magnaflow muffler off ebay for ~$60. Then have a muffler shop weld the new muffler on for you. In other words, buy that system just for the piping.

The end result is a quieter, nicer sounding exhaust.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats acually a good idea, never thought about it like that

also it does sa Tsudo, Tsudu or whateve,r they also have ones that say "greddy" and they both look exactly the same..so i really doubt any of those are what they are, but i do like Philadd's idea

 

Yeah, I like to think of it as the "poor man's catback".

 

lol, im very much indeed a poorman