So as of now my tC sits as a virgin in my driveway. No intake, no headers, no exhaust, no nothing! I've been doing the research into after market headers and as far as I can tell all of the aftermarket headers are designed to be used without the catalytic converter...? Id like to keep mine to reduce noise, so if anyone can clear this up for me it would be a huge help! These forums rock folks, I've learned more here than I woulda evert thought! Keep it up!

 

if you want a header to reduce noise, dont get a header. noise and more air flow seem to be the point to a header. if you dont want noise, keep it stock.

 

^^ ditto. You could also get an exhaust shop to weld a resonator or w.e its called into your exhaust. helps quite it down.

 

true lol, but my idea was to keep the emission and add a little growl to the car. Just curious if there was a header out there that still utilized the cat?

 

Well the primary header in our cars is built into the stock header so by replacing the stock with an aftermarket one, you eliminate the primary cat. At this time, there is no company that makes an aftermarket header with a cat. You're best bet is to just keep the stock header and run a header back exhaust.

 

i think u wanna keep the cat though, i mean wouldnt it be a good idea?

 

i used to be a virgin

 

that's all I wanted to know. I think im just gonna take the heat shield off covering the stock headers, wrap them with some exhaust wrap, and run the header back Megan OERS system. Im not looking to race or really put out any HUGE horsepower until later next year so that should be fine for now. Thanks guys!

 

You should just keep your stock heat shield on, if you plan on staying with the stock header... you'll regret the exhaust wrap, waste of time and money.

 

i lost my virginity, i dont remember where. somewhere behind the walmart dumpster.

 

just keep your stock exhaust manifold and get an s-pipe and full cat-back (midpipe + axleback). there are no aftermarket headers out there that i know of that have a catalytic converter on it.

 

i think the closest you would get is to get a megan header, and a small high flow cat, and have a good exhaust shop to work magic and place it where the collector is

i originnaly thought that megan had a cat because of its similarities to the stock header

 

If you use a header all you need to do is take car to an exhaust shop and have them weld on a High flow cat after the header.......Magnaflow makes a great one that has no resistance to it at all......It uses a screen made froma special metal that acts chemically with the exhaust gas and changes the molicules........been using them for years on post 1972 hotrods........

As long as they put it before the O2 sensor yo are good to go......then you get the look and power of a header.......the clean air of the cat.........the no CEL from the cat......then you can build the exhaust back from there with proper resonators to get the sound you like........Youtube is great to listen to exhausts........

the trick with muffler shops is they have to make the exhaust leave with al the components that are supposed to be there........it does not matter where they are put on the exhaust........as it is custom made........what sucks is if you have a custom s pipe it hurts to have them cut it up to weld on a cat.......

 

Don't do this. Somebody on SL already tried wrapping their stock manifold and melted the cat inside. He then had to chisel off the wrap before taking it in to the dealer for a new manifold.