I decided on an SSAC header (Prod.#Mvc-PPLMMKKLf Nissan Sentra/200sx Race Headers PRIMERA) and an HKS catback (3302-EX080 NISSAN Sentra SE 2000-2001 ; Stainless Steel Muffler Dr 106mm(tip) 60mm(diameter). My SE has 110k on it and I'm hesitant to use the stock cat. Should I stick with stock or use an aftermarket cat. If after-market, which one?

I will be adding s3rs as well.

Thanks.

I decided on an SSAC header (Prod.#Mvc-PPLMMKKLf Nissan Sentra/200sx Race Headers PRIMERA) and an HKS catback (3302-EX080 NISSAN Sentra SE 2000-2001 ; Stainless Steel Muffler Dr 106mm(tip) 60mm(diameter). Mt SE has 110k on it and I'm hesitant to use the stock cat. Should I stick with stock or use an aftermarket cat. If after-market, which one?

I will be adding sirs as well.

Thanks.
I got a carsound/magnaflow cat for my budddies car, they are a lil less than 100 bucks for a universal one

Unless your stock cat is clogged theres no need to replace it. The stock cat flows good enough for what your doing. If you wanto get an extra 1-2 hp just go with a test pipe. Just my 0.2

Unless your stock cat is clogged theres no need to replace it. The stock cat flows good enough for what your doing. If you wanto get an extra 1-2 hp just go with a test pipe. Just my 0.2
x2, don't worry about it and use it, there are plenty of SR's running around with stock cats with double the milege you have on your car with no issues.

factory cats are good. But out cars are getting older and sometimes they might go bad. It would b nice to matcht he cat with the 60mm piping. If there is no added performance, at least mentally u will know your piping is looking clean down there.

Thanks for the replies.

The cat flows pretty good right now. My biggest concern is getting all the nice parts that bolt up and then having to deal with an old rusty cat that's seen several Michigan winters. Do they hold up pretty well, or will I get bent during the install with a crusty cat that I can bolt on to? I do like the idea of not having to fab hangers for an aftermarket cat.

Thanks for the replies.

The cat flows pretty good right now. My biggest concern is getting all the nice parts that bolt up and then having to deal with an old rusty cat that's seen several Michigan winters. Do they hold up pretty well, or will I get bent during the install with a crusty cat that I can bolt on to? I do like the idea of not having to fab hangers for an aftermarket cat.
Well when you put it that way... when removing my so cal used cat the danm studs break off extremly easy. You might be better off just getting a magnaflow high flow and having it welded on. Ive removed 3 stock cats that were on since the car was made and 2 of them ended up with broken studs..

If your budget doesn't want the extra bux on it, use lots of penetrating oil - kept damp for an hour or so before you tackle the nuts. Else, yup with kd- the magnaflow high flow cats work fine and they're competitively priced.
J

Since the SSAC will go to 2.5" and I can get a Magnaflow cat at 2.5" should I get the HKS exhaust cat-back which is 60MM (2.362") or go 2.5" crush bent at my friends shop? I'm looking for a setup that is easy on the ears for my daily driver but still has some kick at WOT.

Since the SSAC will go to 2.5" and I can get a Magnaflow cat at 2.5" should I get the HKS exhaust cat-back which is 60MM (2.362") or go 2.5" crush bent at my friends shop? I'm looking for a setup that is easy on the ears for my daily driver but still has some kick at WOT.

If u want the setup to be easy on the ears:eek2: Just get cat-back with a resonator

Will the 2.5" crush bent trump the 60mm mandrel bent because of the larger diameter, or will the extra flow of the mandrel bends win out?

An empirical question to which I'm not sure we have an empirical answer, which would take same/same with only variation being the exhaust system on stable dyno conditions. That being said, I went WAY out of my way to do my 3" mandrel system for my VE. Crush bends on larger pipe are pretty obvious; what I read (and I'm pretty compulsive) suggested that I should go mandrel, so I ordered up my system from VRS; there WAS no mandrel shop that I could find in all of Atlanta (!!!). Turns out they're REALLY good and the kid on the other end of the emails (Daniel) just does everything he can to make sure things go right.

I would alwasy go mandrel, and you don't need a mandrel bending shop to get it. You buy the bends and weld them up, any exhaust shop can do that for you..

For the cat, Megan makes a great cat eliminator pipe, often found on ebay for $40 shipped. They are polished stainless and fit perfect. We had one on my mom's car with a Borla exhaust and SSAC header.

Brent

I would alwasy go mandrel, and you don't need a mandrel bending shop to get it. You buy the bends and weld them up, any exhaust shop can do that for you..

For the cat, Megan makes a great cat eliminator pipe, often found on ebay for $40 shipped. They are polished stainless and fit perfect. We had one on my mom's car with a Borla exhaust and SSAC header.

Brent

Us MI guys can get away without the cat, that's for sure. Did you get any OBDII errors from not having the cat? I kinda want to prevent any unessary pollution so I don't mind paying for a cat.

The crush bending was just a cost factor, figured I could save a few bucks and still get the performance of a 60mm setup by going up to 2.5" with the crushed. The HKS looks like a good setup and pre fabbed, I'd probably go that way if I go with mandrel bends. I get the shop labor for free, just not sure how good my girlfriend's friend's husband is at welding so I was trying to avoid welds. Especially if they can't weld stainless with stainless.

Also, I don't care about looks at all. One winter will ruin showroom finishes. Just want to match up parts as close as possible and not get stuck mid process since we get the shop free as long as the SE doesn't linger long.

I have access to another shop with a pit, I could try reusing the original cat since it would be a complete bolt up that way. I guess running without a cat and not getting a SES light would be a decision maker here.

An empirical question to which I'm not sure we have an empirical answer, which would take same/same with only variation being the exhaust system on stable dyno conditions. That being said, I went WAY out of my way to do my 3" mandrel system for my VE. Crush bends on larger pipe are pretty obvious; what I read (and I'm pretty compulsive) suggested that I should go mandrel, so I ordered up my system from VRS; there WAS no mandrel shop that I could find in all of Atlanta (!!!). Turns out they're REALLY good and the kid on the other end of the emails (Daniel) just does everything he can to make sure things go right.

You think they could do a setup for me that includes the cat and everything including the muffler that could bolt up to the SSAC header?