Hi all,

Need some help. I'm trying to install a skunk2 exhaust on a base '98 I recently purchased, and it doesn't seem to be lining up the way the OEM did.

The cat that was already on there was some hack-job that looks like somebody welded it with a caulking gun and some paste. Horrible job. The replacement cat I got from eastern catalytic is an inch shorter than the one on there, so I'm already screwed from that perspective. Can anyone recommend a decent direct-fit catalytic converter?

The skunk2 seems to line up about 2 to 4 inches too close to the front of the car, and the spokes that the rubber connectors fit to seem to be pointing the wrong way in relation to the OEM pipe.

Am I missing something obvious, or is it simply that the cat is too short, and I should never buy anything from Eastern Catalytic again...?

Forgive the quality on the pics, they came from my camera phone:

here's the Eartern Catalytic cat coming off a meagan header:


Skunk2 pipe coming off the cat, and not quite lining up with the spokes. Also a little perplexing is the fact that the spokes coming off the skunk2 pipe are going the opposite direction that the OEM pipe was. I can't have it backwards because the flanges are fairly idiot proof.


Another shot of the prongs not lining up.


Holding up the rear portion shows about how far off we are.


I guess an easy fix is a longer cat, but I was under the impression that this would be a simple bolt-on procedure. Am I missing something obvious?



Modified by zipdigital at 10:44 AM 10/25/2007

 

I'm pretty sure that exhaust is meant to be used with the stock cat.
That cat, I definately know is a lot less in length than stock.
BTW eastern cat FTL
I had one blow out on me in 1 month

 

+1 to the cat being too short. I'd try to return that cat since it was the wrong size and get you a Carsound, AKA Magnaflow, direct replacement. Not to mention its a CARB approved high flow cat. Found them for about $80 shipped on eBay. I have a 2.25in universal sitting in my room that I'm trying to get around to putting on. Unsurpassed quality...

 

K, so dump the Eastern...was afraid of that the instant I saw it and it's rusted flanges.

no1knows908 - Sounds a little inexpensive for a direct fit...and for whatever reason I can only find universals on Ebay. Only direct fit that I can find are for 4th gen and previous. Did they make a 5th gen direct fit?

don't wanna buy the wrong thing and have my 'lude off the road any longer than I have to.


Modified by zipdigital at 6:00 AM 10/26/2007

 

i had to modify my skunk2 pipe too sense im not using stock cat converter

 

the exhaust is suppose to work with stock cat, look into a SMSP cat. but do not think that there is not gonna be some hacking of some pipes regardless.

 

Sorry my bad, I was referring to the universal 2.25in, and I bought it a few months ago. Honestly I'd cut the old flanges off the stock cat and weld them to a universal the same diameter as the Skunk2 piping. Still keeps everything bolt on.

 

if you dislike the environment buy a test pipe

 

yeah i'd go with a test pipe

 

nah, I'm one of the guys who's gonna favor the environment and at least have a catalytic converter. I think I'm going to do as suggested above and we'ld the flanges of the Eastern on a magnaflow universal and hope for the best. Thanks guys!