which cats?

[Papa Rad17]

well im going to be getting the headers and a high flow cat for my 2.2 soon. cant decide on what cats are going to best http://www.andysautosport.com/oldsmobile/1999_2004_alero/performance/exhaust/catalytic_converters/pace_setter/ or http://www.andysautosport.com/oldsmobile/1999_2004_alero/performance/exhaust/catalytic_converters/magnaflow/ I was thinking the pace setter mettle core looks pretty good but the mag flow ones have specific ones for year and engine size. anyone with experience some input would be great. It'll be going on with a 2 or 2.5in system probably a single in dual out on the rear with quad tips.

[Papa Rad17]

Bump.

[mmorello82]

I would really go with the magnaflow system if I was you. I run Magnaflow on my 3400 V6 and Love it! I has a great deep, mellow tone that you can hardly hear inside the car (until you get on it) and is Lifetime warranty. Can't go wrong! I would really do some shopping around, that price for them seems a little high though. Amazon.com has your cat for 361.00 (part #46227) Whereas that site you gave was 422.15! Just a thought!

[Papa Rad17]

Ya. I also really liked that they were engin and year specific. On that link I posted though they have an 03 and 04 for the 2.2. Just slightly different specs but the 03 on is a lot more. Would there be any reason the 04 style on wouldn't work?

[Papa Rad17]

bump, getting closer to putting in an order. any more imput?

[sleepyalero]

idk how the 2.2 are but mind the down pipe had to be cut after i got headers, idk if thats the way it will be for you to but, if you have to cut your downpipe to custom fit to the new header then i would go with the pacesetter since you can just swap it right in.

if you can run a stock replacement cat from magnaflow then i would go with that. only if you can run it though...i got a hi flow stock replacement cat for mine and after i got headers i had to cut/weld it to make it work with the headers. kinda sucked.

[Papa Rad17]

My buddy is going to hook me up at his shop and he knows his welding so I'm not worried about that. I'm jut wondering what's going to be better performance for the cash. I'm really liking the sound of the pacesetter metal core ones.

[mmorello82]

Here's the thing, what my exhaust guy told me when mine was done was, all CATs have the same type of meterial inside, so getting a "high flow CAT" is not going to really do anything except cost more money. You could get rid of it, but then you will get a SES light. Don't want to do that either. Do what I did, get a very well flowing exhaust, eliminate the resonater (just behind the CAT) and call it good. Here's the thing, DO NOT go above two sizes up. eg. 2" to 2.5" MAX. If you do, you will loose the back pressure the engine needs and you will actually loose power! Hope this helps.

[Papa Rad17]

Hmm... Interesting. I dont plan on any bigger the a 2.5in set up. It'll probably be 2 but I'm not entirely sure yet.

[mmorello82]

Our systems are 2" factory, so go to a 2.25 system. That's what I did, GREAT sound and performance!

[MMGT1]

2.25 can be mandrel bent over the rear control arm without much of an interference problem at all. 2.5 gets tricky without flattening the pipe the way Borla did with our cat back set-ups. Ive got 2.5 on my GA and am constantly messin with the hanger under there to keep it from touching anything. I just had to keep the pipe round...lol