[ace996]

Anyone know of test pipes for the stock manifold? I'd love to add some sound and free-up the exhaust some without dropping the cash...I figure test pipes would do it...perhaps?

Worst case, I probably need to take one cat off and have a shop custom make a piece.

Now, without a tune writing out the O2 sensors, what would work to avoid the CEL?

-ace

 

[a64pilot]

Now, without a tune writing out the O2 sensors, what would work to avoid the CEL?

-ace

O2 simulators would work. Jeg's, etc. Homemade exhaust rarely turnout as well as you might think.

 

[trukk]

Perhaps gutting stock cats would work?

Ask around, I'm sure there are more than a few stock cats lying around from the header guys, who'd be willing to let them go for free/cheap.

Worse comes to worse, just use on of those cats, as a template.

Best would be to shell out the $700 ish for some nice bolton RT Cats

-Chris

 

[ace996]

Chris,
I thought about gutting the stockers but airflow through a gutted cat is often worse than when its intact, the chamber acts as a baffle and causes all kinds of turbulance.

One of our own, who lives close-by...about 2 miles, is going to lend me his stockers and I'll take them to a shop that can fit a proper pipe with bungs. I'll need to either tune out the O2 sensors or use o2simulators...probably o2 sims, as they would be cheaper.

With the holidays upon us, money is very tight and I'm looking to add some sound and remove some restriction. I considered an x-pipe for the Corsa but I believe that cat removal would work better...for the times I, you know, can use them for 0ff-Road use!!! I could always revert back to stock for emissions testing/dealer visits, too.

High flow cats would work but the cost would still be too much, $700 to replace perfectly good cats doesn't seem like a deal...and I doubt they'd allow the sound and flow for what I'm looking. I figure I could get the test pipes for $150 and the rear o2sims for less than half that, so we're talking $200 total. Even if it doesn't come out as good as I hoped, I'm not out too much...
-ace

 

[trukk]

~~snip~~
High flow cats would work but the cost would still be too much, $700 to replace perfectly good cats doesn't seem like a deal...and I doubt they'd allow the sound and flow for what I'm looking. I figure I could get the test pipes for $150 and the rear o2sims for less than half that, so we're talking $200 total. Even if it doesn't come out as good as I hoped, I'm not out too much...
-ace

I hear ya on the price. Soundwise though, the RT Cats, are awesome. Really deep grumble, almost headerlike, when coupled with the Corsa. I also got about 20 - 25 rwhp from the Corsa RT Cats combo.

The way I look at it, $700 is less than headers. It's also a whole lot less headaches. Install was a snap too. Sure you are giving up 5-10 rwhp, but in my opinion, the tradoff is worth it.

Keep in mind you'll also have to deal with the 'gas' smell from running catless. This is very un-Cadillac-like (then again, 400+ Hp is also very un-Cadillac-like.) You can't argue with the price though.

Prepare yourself, it is going to be loud running catless with the Corsa.

-Chris

 

[Joey'sVee]

I guarantee that stock manifold vs headers is more than 5 to 10 hp difference! The manifolds are some of the most restrictive I've ever seen.

If I had to guess I would say the HP ratings are the following...

Long tube headers = 20 hp
High flow cat = 10 hp
Corsa = 5 hp

Keep in mind Dynotech got about 36 more rwhp with LPE CAIK, Corsa, SW long tube headers, high flow cats and a tune. I would say the biggest chuncks of that 36 would be the headers and the tune! JMHO

 

[trukk]

I guarantee that stock manifold vs headers is more than 5 to 10 hp difference! The manifolds are some of the most restrictive I've ever seen.
If I had to guess I would say the HP ratings are the following...
Long tube headers = 20 hp
High flow cat = 10 hp
Corsa = 5 hp
Keep in mind Dynotech got about 36 more rwhp with LPE CAIK, Corsa, SW long tube headers, high flow cats and a tune. I would say the biggest chuncks of that 36 would be the headers and the tune! JMHO

I never did an initial baseline with my car. My first run was with Corsa + RT Cats (NO TUNE). My 3rd warm run was 295 on a mustang dyno (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=489705&postcount=1). Gary dyno'd his stock V on the same day/dame dyno and was at 270 3rd warm run (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=491994&postcount=13). I figure that it pretty close to where I would have been.

This shows an approx gain of about 25 rwhp with the Corsa RT cats combo. The Corsa is generally considered to run about 10 Rwhp. I'd say that the RT Cats then run about 10 - 15 Rwhp (probabaly closer to 10).

Anyway, I'm not saying that the RT Cats are a silver bullet. I'd would say though that them + the stock manifolds is a fairly good combo. When you compare the stock manifold to LT's they look weak. But when you compare our manifold to other stockers, it actually flows pretty nice (My opinion).

Bottom line: Headers definately proivide more power. RT Cats are a good alternative, for those that don't want the downside of Headers (leaks, burn wires, exhaust movement, etc.)

-Chris

 

[ace996]

All good points...all of them. I'm planning on doing the "tests" and getting dyno tuned at the same time, so I'll have some info on what's there. We'll see what happens.
-ace

 

[trukk]

All good points...all of them. I'm planning on doing the "tests" and getting dyno tuned at the same time, so I'll have some info on what's there. We'll see what happens.
-ace

Heh, my points mostly sucked

I look forward to the dyno results, comments on fit/finish, and the sound.

It's gonna be loud with the Corsa on. :lildevil:

-Chris