Topic: oem or after market

[minespath]

just blew out muffler on my 97 auto 4cly, need a cat and a new muffler ,pipes etc ,do i go after market or oem ,and if after market which one

[YJWralph]

I'd go aftermarket for sure... I put a Pacesetter header, straight pipe to the muffler (no cat) and a Dynomax muffler in mine.  I don't know if you can get away with no cat where you live, and I should've went with a Magnaflow muffler, but all things being said, I'm pretty happy with the set up I've got...   

[sharpxmen]

it's illegal anywhere in US and Canada to remove the cat, depending where you live (state or province/territory for the latter) the penalty is more or less severe.

[Jeffy]

I would go with a big company and go stainless steel.  more then likely it will also come with a lifetime warranty as well.  Borla or Magnaflow would be my two choices.  Banks and maybe Gibson after that.

[Jeffy]

it's illegal anywhere in US and Canada to remove the cat, depending where you live (state or province/territory for the latter) the penalty is more or less severe.

A cat can be removed under two conditions in the US.   One, if it's damaged or two, if the Federal Extended Emissions Warranty is elapsed.  The Federal Extended Emissions usually 7yr/70,000 miles 10yr/100,000.  10 years is usually the upper limit for a cats lifespan as it probably needs to be replaced sooner or later.

Oh and for a Cat, I recommend Magnaflow/Carsound.

[sharpxmen]

A cat can be removed under two conditions in the US.   One, if it's damaged or two, if the Federal Extended Emissions Warranty is elapsed.  The Federal Extended Emissions usually 7yr/70,000 miles 10yr/100,000.  10 years is usually the upper limit for a cats lifespan as it probably needs to be replaced sooner or later.

Oh and for a Cat, I recommend Magnaflow/Carsound.

i think you're wrong, it's illegal regardless of the age (to be clear the discussion is about removal and not replacement for being damaged)

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/caa/mobile/exhsysrepair.pdf

page 2 in that document states that under federal law catalytic converters cannot be removed or replaced with a pipe by any person including individuals working on their own vehicles.

page 3 also clarifies that is illegal to remove the catalytic converter in a vehicle that is "off-road" use only.

[Jeffy]

i think you're wrong, it's illegal regardless of the age (to be clear the discussion is about removal and not replacement for being damaged)

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/caa/mobile/exhsysrepair.pdf

page 2 in that document states that under federal law catalytic converters cannot be removed or replaced with a pipe by any person including individuals working on their own vehicles.

page 3 also clarifies that is illegal to remove the catalytic converter in a vehicle that is "off-road" use only.

The laws I mentioned have to do with the removal only as there are strict laws against removing the cat or cats.  There are other laws against not replacing it.

[sharpxmen]

The laws I mentioned have to do with the removal only as there are strict laws against removing the cat or cats.  There are other laws against not replacing it.

i'm confused, you say it's legal to be removed (not for replacement) under certain circumstances that you mentioned (am i getting this right?), i say it's illegal regardless of the circumstances under federal law  - again what i am saying is not regarding removal for replacement with a street legal catalytic converter, but the replacement with a straight thru pipe (no cat at all).

[Torch_Ind]

I'm Happy with my pacesetter header has been great for the 4 or so years I got on it.  I have aftermarket muffler and I got all my exhaust 2-2.25 inch.

it's got good bark to it but it's all decent stuff that should outlast a lot of the aluminized muffler and exhaust systems..

 if you want it to be quite/ stock sounding try and find stuff that's not the aluminized stuff!! 


about everyone arguing over the cat. I would recommend you replace it with a new one even a cheep high flow. regardless of the laws in specific area's you do run the chance of getting checked or have to do smog and if you don't pass you will have to get it up to code or face charges..

we do not do smog test in my area but sometimes we get officers looking for aftermarket tuner or louder exhausts and there looking for people who took off the cats.  If there nice they give you 48 hours to have it repaired and bring it back in for re-check but not always the case..

good luck with your selection!!  I'm all for "loud pipes save lives" 

[Bounty Hunter]

How do 'loud pipes save lives'?  I don't get it.

[Dylan]

How do 'loud pipes save lives'?  I don't get it.

Mainly for areas with crisscrossing trails and reduced visability, the gist is having a loud exhaust should alert others around you of your presence, thereby hopefully avoiding a collision where someone may get hurt or killed.

To the OP, personally I plan on replacing my exhaust with OEM whenever it finally requires it... it's held up quite well so far and I prefer the lower noise level versus aftermarket systems.

[Torch_Ind]

How do 'loud pipes save lives'?  I don't get it.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=loud+pipes+save+lives  

it's mainly myth and opinion but on the other hand why do service vehicles "cops, ambulances, fire trucks etc" use loud sirens

but all and all it's myth.. My vote is for "loud pipes save lives" is all.

wasn't really going after a debate on it.. Was merely stating I don't mind my vehicles being louder then stock. if you don't want any louder then stock you won't be able to get away with any aftermarket stuff or you won't like it..

[Bounty Hunter]

I'm not looking to hijack the thread with debate, it's only that the statement had been on my mind for the past week & when you said you were 'for' it, I had hoped maybe you had some reasoning that I myself didn't know about.

As for the mention of emergency vehicle's sirens, they project sound forward instead of backward, and hopefully that emergency responder isn't out-driving the siren.

[minespath]

i all ways thought that loud pipie save lives was for biker ,so you hear them when they are around you, but you  cant see them

[minespath]

any how i went with a magna flow cat ,and a banks cat back system for the muffler ,should sound pretty good ,but more important ,it will give me a few more pony's ,we who have 4bangers need all we can get