3 Exhaust questions (very simple)

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Basically I have given up on 4-2-1 headers, but I still want a full exhaust.

What is better.. the BBP flanged header to downpipe, or the cup and bolt header to downpipe? By better I don't mean performance.. I mean quality. I read a while ago that someone bought the flanged type and had it rust out on them, has anyone else with BBP headers/full exhaust had them rust out? and if it did, I thought stainless steel wasn't supposed to rust.

What CAT should I buy with a full aftermarket exhaust?

Is the header on the 420a held on with studs or bolts?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

What CAT should I buy with a full aftermarket exhaust?

Is the header on the 420a held on with studs or bolts?

Whatever cat you choose, make sure it is indeed a catalytic converter. Many "high-flow cats" sold on eBay are actually hollow resonators. Reputable retailers such as Jegs and Summit carry good high-flow cats.

The stock exhaust manifold is held on with a combination of studs and bolts. ARP makes a stud kit for the 420A and the smaller (M8) 4G63 studs will work as well.

 

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Thanks bro I appreciate it.

 

[Locke]

What is better.. the BBP flanged header to downpipe, or the cup and bolt header to downpipe? By better I don't mean performance.. I mean quality. I read a while ago that someone bought the flanged type and had it rust out on them, has anyone else with BBP headers/full exhaust had them rust out? and if it did, I thought stainless steel wasn't supposed to rust.

I've never used the cup and bolt type that you see all over eBay, but others around here say to try to avoid them.

Stainless can rust, but it is very resistant to rusting, and in most cases, it is the welds which will rust first.

If you are worried about the welds rusting and breaking, you could spray the welds with Zinc, this will help prevent that. You can buy spray-cans of Zinc coating at MSD, Grainger, McMaster-Carr, etc...

 

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Thanks Locke.. Thats a great idea, I'll probably do that before the install then.

New questions, where can I get a nice CAT for a BBP setup?

How do I determine if something is actually a CAT or a resonator?
All the ebay ones look the same and are labeled as catalytic convertors/test pipes which I assume are all resonators and not real CATs.

 

[Locke]

If it's from eBay, it likely not a real cat. Real cat's aren't cheap.

To tell for sure, you'd have to look inside.

Try Summit or Jegs as Paul mentioned.