I checked with the local Meineke and these are the prices they quoted for some exhaust work:

Install catalytic converter: $40
Cut pre-cats off stock Y-pipe, cut equal lengths off aftermarket y-pipe, weld stock pre-cats onto the aftermarket Y-pipe, and install the Y-pipe: $150
Fabricate\install b-pipe: $125
Replace the s-pipe in the b-pipe with a straight portion: $25

Pretty good prices, I'm close to getting this work performed on my car. One thing is, he said they would not just install the aftermarket y-pipe since it eliminates the pre-cats and would be illegal. But he seemed ok with the idea of welding the pre-cats onto the aftermarket y-pipe.

For those of you who think this will make the y-pipe mod useless, keep in mind that it still removes a bunch of the crimps and flow restrictions. The pre-cats themselves restrict flow, but maybe we can open them up a bit during the fabrication.

 

happy moding!

 

Tanman, cant believe you getting it done at a Meineke. Over hear the **** wouldnt even losen the bolts off my cat so I can AT HOME put the straight pipe in like 8months ago.

Is the piping going to be mandrel bent? Make sure it is for that price, dont want to see you put back regular bent pipe.

Dixit

 

Prices on parts aren't a problem, it's the install charges that kill ya .

 

There's a sport compact modding show on Speedvision channel and they had this clip about Meineke doing exhaust work. The Meineke shop they interviewed said they have their own pipe mandrel-bending equipment and they do pretty much any exhaust work including welding and custom fabrication. In the show, they were making a custom dual exhaust for a Honda.

The Meineke I checked with said they have their own bending machine and they can supply 2.25" or 2.5" piping for the custom exhaust work.

The guy I talked to didn't seem to care about regulations about replacing the catalytic converter, and he only said he wouldn't do a swap of the y-pipe without the pre-cats because I told him it would be illegal without the pre-cats.

 

You definetely found a good shop, where they located incase I want them to make me a Bpipe, since WSP is taking over 6months to make me mine.

Dixit

 

Btw, anyone have a picture of the stock y-pipe from a 5th gen Maxima? I've been assuming that the pre-cats are just at the end of the stock y-pipe and can be cut off and welded onto another pipe.

 

Houston, TX. Alief Kirkwood location. I'll see how mine comes out and take pictures so everyone can see them.

 

I had a picture up like months ago, the stock Y looks wicked.

 

I found the thread, but the link is dead. Do you still have the picture on your website?

Old thread

 

If you put the pre-cats on an aftermarket Y-pipe you'll basically have a stock pipe, IMHO. The rear pre-cat is in a wicked position. If you were to put it on, it would be a very tight fit on the rear downpipe which might produce a very restrictive 90 degree bend. However, you will eliminate the ugly U-bend and have a larger collector (the diameter of the inside of the stock Y's flex is about 2 inches ) with an aftermarket pipe. I don't know man, unless you really, really want the precats I would get the budget Y-pipe (actually I just did) for US$160 and have a small muffler shop bolt it on for you.

On the B-pipe, I'm actually in the process of building my own mandrel bent B. I just bought aluminized mandrel-bent bends (2 90 degree and 1 45 degree) for about $35 total. I already have a resonator and simply have to weld it up (I'm hoping about $60). That would make my mandrel bent B-pipe under $100. Again, a small muffler shop will suffice here.

Just providing other options.

Pics of the budget Y and mandrel bends.





Other pics

http://images.cardomain.com/installs...32_43_full.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/installs...32_41_full.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/installs...32_44_full.jpg

 

Cool, a picture of the stock Y-pipe.

This is how I imagine the stock pipe flows:



So the aftermarket Y-pipe removes the big U in the B portion of the pipe, which is also where I'd guess the pre-cat is located. As for the A portion, I guess the pre-cat is inline with the pipe, so it'd be easy to cut and weld this to the aftermarket Y-pipe.

I think the smoother bends and larger piping of the aftermarket Y-pipe will give performance gains. I want to yank my stock Y-pipe off and remove all the metal cladding around the actual pipes to see how much the pipe is restricted. Also, the collector is larger and freer-flowing that the stock Y-pipe.

 

Yes the "B" portion has the U-bend and the pre-cat, ugh, very restrictive. If you are going to put the rear pre-cat on your aftermarket Y, then you will have to weld it (the precat) onto the vertical part of the rear downpipe before the 90degree bend which might be tight, given the length of that vertical piece.

The "A" portion for a Fed Spec has the pre-cat inline. Mine is CA/NLEV so my front pre-cat is separate (bolted onto the exhaust manifold) and not shown here.

BTW, what do you have? Fed or CA?

 

I'm guessing Fed spec since I have a 2K from Texas.

The A section forward pre-cat should be easy to cut and weld. I hope the B section pre-cat is short enough to fit in the down pipe portion of the rear section.

I'm hoping the pre-cats flow paths aren't too small, otherwise you're right, it will reduce the effectiveness of the Y-pipe mod.

 

These are my images with the cover off to see how they bend that pipe around to make it equal length.

Dixit

 

Your second toe is longer than your big toe.

 

LOL

 

Cool, thanks for finding the images. Ok, you must have a cali spec too (2K1), because I don't see the pre-cat on the front portion of the Y-pipe. So the pre-cat looks like a small cat, and from the picture, it shouldn't be too difficult to cut it off and weld it on the aftermarket Y-pipe.

I checked my toes, my second toe is also longer than my big toe.

 

Good deal, I knew I wasnt the only **** with a larger second toe.

Dixit

 

Actually from the picture, if you measure from the base of the toe to the tip, it looks like your second toe is shorter than your big toe.

Asu174, quit getting off topic . This is what I've been waiting for, a Y-pipe that is environmentally safe! I'll mass-produce them and make billions!!

 

Where are people buying the replacement longer flex-sections for their Cattman Y-pipes? I have the short one on mine and with all the cutting and welding, I'm sure the flex section will feel the effects and collapse sooner or later.