to cat or not to cat
Hey guys,
Within the next month or two, i'm going to have to replace my catalytic - SHOT! but I'm debating now if i should just go with a cat-less mid-pipe. Any one out there who has done it have anything to say? advantages? disadvantages? Emissions will be an issue, but ha i just had them done a month ago so i got some time before i have to worry about a re-test :P any feedback would be much appreciated. |
Well.....looks like you answered the one major question - emissions.
If you have a lot of time before you have to re-test, I would get it. What are the advantages? You'll get more power - 8-10 hp gain. What are the disadvantages? Smell and the fact that your car will not be legal to drive on the street. You would possibly get tickets from police - I know in California you will for sure. |
Two more advantages/ disadvantages, depending how you look at them, is that you will now be able to throw flames and your car will be much louder.
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yeah i thought about the cops - unless they pull me over for noise, i don't know how they would know. Here in CT its not as bad as it is in CA im sure. I'm thinking it would kind of be dumb to have to redo the cat in two years on top of the cost to do the catless initially.
that being said I am worrying about noise laws. My roommate has a glass pack on his liberty, flow master exhaust, and he's been pulled over, despite being under the decibel limit. I do like the additional horsepower though...I think i hae some more research to do - anyone have any idea on cost for the catless? Is it a big enough savings for now? |
and also - if i do the catless and then need to pass emisisons can i go with a cheap weld in cat down the road?
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midpipes can run from 125(OBX non resonated....LOUD) to like 400 dollars...all depends on HOW loud you are willing to stand.....the more resonated the quieter it is.....but if you have to have emissions checked you WILL NOT pass without a cat....and I know a cat for the 8 is a shitton of money...(not sure exactly but I think over 1k bucks...dont' quote me on that though).....
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i got my TURBOXS midpipe with 2 resonators for 50 bucks used :)...and that things is quiet at start up, at 4k it kicks in and you can here the rasp, but its sooo sexy, i like it :)
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You'll probably have to deal with a check engine light also...
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^def a CEL unless you have black tape/ap/ or AWESOME luck......I'd go with the AP midpipe(yes that's the one I want when I stop being cheap and order the thing) for 216 shipped on Ebay...NEW!...
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Originally Posted by 04RX8man
(Post 3171078)
midpipes can run from 125(OBX non resonated....LOUD) to like 400 dollars...all depends on HOW loud you are willing to stand.....the more resonated the quieter it is.....but if you have to have emissions checked you WILL NOT pass without a cat....and I know a cat for the 8 is a shitton of money...(not sure exactly but I think over 1k bucks...dont' quote me on that though).....
yeah you're right about the cat - its some where around 1k to 1200. :crying: I'd definitely have to get some quieter ones, but then at that price, its probably worth just doing the cat, since i'll eventually have to do it anyway. |
Originally Posted by Low Fly'n 8
(Post 3171092)
You'll probably have to deal with a check engine light also...
ohwell - its only money right? |
De-cat also has the advantage that it won't break down on you. Though i'm not too sure what the reliability numbers are of cats.
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Originally Posted by schiraldi
(Post 3170541)
Hey guys,
Within the next month or two, i'm going to have to replace my catalytic - SHOT! but I'm debating now if i should just go with a cat-less mid-pipe. Any one out there who has done it have anything to say? advantages? disadvantages? Emissions will be an issue, but ha i just had them done a month ago so i got some time before i have to worry about a re-test :P any feedback would be much appreciated. Your cat still has the emissions warranty. Go to mazda and they will replace it. |
^yes warranty....but if not....rx7store has a hi flow cat(which will pass emissions for I belive 395 bucks whis is like 3 times cheaper than the mazda replacement..
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http://www.rx7store.net/category_s/300.htm
oh your lucky day....$345 plus shipping...that's the link to it above... |
go get a replacement from Mazda. 80K miles or 8 yrs, whichever comes first.
