as far as performance, what would be better for my setup?. a cheap test pipe or an oem cat?

 

depends what you want... the 2-3 CHP from a test pipe, or a smog legal car... i'd take smog legal over 3 CHP... now if were to be a full exhaust, then a test pipe would be favorable.

why not get a high flow cat? flows better than oem and does its job pretty good.

oh wait... its a b20 in a civic... i don't even think they will smog it.. at least in cali. test pipe all the way...

 

yeah, so i guess test pipe it is.