Cats or Not?

Green99GT · 11-16-2001, 07:24 PM

hey all i am going to be buying a Xpipe sometime soon here and wanted to know what your thoughts are on if i should go with the offroad or the Cat version.... i do plan on adding a supercharger soon also.... and i know that SC/Turbo 4bangers tend to preform better with out Cats is the 4.6 the same way?
also what are some of the pros/cons of either setup aside from inspection and a sniffer

Ares · 11-16-2001, 11:19 PM

Umm I see no reason to not run cats. The loss of any power with todays cats is so small.

46stang · 11-17-2001, 12:27 AM

the hp diff. is pretty minimal. if you want your car loud go no cats, if you want to keep the decibals down some get the cats. also you will need mil eliminators or a aftermarket chip so your check engine light doesn't come on if you don't have cats! with cats no problem. fyi. good luck.
Leon

Mercury · 11-17-2001, 01:55 AM

I went with No-Cats for the simple reason of COST. Its like 150+ dollars less with no cats.

Tim C and I built our own MIL eliminators. The Flotech cost me 112$, with cats I think it was 259$. MIL eliminators usually run around 50-60 dollars. The parts to build one ran me 6$ at Radio Shack. I had to go to 4 stores though to get the 4 main parts neccassary.

I hate Rice · 11-18-2001, 07:11 PM

Hey Mercury do you mind posting on how you built your own eliminators? Thanks

Red Mustang Gt 46 · 11-19-2001, 08:07 AM

Just an opinion:
With cats, retain your low end torque and gain mid range HP... Without cats, lose low end torque and gain upper range HP.
I went with cats...4.6's already lack in the low end torque department.

Mustang92 · 11-20-2001, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Mustang Gt 46
Just an opinion:
With cats, retain your low end torque and gain mid range HP... Without cats, lose low end torque and gain upper range HP.
I went with cats...4.6's already lack in the low end torque department.

Umm not exactly. With an Offroad H I picked up low end torque and power throughout the power band. An Offroad X will lose a little low end torque and will gain 1-2 more RWHP than an H.

Bill

Red Mustang Gt 46 · 11-20-2001, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mustang92

Umm not exactly. With an Offroad H I picked up low end torque and power throughout the power band. An Offroad X will lose a little low end torque and will gain 1-2 more RWHP than an H.

Bill

Umm, I thought he said an X-pipe specifically...

Would'nt you say an X-pipe paired with a 9:1-9:4 compression ratio will fair better with some back pressure. On the other side, a 10:1-11:1 compression ratio fairs better with no back pressure...in reference to low end torque...

Cliff

Green99GT · 11-21-2001, 02:07 AM

hey thanks for the input guys! i think i am gonna go with a Xpipe with cats.

Mustang92 · 11-21-2001, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Mustang Gt 46

Umm, I thought he said an X-pipe specifically...

Would'nt you say an X-pipe paired with a 9:1-9:4 compression ratio will fair better with some back pressure. On the other side, a 10:1-11:1 compression ratio fairs better with no back pressure...in reference to low end torque...

Cliff

I didn't catch that part sorry about that.

Honestly I don't have enough experience personally with the X pipe because I don't care for the sound. However when I change over to Longtubes I'm going with an offroad X and bullet mufflers and from what I've seen on the dyno there will not be a loss in power due to a lack in back pressure.

Bill

96SNAKE · 11-22-2001, 11:18 AM

I'll chime in here. I've had both since my Bassani X with cats failed. I liked the Bassani with cats but the cats are junk and eventually fail as many Bassani owners have found out. If you want cats, go with VRS. I think they are not only cheaper but better made.

On the power issue.. I've heard from anyone who has gutted or replaced their cats, that torque goes up, despite the butt-o-meter feel of loss. I think the reason why it feels like we lose torque is because power increases nicely on top to make it seem like we lose some down low. I know the back pressure idea makes sense though. Once I get my car's O2 sensors replaced, I'll kknow for sure on my car.