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^yes.....but if not do what I recommended..ALOT cheaper
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Originally Posted by mysql101
(Post 3171611)
Your cat still has the emissions warranty. Go to mazda and they will replace it.
anyway, went to the dealer- dealer wanted 1700 to fix it.:( only warranty left i believe is the engine warranty up to 100k i will definitely check out the one 04rx8man said though. thanks guys |
04rx8man - you are the best - it looks like i'm gonna get away for alot less then i had anticipated, which means more mods! :P though i suppose i could just go with a weld in for even less but...
what do you think of this: http://www.rx7store.net/RX_8_Resonat...rb%2016221.htm |
stock cat cost like 1600 or 1700.
not worth it IMO. :) I rather buy 5 high flow cats and change them every 2-3 years ... yes I support cleaner air :) |
not meaning to thread jack but i wanna keep the sound as close to stock as possible so what would youll recommend? i dont want to make my sp2 sound quieter but i dont want it much louder either a little louder is fine ..
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question???
alot of people on other boards for other cars ( YES, there are other cars out there) are hollowing out their cats to be used as a race pipe after the factory cat craps out. pro's - con's? is the factory pipe restrictive, smaller ID? |
There's a DIY here on how to smash out half the catalytic material on the stock cat. That leaves it still functioning, but removes some of the restriction. DIY is pretty interesting because the material is pretty tough. IMHO, removing the cat for the sake of a few HP is irresponsible.
Schiraldi - glad you decided to stick with a cat. You live in Connecticut, whose civil servants are not above browsing fora like this to catch people who publicly confess to crimes. The dealer offering up only an OEM replacement brings back a memory of when the cat in my daughter's Honda went. The dealer told me what the OEM cat would have cost, then said that was ridiculous and recommended an aftermarket one for less than half the price. Ken |
Originally Posted by ken-x8
(Post 3172856)
There's a DIY here on how to smash out half the catalytic material on the stock cat. That leaves it still functioning, but removes some of the restriction. DIY is pretty interesting because the material is pretty tough. IMHO, removing the cat for the sake of a few HP is irresponsible.
Schiraldi - glad you decided to stick with a cat. You live in Connecticut, whose civil servants are not above browsing fora like this to catch people who publicly confess to crimes. The dealer offering up only an OEM replacement brings back a memory of when the cat in my daughter's Honda went. The dealer told me what the OEM cat would have cost, then said that was ridiculous and recommended an aftermarket one for less than half the price. Ken plus, i don't want to have to replace it again in a couple years for emissions. I'm a lot happier now that I don't have to spend 1700 at the damn thieving dealer. I rarely let them do anything on any car for that reason. thanks for your help guys. |
RODJONATHAN- the best for you would be a high flow...will be louder but not quite as loud as catless
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^ thanks ... thats what i was thinking ...any brand recommendations? and about how long do the high flow cats last do they need to be replaced often?
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^there is a few differnet ones around....I posted a link above for the high flow cat on rx7store it's 345...and for longetivity someone will have to chime in....I've heard ppl say they don't last long and others I've heard they're stilll going strong....
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i'm a tree hugger at heart too. my question was because he said his cat is already destroyed, no good. if he were to smash it out to see if he would like the sound of the race pipe or whatever. thats all.
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Get the Rx7club or the mazmart midpipe. Or if you want to go catless get the RB dual resonator midpipe or BHR midpipe.
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If you want to go catless, the right midpipe to buy all depends on how loud you want to be.
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what about a BB mid pipe what do you guys think about that? is it good/bad i cant really find info on it.
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Ask Flashwing.
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no cat!! I think im getting the single resonated rx7store.com midpipe. anyone have it/like it?
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Originally Posted by 04RX8man
(Post 3172515)
http://www.rx7store.net/category_s/300.htm
oh your lucky day....$345 plus shipping...that's the link to it above... My questions about the kit referenced above: Does this kit contain everything I need to replace my cat? Can I reuse the O2 sensor, and does this kit have the fitting for it? Will my 8 still sound like an 8? Is there anything else I need to know? Will my bloody CEL go off, lol? ..... |
To answer your first question, yes it does contain everything you need. As for the CEL, I have never owned that set up so I don't know. most likely you will be ok.
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haha im getting the AP DR midpipe. My stock cat is good so ill keep it int he garage so if i need to smog it ill have it handy.
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haha, walking in my footsteps, you learn well grasshopper
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Originally Posted by schiraldi
(Post 3172859)
as lame as it sounds, part of the reason i was hesitant to go cat-less (as a friend suggested) was the whole pollution issue
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