Question about down pipe

[X-Rated GST]

I just wanted to get the dsm community's opinion on an item i found on ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...046196180QQcategoryZ33630QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...yes it's a downpipe, more importantly a catalytic converter retaining downpipe. Unfortunately i live in smog nazi land...aka California...and i want to keep the my dsm as "legal" as possible. I have thought about the megan racing downpipe and i think this one better suits my needs. I was wondering about the quality of the downpipe. Will it bolt onto the cat, etc, etc. I don't have any exahust modifications on my car yet, i got the necessary items such as boost gauge and boost controller. Being a poor college student, i can't do the whole exhaust at one time. So i was wondering if it would be wise to do a piece of it at a time. All suggestions/opinions welcomed.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Well, for one it's an OBX downpipe. I can't see any closeups on the welds, so no comment there. The general consensus with eBay (besides MR) parts is that they will always need some sort of fabrication to make work. Just do some research on "ebay downpipe" and you will see what I mean.

 

[kottyking]

I agree w/ blckspooling. It's a hit or miss. This downpipe has had some fitment issues.

 

[halligoo]

Also, you would be losing the 'flex' portion of the stock downpipe, which comes in handy sometimes. The EBAY pipe appears to be 3" and the stock Cat is 2 1/2", I believe. However the cost savings over the dealership might make it worth it if the mounting brackets match up.

 

[X-Rated GST]

i have searced for "obx" downpipes and "ebay" downpipes to see what kind of issues others have had with their downpipe installations. I know possible fitment issues can come up. I have searched even the galleries on this site to try to compare the obx downpipe vs. either a stock or a megan racing one. It seems like the obx downpipe matches the same bends as other downpipes. My main concern is that the flanges be able to match up. Hmm....decisions...decisions....thanks for the input guys...i might get it just to try it out.

On a side note, i know the stock exhaust is 2.25", isn't the cat the same?

 

[daren_p]

You said you still have the stock cat so that 3" downpipe will probably not bolt up without some modifications as it will have a larger flange. That is a cheep price for a downpipe but its lacking a flex section, something that is good to have. The motor torques back and forth and you need a flex section to "absorb" the movement.

 

[X-Rated GST]

You said you still have the stock cat so that 3" downpipe will probably not bolt up without some modifications as it will have a larger flange. That is a cheep price for a downpipe but its lacking a flex section, something that is good to have. The motor torques back and forth and you need a flex section to "absorb" the movement.

Hmm...good point...I guess i'll hold off until i have enough for the whole exhaust....

 

[IPT]

Hmm...good point...I guess i'll hold off until i have enough for the whole exhaust....

Remember to work your way back. Cat-back exhaust, test pipe, downpipe and then O2 housing.