Megan downpipe and catback, which high flow cat?

[Dream On]

Hey guys, I'm planning on getting the 3" stainless Megan exhaust for a 1g awd, and I'd like to get a fully stainless 3" high flow cat to go with it. Most I see are slip fit though. Is there any 3" cat out there that's all stainless and has the flanges already welded on? And do not suggest a test pipe please, I've made my mind up.

 

[DarthBulk]

I was looking for the same thing, and didn't find one with the flanges already welded on. I have a Megan 3" polished stainless steel test pipe, and I bought a Metalcat 3" stainless steel catalytic converter along with some stainless steel flanges. Then I took both of these to a shop and had them weld the flanges onto the cat (with a little pipe) to make it interchangeable with the test pipe. I found the Metalcat worked well for this, because it is very compact and is high polished, just like the exhaust system.

http://www.performancepeddler.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=SUP200605

Oh, and the Metalcat flows almost as much as a test pipe...it does not have a ceramic honeycomb inside, but rather a metal matrix similar to a MAF. The flow goes straight through the matrix.

 

[Dream On]

Do you notice much of a difference when you switch?

 

[DarthBulk]

I've only switched it once so far, from the test pipe to the cat. I noticed it is a little quieter, but I haven't driven the car hard enough to notice any other difference. I will be taking the car back to AMS in the spring for a final tune, so I won't really know what the difference is until then.

 

[TSImonkey]

VRS exhausts has some nice cats. I emailed them about a 2.5" cat with flanges, and they said they have it. I told them what car specifically and they said they make cats for my 96 talon all the time. They gave me a price..it was something like 145 or so. Here's a link to their website, it says the 3inch cat is 100 dollars..but i'm pretty sure thats the universal slip fit.
Just email them and ask how much for a 3inch for your car, they'll let you know.

http://www.vrsexhaust.com/CATALYTICS/catalytics.html

hope i could help

 

[Blackmitzu]

Try to find one for a corvette, alot of them are stainless and are 3inch.

 

[Dream On]

I'm thinking maybe I'll just buy a SS one off of ebay and weld on the flanges myself. Are they just 2 bolt flanges like ones I'd find on RRE's site?

"3" 2 Bolt Exhaust Flange Stainless Steel
2 bolt pattern at 4 3/16" spacing (matches RSR and Apex)
1/2" Thick stainless steel, laser cut."

 

[DarthBulk]

My downpipe had the two bolt flanges like you show in your picture. The catback portion of my exhaust was a Thermal Research exhaust, and had a 3 bolt flange. I cut that off and went with the two bolt flanges all around, because that is what my test pipe had as well.

 

[Dream On]

Any idea what the length of the cat should be, including the flanges? It would probably be the same length as the Megan 3" test pipe I would guess.

EDIT: after searching, I found the megan test pipe to be 16", so that's what I'll shoot for for now.

 

[DarthBulk]

If you want an exact measurement, I could measure my Megan test pipe when I get home tonight...it is sitting on the floor at my house

 

[ndsti]

I would suggest a different flange, that flange will be a PITA to align. Try to find one with bigger holes for adjustment.

 

[Dream On]

DarthBulk, I think the AWD and FWD are different. The number I got was from an ebay auction, so who knows how true it is though. I could drill the holes larger, that wouldn't be a problem. Any other places you know of with SS flanges?

 

[DarthBulk]

I missed it that you are AWD, I guess the test pipe section could be different. I bought my stainless steel flanges from here:

http://www.diamondstarmotorsport.com/diyparts.shtml

They were good quality, in retail packaging, and very thick.

 

[Dream On]

DarthBulk, you've been a great help. I'm gonna go recommend some rep points for you.

 

[Rally1]

Good info, any success?
I have the same Megan setup, and a test pipe i made. I no longer have access to welding and need a cat to go back to the street. I know when I made that TP it was a pain to get the flanges to line up, so I am guessing no one makes a HFC that will work out of the box.

Right now my plan is a magnaflow off eBay, trusting the 16" mentioned above.
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displayuniversal.asp?universal=94009

And then order some flanges if my local muffler guy doesn't have them (they often dont have 3").