Installing CATS in an off-road pipe

King Snake · 03-22-2001, 12:33 PM

I just purchased a couple of high flow cats that I plan on welding in a BBK offroad pipe that I have laying around. Do you guys think it would be easier to weld them in before or after the pipe is installed? I realize the work will have to be precise if done before installation in order for it to line up correctly. I would be easier to weld out of the car. Also, do stainless wire/rods have to be used when welding stainless to aluminized steel? Thanks for any feedback, I hope to do this on Saturday.

------------------
'97 Cobra, Rio Red, MAC Cold Air Kit, 3.73s, NGK V-Power

Ares · 03-22-2001, 04:42 PM

I will be doing the same shortly to my X-pipe and have done it before. I would mount every thing up in car then tack weld them in place. That way you can postion them nicely on pipe. Then take pipe back off to do final weld.You could do it off car but then run the risk of the down turns being off and not being able to bolt up to header/manifold properly.

As for the welding rods/wire Im not to sure since I have never tried to weld stainless. If no one here can answer that may try giving a local welding shop a call for what they would do.

King Snake · 03-22-2001, 05:30 PM

Good suggestion, thanks. What kind of cats did you get and where did you get them? I ordered mine from Jeggs. They were advertised as Dynomax Supercats, but they have no manufacturer markings on them. They are probably Catco like most of the rest.
Thanks again!

moosejaw · 03-24-2001, 02:33 AM

A rule of thumb for welding disimilar metals is use the filler wire from the higher quality metal. In this case use 308 filler (tig) or wire (mig).

The best results would be with inconel filler wire RN-82. But it is unlikely you will find a muffler or exhaust shop that would have it. The stainless filler will do.

Mike

------------------
Live near St.Louis?
Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO
Check out my ride.

Ares · 03-24-2001, 02:59 PM

Cool thanks for info on the wire. I have a gasless mig welder that does nice work with exhuast.

I havent bought cats for my x-pipe yet but I will be buying the 3way no air Dynomax one's. I forget what I put on my firebird but the were not stainless and are pretty rusty now.

moosejaw · 03-25-2001, 12:01 AM

Ahhhh. 3-ways the way to go. Dump the egr with those babies. Good luck.

Mike

------------------
Live near St.Louis?
Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO
Check out my ride.

Ares · 03-25-2001, 05:56 PM

Considering I paid $200 for x-pipe and the cats will run me another $100, I end up saving myself $100 by welding in cats verse buying x-pipe with cats

King Snake · 03-26-2001, 12:36 PM

Yeah, I am going to save quite a bit of $$ too. I am going to have a place around here weld in the cats and install the pipe for $85. Not too bad...
I also have the 3-way Dynomax cats.

Ares · 03-26-2001, 05:09 PM

$85 to install pipe damn they got balls. Considering it takes me 10-12 minutes to change mine with car on ramps and me on my back, I just cant justify spending that much for someone else to install it. Only thing that makes it hard is driver side front oxygen bung is to low on pipe and you have to squeeze hand on top of tranny to pry O2 connection off its bracket so wire is long enough. Lots of 4 letter words go flying out my garage when I do this

King Snake · 03-27-2001, 07:51 AM

The $85 also includes welding in the two catalytic converters.

Ares · 03-27-2001, 05:13 PM

Ahhhhhh,ok heh

03-22-2001, 12:33 PM	#1
King Snake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Warner Robins, GA, USA Posts: 210	Installing CATS in an off-road pipe I just purchased a couple of high flow cats that I plan on welding in a BBK offroad pipe that I have laying around. Do you guys think it would be easier to weld them in before or after the pipe is installed? I realize the work will have to be precise if done before installation in order for it to line up correctly. I would be easier to weld out of the car. Also, do stainless wire/rods have to be used when welding stainless to aluminized steel? Thanks for any feedback, I hope to do this on Saturday. ------------------ '97 Cobra, Rio Red, MAC Cold Air Kit, 3.73s, NGK V-Power

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03-22-2001, 04:42 PM	#2
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	I will be doing the same shortly to my X-pipe and have done it before. I would mount every thing up in car then tack weld them in place. That way you can postion them nicely on pipe. Then take pipe back off to do final weld.You could do it off car but then run the risk of the down turns being off and not being able to bolt up to header/manifold properly. As for the welding rods/wire Im not to sure since I have never tried to weld stainless. If no one here can answer that may try giving a local welding shop a call for what they would do.

03-22-2001, 05:30 PM	#3
King Snake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Warner Robins, GA, USA Posts: 210	Good suggestion, thanks. What kind of cats did you get and where did you get them? I ordered mine from Jeggs. They were advertised as Dynomax Supercats, but they have no manufacturer markings on them. They are probably Catco like most of the rest. Thanks again!

03-24-2001, 02:33 AM	#4
moosejaw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: St.Louis,MO Posts: 274	A rule of thumb for welding disimilar metals is use the filler wire from the higher quality metal. In this case use 308 filler (tig) or wire (mig). The best results would be with inconel filler wire RN-82. But it is unlikely you will find a muffler or exhaust shop that would have it. The stainless filler will do. Mike ------------------ Live near St.Louis? Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO Check out my ride.

03-24-2001, 02:59 PM	#5
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	Cool thanks for info on the wire. I have a gasless mig welder that does nice work with exhuast. I havent bought cats for my x-pipe yet but I will be buying the 3way no air Dynomax one's. I forget what I put on my firebird but the were not stainless and are pretty rusty now.

03-25-2001, 12:01 AM	#6
moosejaw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: St.Louis,MO Posts: 274	Ahhhh. 3-ways the way to go. Dump the egr with those babies. Good luck. Mike ------------------ Live near St.Louis? Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO Check out my ride.

03-25-2001, 05:56 PM	#7
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	Considering I paid $200 for x-pipe and the cats will run me another $100, I end up saving myself $100 by welding in cats verse buying x-pipe with cats

03-26-2001, 12:36 PM	#8
King Snake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Warner Robins, GA, USA Posts: 210	Yeah, I am going to save quite a bit of $$ too. I am going to have a place around here weld in the cats and install the pipe for $85. Not too bad... I also have the 3-way Dynomax cats.

03-26-2001, 05:09 PM	#9
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	$85 to install pipe damn they got balls. Considering it takes me 10-12 minutes to change mine with car on ramps and me on my back, I just cant justify spending that much for someone else to install it. Only thing that makes it hard is driver side front oxygen bung is to low on pipe and you have to squeeze hand on top of tranny to pry O2 connection off its bracket so wire is long enough. Lots of 4 letter words go flying out my garage when I do this

03-27-2001, 07:51 AM	#10
King Snake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Warner Robins, GA, USA Posts: 210	The $85 also includes welding in the two catalytic converters.

03-27-2001, 05:13 PM	#11
Ares Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Saxonburg, PA, USA Posts: 236	Ahhhhhh,ok heh