Hey, I just wanted to make sure that I can just go out and buy one of those 3 inch Magnaflow cats and my shop will be able to install that when I get my car inspected. I mean I know they can obviously, but all I will have to do is buy the cat and they can just weld it in right? They welded my new exhaust and headers together for me and it's just straight pipes pretty much (setup is in sig). Just wanted to make sure before I do anything that that's all I 'll need and I will check with them as well. The car is just too loud right now, I mean, I like it and everything but I paid like 2 grand for a sound system and it's getting droned out. Not to mention the fact that I would probably only be able to drive it 5000 miles per year and I don't want to have to watch every mile I put on it. That's if it even passed emissions at all.
Thanks

 

It should fit, but don't know if it'll pass visual in your state.

 

how much did ur shop charge to install the longtubes?

 

Gotta check with your shop on that one, some shops refuse to touch aftermarket exhausts where the cat has been completely removed or it has to be relocated. It sounds like they will be willing though since they already did your headers and off-road y-pipe. Frankly though, the only place you will be able to put the cat is towards the end of the off-road y-pipe. The cat will be located so far from the headers, that it will most likely not receive enough heat to properly heat up and do its job efficiently.

 

It cost me about a grand to have my shop finish the job I started in my driveway. They welded everything up and and got me the plugs I needed for the AIR tubing and that kind of thing. I was lucky they let me take it in because the guy likes my car lol and he kinda knows my dad. I'm not sure what is included in the visual test, but I think I remember him sayin that since I got the cat removed I would probably only be able to drive it around 5000 miles a year. I'll also let him know about the heat thing and putting it closer to the y pipe, incase he didn't think of that.

 

A cat install is the tricky part with the off-road y-pipe. If you take a look under your car, you will see that your exhaust guy won't have much of an option other then to weld the cat almost towards the end of the y-pipe. Another option to consider would be to just weld in dual cats in each branch of the y-pipe. A pair of Pypes 3" mini-cats will fit on both sides nicely and should offer a negligible restricition to your exhaust. That is what I did as did a few other members on here.

 

That sounds like a good idea as well. I can talk to my shop first about it and we can see what method they think will be best and then I'll post up once we come to a conclusion and see if everyone else agrees too.

 

The visual check in PA is relatively slack - they only care if you have cats, not that they are in factory locations.

Although you are in the Philly region, so they might be stricter out there.

If I was you I'd talk to a few emissions shops to find out what will/won't pass, so you know it will pass in general, not just at one shop.