JohnyH

I'm looking for the front y-pipe NO pre-cats and a high flow cat to replace my stock ones on an 88 vert. Is CATCO and EASTERN the only manufacturers of direct replacemnt parts. The fact that they say stock replacement are they higher flow then stock? I need part numbers and alternatives. I have already put on CORSA cat back on and have an Accel superam setup to install but I need to get the air out faster before I put the air in!

Thanks for any help, John

Bad Karma

Magnaflow/Carsound:
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/d...irectfit=93441

Random Technology:
http://randomtechnology.com/chevrolet.html

856SPEED

I run the Random Technology hi-flow cat...good quality

Kool88vette

A good muffler shop could make a 2 /12" Y-pipe for you. I got my Y pipe from Exotic Muscle. I would not buy from them again. It has poor welds and did not fit right. It leaked at the headers. With a 20% restocking fee It was not worth it to return. They would not refund my money but said I would get a store cedit. The shipping alone was $70.00 to return. I didn't want to do business with Exotic Muscle again so the pipe sits in my garage. A local muffler shop used the OEM Y-pipe as a template. They made one for me for $150.00 and I installed it in my garage. I still have the Exotic Muscle Y-pipe. I guess when you order something from them you are taking a chance. It seems my Vette is a little faster with the pre cats gone and the exhaust opened up. It's 2 1/2" all the way now. I have a carsound cat and Magnaflow catbacks. Here's the Exotic Muscle Y Pipe. Look at the inside of the pipe. Now that's got to be restrictive. I couldn't get the pipe to seal to the collector. The ends of the pipe were kinda round. It wouldn't match up to the cat either. I guess I could've pounded the **** out of and tried to make it fit. I doubt that it would have flowed better than stock anyway.

Danspeed1

I prersonally like my rear X-Pipe setup,

Only wish the idiot who did it would have welded the system up better.

DG

Kool88vette

I found a high flow cat for $59.95.

http://www.rpmoutlet.com/mach1maccat2.htm

Bogdan

Just installed a Magna Flow stainless steel high flow cat on my 86 Vette. Cost was around 125 USD, rougly the same now in Canada. You said you went with Corsa Cat back, why not match it up with a Corsa Cat?

JohnyH

I'll have to look into that one, didn't know they had one??

65Z01

A stock '88 L98 needs ~530cfm of flow; I'm not sure if a hi-flow cat can do that.

If not, consider a pair of bullet cats in a custom front Y with a 3" pipe in place of the stock cat. Or a better setup is true duals.

JohnyH

Does that mean the cat would not work properly if there isn't enough air passing through it? It does have to pass emssions!

John

jsup

I have been looking around since I'll be buying cats soon. I have come to the conclusion that PYPES is the way to go. They can be had for less than $60.

Some of the other manufacturers are very proud of their products, read as over priced. I can't see how Random Tech gets away with $180 a cat. Pypes at $60 and 50 state legal makes more sense. How much flow do you really need if you're going from one stock cat to two "high flow"?

The Pypes cats are 50 state leagal, which is all that matters to me. They are stainless steel and "brand name". Pypes is also a forum sponsor.

Here's a little lesson in economics I learned. If you put out an item for $30 and can't sell it. Raise it to $50 and you'll get rid of it. Same item. People are generally, well stupid.
It is extremely likely that I am going Pypes.

jsup

Pypes 2.5 flow 330, so you'll need 2. The 3 inch flow 450, you'll still need two.

I can't find flow numbers on Random Techs site. Coincidence?

JohnyH

I missunderstood 65Z01 response does that mean the stock cat flow's more air then a high flow cat? I'm confused!

Just want to get rid of the precats and replace the stock cat with a higher flowing version for the super ram, which is next years project, to join up with the Corsa cat back sytem. Little steps and as money allows! (and the missus)

firstvette 2

What will high flow cats buy me on a stock 91-L98? (no precats) I will have to replace the catalytic converter soon!

Kool88vette

Replace your Y pipe with 2 1/2" and two Pypes converters. Lose the main cat. Have a muffler shop fab 2 1/2" dual exhaust and install some muffler eliminators. You will have little or no resistence and pass a smog.

Kool88vette

http://randomtechnology.com/tests.html

Kool88vette

From Random Tech:
In fact, Random Technology high efficiency catalytic converters actually have a higher flow capacity than many mufflers. As an example, a 3" diameter 9000 series SuperStainless catalytic converter flows 502 cfm. Most 3" diameter high performance mufflers flow less than 475 cfm

Kool88vette

I'm confused. If the stock L98 heads flow around 200 CFM, It should need 400 CFM to flow. Correct?

jsup

So if you have two of them, how is that a problem? Anything over 530 is adequate. I don't see how paying almost 3 times the price makes sense.

Second, I'd like to see if how each arrives at their numbers. Is there consistency in their testing?

Kool88vette

I think it depends who does the testing. I think two Pypes converters are better that one Random Tech and it's cheaper.