Just had local muffler shop install the cattman y pipe on my 96 SE. Ran into several little probs and I need your input.

1) the rear O2 sensor from the manifold ran into the heat shield near it and the shield had to be cut in order for the pipe to fit with the sensor attached. Courtesy Nissan said nothing about this possibility after I begged for any install tips.

2) the pipe is about 2 mm away from the car's main frame and rubs a little in reverse or when I turn quickly and sharp. The section of the pipe that rubs is right where the two manifold sections join

3) I disconnected the battery overnight to reset the ecu, but Nissan didn't say anything about this necessity. Was I just supposed to drive 400 miles until the ecu reset to get the full effect of the new y pipe?

Any input is greatly appreciated,
Alpo

 

ok..


rear 02 sensor shouldn't have anything to do with the Cattman Y Pipe

its the cat bracket.. the muffler shop will have to ither install bushings or wedge the bracket away from the car..


http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html

no problem

 

It'a constant install problems like these which perplexes me when people say that the Cattman pipes are the "Premium" Y-pipes. The only thing premium about his Y-pipes are the price and type of material used. Until people raise some Hell and stop buying his Y-pipes, he'll never change his fitment problems. I constantly read about people having to bend their Cattman Y-pipes to get them to fit, hammering on the pipe to get extra clearance from the support cradle, vibration/rubbing problems, and O2 sensor clearance problems.

Your only option for the tight clearance near the engine cradle is to drop the pipe, hammer it, and then reinstall it. The downside is you will start restricting the airflow you paid a premium for.

It is not really important to reset the ECU. Most of the Y-pipe gains come from WOT, not part throttle. At WOT, the ECU has a set program it uses therefore there's nothing for the ECU to learn. Your part throttle acceleration and feel will slowly change for the better over a week or two.


Dave

 

I kind had this same issue at first. All I had to do is replace the bushings/isolaters. Over time the stock bushings stretch and loosen up. The new ypipe is heavier, I believe, and so will move more. Just make sure that you get the stiffest bushings you can find.

Lovejoy

 

I had the EXACT same problems with my prototype Cattman ypipe (JetHot coated, non-stainless). I got mine back in like 98 or early 99. It is absolutely ridiculous that the Cattman pipes still have the same fittment problems. I sent Brian Catts a lengthy email regarding my specific issues (same as yours) way back then. He replied that the issues would be addressed in the full-production models. I know that others here have also notified Brian of the same issues. Mr Catts has obviously never addressed these issues, as simple and "fixable" as they are.

I'm sorry to say this, because I initially supported the Cattman endevour, but the technical support is simply not there, the continuous product improvement is not there...basically, Cattman is not a company I would choose to do business with again.

 

Oh, and my comments about Cattman's pipes are only in regards to #1 and #2. Issue #3 has nothing to do with the ypipe but is simply an inherent "must do" (well, maybe just a "should do") after any performance upgrade on the Maxima. As far as what you did (Alpo), you did the correct thing. Just continue to drive the car and the ECU will have adjusted within a few days with the engine operating optimally by that time.

 

My problem is worse. The cattman pipe is resting on the sub-frame all the time. This is causing the whole car to vibrate. I'm waiting for an authorization code to return it.