Which type of cats are better?

[pagrunt]

Been surfing around looking for cats fot the car since its too damn cold to work on it. Now I'm trying to figure out which type of cats to get. They'll be completely stainless since I'm using a Pypes kit. Trying to figure out should the be the spun type or the oval/sheilded type. Keeping in mind of heat/needed shielding, space needed, type of/construction of inner guts, cost, I'm not sure what to go for. The main thing is they are needed for the visual ispection. I see alot on Ebay, looked at Summit & Jegs, I just don't know. It's just easier to grab what ever & gut them but never know what will happen down the road. Wish I didn't need them.

 

[CaliWagon83]

What engine are you running? Generally speaking, I know the honeycomb types are better than the old pellet-bed types, if they even still sell them. Magnaflow makes cats, and they make really nice exhaust systems. When you say "grab & gut" it seems like kind of a waste to buy new ones if you're just going to drill them out. Does PA only do a visual inspection?

 

[DRIVEN]

Since you used cats (plural) and referenced Pypes I can only assume you'll need two. Not knowing anything else about your combo, I'd say just get some OE replacement type cats and weld them in. Modern designs are far less restrictive than the original pellet style so I can't see any reason to gut them. You aren't likely to notice a power loss unless you do some before and after dyno pulls. The upside is that your car won't have an "exhaust" smell when you're sitting in the Taco Bell drive thru.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

I put Magnaflow in my Pypes X member. They'r 8-10 inches long and about 4 inches across, fit real nice. I have a 79 Elco with Hooker long tube headers . Reading our Pa. PENdot regs it sounds like inspection is going to be a challenge. Antique plates don't even exempt a vehicle any more. At least the way I read it.

 

[64nailhead]

I prefer long hair - they seem to a have better demeanor. This hangs out in the garage most of the time.

 

[fleming442]

I like them dead. Hate cats.

 

[pontiacgp]

I have two SS magnaflow spun cats and I don't use any heat shields, they are not restrictive so they don't heat up much more than the exhaust temperature

 

[pagrunt]

Sorry that I forgot to add the engine, 350 4bbl ('70 L48), Edelbrock EGR intake & cam, exhaust manifolds, heads had porting done to them by the PO, duals with X pipe.The lazy way would be any Ebay special, gut & slide over the down pipes. But trying to cover myself like with the air pump I don't want something that is too cheap but won't break the bank as the budget is get tight again.

 

[Onehit]

I've never a gutted a long-haired cat. I heard it could get ugly.

 

[565bbchevy]

Being that you have inspections I would probably look for a cat that at least has a heat shield so it has more of a stock style look to it since some of the high flow ones now don't even look like cats.