11-16-2001, 07:24 PM	#1
Green99GT Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: PA, USA Posts: 19	Cats or Not? hey all i am going to be buying a Xpipe sometime soon here and wanted to know what your thoughts are on if i should go with the offroad or the Cat version.... i do plan on adding a supercharger soon also.... and i know that SC/Turbo 4bangers tend to preform better with out Cats is the 4.6 the same way? also what are some of the pros/cons of either setup aside from inspection and a sniffer __________________ 1999 mustang GT 2.5 MAC Cat-back K&N filter

11-16-2001, 11:19 PM	#2
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	Umm I see no reason to not run cats. The loss of any power with todays cats is so small. __________________ Ed.. My Mustangs webpage NMRA M/M 7222 2000 Mustang GT - 5 speed Race weight w/o driver 3086lbs, 3250 w/ driver Best 1/4mile run to date: 12.79@105.96, 60' 1.76sec.(10-27-02) Best MPH 106.03(10-27-02)4.10gears

11-17-2001, 12:27 AM	#3
46stang Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: moorpark ca Posts: 340	the hp diff. is pretty minimal. if you want your car loud go no cats, if you want to keep the decibals down some get the cats. also you will need mil eliminators or a aftermarket chip so your check engine light doesn't come on if you don't have cats! with cats no problem. fyi. good luck. Leon __________________ 03 sonic blue cobra coupe, 11.49@122mph bakerfield raceway! 11.67@120mph fontana 98 GT, stock for now.

11-17-2001, 01:55 AM	#4
Mercury The Redneck James Bond Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Fayetteville NC Posts: 1,707	I went with No-Cats for the simple reason of COST. Its like 150+ dollars less with no cats. Tim C and I built our own MIL eliminators. The Flotech cost me 112$, with cats I think it was 259$. MIL eliminators usually run around 50-60 dollars. The parts to build one ran me 6$ at Radio Shack. I had to go to 4 stores though to get the 4 main parts neccassary. __________________ 64 1/2 "D" code Red Mustang Coupe. Red Baron, 2000 Perf Red Mustang GT. 5spd. Stage 2 CNC heads with Large Valves, Comp Cams (270-274 dur .550 lift), Forged Crank, DRP pistons, Manly H-beams, Pro M 87 mm Mass Air, 24lb Inj, 75mm TB, Plenum Spacer ,Long Tube Headers, Homemade H-pipe, 2 chamber Flows, 4:10's, Steeda Tri-Ax, LKW 70/30's, Eibach Drag Springs, Steeda SubFrames, Battle Boxes, Rear Girdle, Adj uppers, Alunimum Drshft, Southside Lift Bars. Project Cars, 64 1/2 6cyl coupe, 1930 Model A Nostalgia Rod.

11-19-2001, 08:07 AM	#6
Red Mustang Gt 46 13.3 @ 103 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 253	Just an opinion: With cats, retain your low end torque and gain mid range HP... Without cats, lose low end torque and gain upper range HP. I went with cats...4.6's already lack in the low end torque department. __________________ Equipment by: Steeda C&L COMP CAMS FRPP MSD Bassani Magnaflow MAC

11-18-2001, 07:11 PM	#5
I hate Rice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 81	Hey Mercury do you mind posting on how you built your own eliminators? Thanks

11-21-2001, 02:07 AM	#9
Green99GT Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: PA, USA Posts: 19	hey thanks for the input guys! i think i am gonna go with a Xpipe with cats. __________________ 1999 mustang GT 2.5 MAC Cat-back K&N filter

11-22-2001, 11:18 AM	#11
96SNAKE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: allentown,pa,u.s. Posts: 780	I'll chime in here. I've had both since my Bassani X with cats failed. I liked the Bassani with cats but the cats are junk and eventually fail as many Bassani owners have found out. If you want cats, go with VRS. I think they are not only cheaper but better made. On the power issue.. I've heard from anyone who has gutted or replaced their cats, that torque goes up, despite the butt-o-meter feel of loss. I think the reason why it feels like we lose torque is because power increases nicely on top to make it seem like we lose some down low. I know the back pressure idea makes sense though. Once I get my car's O2 sensors replaced, I'll kknow for sure on my car. __________________ formerly 96cobra89lx306 (96Cobra/softtop- Black&Tan, 3.73,almdrvsht,fancontrl,steeda sbfrmes,r-LCA's&shifter,eibachspgs,KYB's,FR-upper arms,Y2K Cobra R's,pulleys,Bassani X pipe(cats gutted),C&L 80mm,Stage 2 Clutch, polished intake and cam covers etc.. last dyno w/cats on-287rwhp. 93 Ford Probe Gt 4.39 stock gears and K&N (slower but turns) 2001 Green Ninja ZX6R

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