Cat-Downpipe-Exhaust connection question?

**TheHeggi** · 09-23-2008 01:32 AM

Since I haven't been under the car yet and had a chance to bond with it completely, gots me a question...is the DP a separate piece on the stock system? Meaning does it have flanges on both ends allowing it to be removed/replaced by itself? So if I pick up a catback w/o a DP, can I add an aftermarket DP later w/o having to weld flanges on any pipes? From the looks of the Labree DP, I'd say it is, but I'd hate to be wrong. I 'm trying to pick up a Magnaflow catback, but from the looks of the installation diagram on their instructions, the inlet pipe slips into the downpipe...

**vtracer20** · 09-23-2008 07:23 AM

if i understood your question correctly, if you pick up a cat-back it will bolt on directly to your downpipe/cat. Later if you want to change your downpipe that will replace your stock downpipe/cat and bolt to your cat-back you have on already.

Just be warned i think it's easier to just get a downpipe + catback. this is because you have to take off your downpipe anywyas to get your cat-back on and access the bolts that are in a very tight space. let me know if you need more info, i just put my awe cat-back and it took a little while.

**TheHeggi** · 09-23-2008 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by vtracer20

if i understood your question correctly, if you pick up a cat-back it will bolt on directly to your downpipe/cat. Later if you want to change your downpipe that will replace your stock downpipe/cat and bolt to your cat-back you have on already.

Just be warned i think it's easier to just get a downpipe + catback. this is because you have to take off your downpipe anywyas to get your cat-back on and access the bolts that are in a very tight space. let me know if you need more info, i just put my awe cat-back and it took a little while.

I can pick up the DP later, I'm just getting the cat back for a deal right now when I was supposed to be cutting myself off from mods for a couple months haha. But I'm pretty sure you answered my question...I was just looking to confirm that the DP is actually a separate component in itself. Por ejemplo, if I was not getting a cat back, I could just buy a DP by itself and replace it with no modification needed...not that I would, just to further clarify my question.

**vtracer20** · 09-23-2008 10:48 AM

this all depends on if your exhaust has a flange or not...if it does then it should bolt up to the cat (PITA cause you have to take everything off), if it doesn't then i think it bolts up to the flex section (much easier).

**TheHeggi** · 09-24-2008 11:04 PM

So I just found out the Magnaflow catback doesn't have a flange at the front, instead it looks like it slips into the downpipe and clamps possibly...but no flange. So obviously it will work with the stock exhaust somehow, (I really wish I could just crawl under there and look myself already but I'm at a damn apt and there's no way I'm fitting under the front) but how practical is that? The aftermarket downpipes seem to have flanges at both ends and obviously a flange/gasket is a better/stronger seal than a slip in/clamp, but in reality it looks like if I wanted to have an aftermarket DP in the future, I would have to pay a shop at least $100 to line up and fabricate a flange for the DP right? Doesn't seem so plug and play...