high flow cat - ceramic versus metallic
 

OK long story short I thought I had ordered a Magnaflow hi-flow metallic core cat when I had actually ordered a Magnaflow hi-flow ceramic core cat. I was happy when my parts for my new exhaust showed up today, but was soon not so happy when I realized my mistake :vash:

I wanted this
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/d...niversal=59956
but ordered this by mistake
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/d...niversal=54956

So, I have a decision to make. Do I just go ahead and install the ceramic high flow cat (least hassle), or buy the metallic core cat, and try to return the ceramic one or sell it off (most hassle)? I would like better flow and durability which leans towards the metallic cat from what I have read.

I'd personally rather have the metallic core. the cat is your biggest restriction in the exhaust...

I agree. Go metal and cut your losses. I wished I did.

I would choose a metal substrate cat over a ceramic substrate any day of the week.

That being said, I'd also choose any 200 cell per inch cat over Magnaflow's 300 cell per inch.

My favorite is the Metalcat brand.

The one reliable source I knew of for Metalcats (ninosport.com), though, stopped carrying them and says that their "Eastern Metal Matrix " models are just as good. They certainly don't look as nicely put together as metalcats, that's for sure.

jc whitney also carries metalcat brand cats.

I slept on it and am going to return it for the metallic core. Performance peddler will only charge a 15% restocking fee (instead of the normal 30%) since I am exchanging it.

So I'm getting a Magnaflow metallic core cat, resonator, and muffler, all in SS (not polished) for $222 shipped. Not bad. With installation by a local muffler shop the whole thing should be less than $350.

JC Whitney has been backordered on the 3" models for over a well over a year.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1113641

I've pm'd the originator of that thread to see if he could dig up a copy of the graph he had made.

Per this post: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...0&postcount=19

The Metalcat 200 cell per inch flowed about 2x as well as the Magnaflow.

oh.

i've had mine on a shelf in the garage for longer :)

The mice that live in there provide quite a restriction but burn out easy.

Frank

Want to sell it to me, or trade it for some cash and a 2.5" Metalcat? :-D

I ordered a 3" from JCW for my WRX in early 2007. Gave up after two months and ordered it from Ninosport. When I called to cancel the order with JCW, they apologized for being losers and gave me a $20 gift card. So I used that toward a 2.5" metalcat for the Miata. :-D

But now I'm thinking that I want a 3" for the Miata, too, instead of the 2.5".

</hijack>

^ Do those companies sell bolt in replacement cats, or do they need flanges welded on?

They don't sell them with flanges, but this company does.
http://etdracing.com/miatacat.html
http://etdracing.com/products/miatacat/cat.jpg

deliverator- why can't you just chop the 2.5" off further up the reducer at a 3" diameter? The web site makes the cores look like the same diameter and length.

Metal'Cat bitches about everybody ripping off their product but they can't meet demand. Sad. Wonder why ETD didn't go with a 200 cell unit?

Yeah that could work. Also the exhaust shop could flare out the inlet a bit.

I'll give that a shot, I think. Thanks for the idea.