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Finally got a cat-back installed while they are still available. I had a resonator delete done about 15 years ago. Muffler had developed a leak. So, good excuse for going for a cat-back.
Originally was going to have shop fabricate with a Magnaflow dual in/dual out, but the shop didn't think they could do that without deleting the 3rd cat. Their suggestion, was to install a Magnaflow 16917 cat-back system instead. Rather than going after their own markup on the kit, they had me order the kit myself and they would install it. I really appreciated that they didn't simply insist on ordering it themselves.
Dan Fast Auto in Bellevue was chill with me taking picts for the forum from under the lift.
Here are before and after picts....
The old exhaust with resonator delete. You can see the straight pipes that had previously replaced the resonators.
No more crushed pipe segment! This is the old tubing with the massively crushed segment in the OEM config.
Took just over an hour with three guys working away. No real issues, but it did take some grinding. They did use sealing compound at the 3rd cat flange.
Installation charge was very reasonable and I am very happy I had them do it instead of attempting to do it myself.
90 degree pipes for tips were tack welded to avoid loss of tips risk reported by a prior DIY'ers.
Took once cycle of adjustment to have enough clearance from the cross braces. That was just a few minutes from return to shop and adjustment completion.
Last edited by Seattle SCone; 01-29-21 at 05:24 PM.
Here is engine start when warm. Idle is about 800 then I take it up to 1500 RPM. Then 2000 RPM. Thereafter two bursts up to 3000 RPM.
Mic is 8 feet behind car & about four feet up
Audio clip is best heard on headphones to hear the actual bass content. Laptop speakers won't give anywhere near the actual sound.
When at steady cruise, cabin isn't much different noise level, but definitely louder during acceleration and moderate from stand still at intersections.
Last edited by Seattle SCone; 01-30-21 at 07:14 AM.
All three cats are still installed. None were deleted and the O2 sensors are not altered.
Grinding was just behind the cat 3 flange. The cone that extends back beyond the flange can protrude (on some SC430's) too far back for the cat-back kit's fitting to readily slip into place.
Probably will be quite a while before I can get a road side audio clip. Tried and even a little breeze rendered the recording completely useless. I even had a wind screen on the mic. Nope. This is going to require a completely still day and we're in winter.
Air was still enough to get a decent recording in the afternoon. Microphone on boom stand at street side, four feet high and pointed at street.
Mic has cardioid pickup pattern. So, sounds are loudest when dead ahead of mic.
Listen with headphones, or your main stereo speakers, to hear with good fidelity. Laptop speakers are next to useless for this.
Background sounds are birds and a distant road noise (about 1 mile away)
1. Car begins 8 feet away from rear of mic and pointed away from mic. Car start and drive away about 40 feet.
2. Car slowly pulls aside and parks 4 feet from mic. Mic is pointed at about rear end of driver's door. Idling about 1100 RPM because engine is still cold.
3. Drive away down 5% slope to roughly 100 yards away and then turn around.
4. Pass by mic at 20 MPH climbing up 5% slope. Min distance is roughly 5 feet.
5. Turn around about 30 yards up road. Then, pass by again slowly down 5% slope. Engine idling with foot only on brake pedal. Car is about 20 feet from mic during this quieter pass because it is now in far side of road. Again 100 yards down slope to turn around and come back up slope. You also hear a small plane in distance during this portion.
6. Pass by mic at 10 MPH up 5% slope. Min distance is roughly 4 feet.
7. Quieter sounds at end are car entering driveway and maneuvering into garage. Scratchy/squeal sounds are winter wheels turning on sealed concrete. Recording ends shortly after engine shut down.
Last edited by Seattle SCone; 01-30-21 at 01:38 PM.
All three cats are still installed. None were deleted and the O2 sensors are not altered.
Grinding was just behind the cat 3 flange. The cone that extends back beyond the flange can protrude (on some SC430's) too far back for the cat-back kit's fitting to readily slip into place.
I also experienced this problem. I had to use an angle grinder to flatten out the flange that protrudes from the factory exhaust on the 3rd cat side. Mine has a pin hole leak that you can feel, but not hear at that joint because of it (I guess I didn't grind enough). I heard later that you can use a thick gasket to solve this (probably the best way). Overall a good exhaust and sounds nice with almost no drone, but shame on Magnaflow for not addressing this issue on an $800 exhaust.
01-29-21, 08:05 AM
MagnaFlow 16917 Street Series Cat-Back
