I had a failing cat on bank 2 and had to make a Converter change. I just wanted to give some feed back here on my Magnaflow Experience.

I had a choice of the Magnaflow, AP and Catco pipes. The Catco and AP were more expensive and includes the H pipe and I had a Borla Atak and X pipe so I went to the Magna Flow that is just the front pipes and cats. Also there is a 5 year warranty on their converters.

I got the pipe and they were included with the gaskets for the manifolds. The spacing was spot on as was the bolt holes for the front mount. My studs were clean enough the nuts came right off.

I measured and noted that the Magnaflow and the Borla X pile are not going to connect. I got two small mid pipes from Borla an cut to length what I needed to fit to the X pipe. I did have to trim a small bit from the Magna pipe to get my clamp spacing like I wanted to keep it up and from snagging or interfering with each other. I used the Borla Clamps.

The real problem is the pipes down past the converters are toed in. They need to be spread to meet the X pipe. Being here on my own at the time meant that I had to get creative. I found a old Fiero scissor jack. I placed it in between the pipes and spread the pipes enough to get them to meet the X pipe.

At this point I was able to bolt up the Borla and go through the game of lining up the tail pipe tips.

The Magna flow pipes are top quality material but it is like the post converter pipes were not welded in a jig. It is not an impossible thing to fix or work around but it is something you need to consider using these pipes.

I did change out the O2 sensors since I was there.

Note I found digging around a number of bank two converters failing at or around 30K miles. Not sure if there was some issues with these or what. My plugs are clean, wires are new, no codes or misfires other than the converter. It has a slight rattle when I removed the pipe. No high temps or other issues related to a converter showed.

The it is good once bolted in place. The pipes will hang down till you get the spring mount bolted up. Once in place the pipes are up and out of the way. Note the Converters are round so they will hang down just a slight bit. They are not flat like the GM converters. But I am not lowered or planning to lower so I should be fine.

Note this is on a 02 Convertible. Non California car. The photos show a flat converter but that is now what you get. Even on the AP and Catco I can not promise they are flat style converters since I have not seen them in person.

This is a good product that just could be a bit better. It is not for a novice to do unless you can get creative or have help to install.

The worst part was just getting the tips right after. It is more a Borla intelligence test vs just install. But that is for another post. Note too the measurements Borla give you for cutting the converter price are no good for the Magna pipe or any other non stock pipe. You need to measure and cut it based on what you have. the converters are just a little different in size. I did not cut enough and had to cut more to get the pipes in under the bumper more.

If you have Corvette exhaust experience these are not hard. You just need to learn a few tricks. Clamping the over the axle pipes with vice grips and adjusting them is the best thing to do. It gives you enough play to make it right.

I hope this helps if someone should need to make a change. There is little info out and what I did find was not positive but I found it not as near impossible as the other review. Just don't expect a direct bolt on with an Borla X pipe or Corsa.

If you are still stock H pipe Catco or AP may be the best option.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Magnaflow product.

 

I have the attention span of a gnat. Do you have any pretty pictures?

 

Sorry no. It was stinking hot and humid, sick with Covid and I just wanted to get the job done. I can get some of it finished to show how they hang. Also show the mid pipe detail that I had to add.

Nothing difficult but you need to be a bit mechanical to spread the pipes/know where to cut etc. You would be fine but the folks that do not do much work could be challenged a bit.

With the converters being round it may hurt lowered cars. It is not much but enough for speed bumps etc could scrape. I assume they used what they had that worked and did not design it to be like the factory. .

 

Converters are round so there is a little loss of some clearance. Note Magna Flow will show a flat converter in part photos.

The Borla x pipe

The mid pipes I made from Borla tubing. These are mid pipes for a Toyota truck. It is the same size and came with clamps. I did trim a bit off the Magna Flow to stagger the clams. I lapped the pipes as I felt it was more adjustable and stronger than butt joints.