Okay so I want to buy some cats or resonated test pipes and searched the forum to find which are the best. Looks like DC, Alphawerks and Crawford cats are on the top of the list.. I want to know why? What makes them so good, the name brand? I read the Kinetix are just as good, but are cheaper. So what is it? Also FastIntentions came out with some new ones that everyone is raving about.

Another noob question, what's the difference between cats and test pipes?

Please no flaming, if you can't help me, ignore the thread. Sorry I wasted 20 seconds of your life, many threads will do that to you. Thanks

 

For high flow cats, the best are Crawford. For test pipe's, Labree's resonated test pipes are the best. Each of these peices costs a pretty penny.
-GP-

 

Fast Intentions...I've tried the Crawfordz's...Fast Intentions are built better and have a better tone to them

 

Thanks guys, but you missed my point... I know which ones are said to be the best, I just want to know why? To me, the ones on eBay for $100 look the same! And what's the difference in test pipes and cats?

 

crawford just came out with new cats.

well, the cats are the same but the bracing is different. now they wont crack (lol)

still 500 bucks though

 

Fast Intentions has the best quality. As for test pipes... they're all pretty much the same. Just as long as the welds hold, of course.

High flow cats are exactly that. Catalytic converters that are higher flowing that the OEM ones. Test pipes are straight pipes with not cats on them... just a tiny resonator to try and muffle the rasp that you'll be getting alot of from test pipes. The resonators sorta sit on the outsides of the pipe, so they dont restrict air flow.

 

here you go - i'm selling my cats: https://g35driver.com/forums/archived-sales/118589-fs-crawford-high-flow-cats-g35-350z-pics.html

 

The difference between high flow cats and resonated test pipes.

H.F.C.- They contain a ceramic honeycomb style brick in most cases, and offer you better performance over O.E.M. cats. It is essentially an enhanced version of stock cats.

Res. T.P.- They remove the cat out of the equation all together. They are at the highest level in H.P. gains, and the purpose of the resonator itself is to smooth the exhaust tone out, also helping to eliminate or cut our rasp as well.

If smog is a concern where you live, then go with a H.F.C. If not, then go with a Res. T.P.

Tony

 

Okay well I learned one thing, I do not want test pipes, I'll just stick to cats.

Now the big question I've been asking, what's the difference in all these cats? For example, how are the Crawfords better than the Kinetix or the Ichiba? I'm not down to spend $400+ on cats!

 

Also keep in mind that high-flow CATS are not gauranteed to pass smog tests - which means you wil likely have to swap out your factory CATS at test time and then back off again.

They are designed for off-road use only....so keep that in mind.

We do have a SALE going on now in the marketplace....check it out...

Rick

 

they all claim to be better then the next guy. What you need to do is find out tract records on diff. manufactuers. You want a cat that has no fitment issues, as well as high quality to stand up under the stress. Meaning The welds holding as well as the brick inside holding together.

 

theres so much debate on which cats are better, crawford for kinetix. i dont think youll find a definite answer about that. my friend that works at nissan told me crawford cats should pass smog.

 

Another issue we have seen many times, with Crawford CATS is their fitment. They cause a large bind on the system and they crack often and can possibly damage other system components as well.

I don't want to bash the product, I used to own them myself, but when we designed out own, we made sure there was ZERO bind in the system. We've removed several sets of Crawfords, of those we have installed at the shop, all due to cracking, etc.

I've heard the Kinetix and they rasp and have some wierd related noises in them..this has been written up quite a bit over at MY350Z as well.

Rick

 

crawfordz have fitment issues with the heat shield as well

 

crawford came out with new cats that are now available. they "fixed" this problem and should no long have cracking issues.