Headers with cats found!

Dimensionify! Huge-ass pictures. Actually the stock headers look pretty nice. Excuse their filth. That's 70K miles of carbon.

the inside gubbins


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Just ordered my Magnaflow header cats from Hottexhaust - $1,052.57
delivered. Will get them ceramic coated and installed shortly.

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

Just ordered my Magnaflow header cats from Hottexhaust - $1,052.57
delivered. Will get them ceramic coated and installed shortly.

Jim

Decided to go for it, eh? Awesome! Based on their initial turnaround time estimate, I'm hoping Swain will have mine coated and ready to ship back by the end of this week. Including return shipping time, I'll hopefully have mine back by late next week.

Can't wait, Darren!

Turner Motorsport also has Custom M54 Headers with cats located in them.

Originally Posted by Iceman00

Turner Motorsport also has Custom M54 Headers with cats located in them.

Yep, looks cheaper than the magnaflow, but essentially identical to OE.

Originally Posted by Iceman00

Turner Motorsport also has Custom M54 Headers with cats located in them.

Yeah, there are a number of places that offer aftermarket replacement cats for the M54. I've seen them listed under a number of different brand names (DEC, Davico, Benchmark, etc) but they all look exactly the same (and seem to use the same pictures) as those on the TMS web site.

For me, with shipping to TX, I paid $30 more for the MagnaFlow than I would have for the units from TMS although you can find the same cats elsewhere for a little cheaper (and with free shipping). Don't know whether there is any performance difference between the MagnaFlow and "the others" or even compared to stock but I do feel better buying a MagnaFlow product than a brand I've never heard of. Without flow testing (ie, what I'm about to say is worthless) I will say that the MagnaFlow design at least looks to have a better 3-1 collector design than "the others".

That said, if you're just looking for the cheapest replacement cats you can find one of "the others" would definitely be the most cost effective route (especially if you shop around).

I plan on selling my OEM header/cats on this forum to someone who needs to pass emission inspection.

For FI, Magnaflow should flow a whole lot better than the OEM's and I am doing other engine work so this is the perfect time to swap them as it will be really easy to do.

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

I plan on selling my OEM header/cats on this forum to someone who needs to pass emission inspection.

For FI, Magnaflow should flow a whole lot better than the OEM's and I am doing other engine work so this is the perfect time to swap them as it will be really easy to do.

Jim

What post-cat exhaust are you running (or planning to run) with these?

OT here but are you going forward with the forged pistons or are you working on something else?

Originally Posted by TxZHP04

What post-cat exhaust are you running (or planning to run) with these?

OT here but are you going forward with the forged pistons or are you working on something else?

Cat back exhaust is UUC TSE3.

Installing forged pistons and better sealing rings that will stand up to 8 lbs FI better - too much blow-by.

Question:
These header/cats LOOK like they will install pretty much the same as OEM but there is always a doubt (for the first time anyway) that there will be clearance problems. Just a little concerned.

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

too much blow-by

Interesting. What led you to this conclusion?

Originally Posted by TxZHP04

Interesting. What led you to this conclusion?

The car lost power so we did some tests:
* Compression and leakdown tests showed a little low
* Smoke coming out of the oil filler cap when running.

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

The car lost power so we did some tests:
* Compression and leakdown tests showed a little low
* Smoke coming out of the oil filler cap when running.

How many miles since the SC'er install?

Originally Posted by TxZHP04

How many miles since the SC'er install?

Under 5k.

I should get the header cats back tomorrow from the ceramic coating.
Because it was posted earlier here, I ground down the the slight metal lip projecting out of the flange and beat down the tubing lips that might get into the exhaust flow - no biggie.
Next will be the install - anybody know IF it REALLY is a direct fit or should I expect some customizing?

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

Under 5k.

I should get the header cats back tomorrow from the ceramic coating.
Because it was posted earlier here, I ground down the the slight metal lip projecting out of the flange and beat down the tubing lips that might get into the exhaust flow - no biggie.
Next will be the install - anybody know IF it REALLY is a direct fit or should I expect some customizing?

Jim

I'm still waiting to get mine back from having them coated (Swain Tech). They charged my card late last week so hopefully they will arrive in the next few days. Sounds like you got a quick turnaround on the coating, who did you have coat yours?

I think you and I are the only ones with a set of these and neither of us has attempted install yet. They should be direct fit but that remains to be proven. Hopefully the fit of these is more exact than that of their cat back exhaust (which required a minor tweak of one of the hangars IIRC)....

Sounds like you may have yours installed before I do at this point.

Professional Cryogenic in Cumming, GA - about 25 miles from my house.
Installation date is up in the air so you may get yours installed before me.

Jim

Got them. Ceramic coating looks good - both inside and outside.
Looking for an install date.

Jim

Finally got mine back from Swain today.

How do they look?

Originally Posted by aggieE46

How do they look?

They look white.

Seriously though, they look great. It's a shame they will be so well hidden once installed. I'll see if I can post some updated pics this weekend.

It's really amazing that a ceramic coating only 0.015" thick can really make a significant insulating difference. Cost for the coating was $275 plus return shipping.