I Installed My Cat-back

[madduck99]

I just installed my Magnaflow cat-back, installation was pretty easy, took about an hour in my carport. I do recommend using some penetrant on the nuts before removing and i sprayed the hangers and they slid right off.

Driving impressions: car seems to breathe a little better and pull a little easier, have not heard any exhaust-body interference as some have noted.

Sound impressions: a nice deep tone at idle, inside the car as well as at the tailpipe. Sounds great going through the gears. highway cruising does not bother me, some have noted a droning sound at speed, yes, you can hear the pitch of the exhaust, but i don't mind the sound and besides i have my stereo turned up so i don't hear it anyway

[Brian MP5T]

Sweet, If you get some time post up some pics...

[zak]

heck yea, sounds good. i was thinking of putting a cat back on my es protege. what kind of car did you put it on?

[madduck99]

an 03 ES, black mica color

[zak]

I've got an 02 ES protege, do you think the 03 exhaust would fit an 02 model?

[madduck99]

According to Topendmotorsports.com which is where i bought the magnaflow, that model will fit 01-03 pro with the 2.0 engine. I paid $345 shipped another forum member turned me on to the website, best price i could find.

[zak]

Topendmotorsports.com is a good website, thanks for reccomending it.
I was thinking about going coustom exhaust, supposedly the Interstate Muffler around here builds a pretty good one, but i dont anything about coustom exhausts. How do the gains compare to just a regular aftermarket exhaust? Any help is appreciated.

[Lil Freek]

there's no OFFICIAL Magnaflow gain, but it's supposedly around 6hp.
That's about as good as it gets with a catback.

:)

[jeffmsp]

well custom is usually cheaper. the downside is unless the shop is making exhaust for you kind of car on a regular basis, they typically dont spend as much time designing it and testing it etc. compared to an aftermarket exhaust like a GHL or ION turboback exhuast for the msp.

[zak]

Okay, what is the best exhaust for an 02 es protege, by best i mean which one will give me the biggest hp gain.
Does Greddy make an exhaust for the protege, i was talking to some mechanics at work and they said Greddy was good.

[SIBalla23]

I drive an 02 protege es. I think the best exhuast would be the racing beat catback. I just bought one and can't wait to get it. I have heard sound clips and it has a nice deep tone to it, no rice crap with this exhuast. The power gains seem decent from what I hear from people. Plus, it kind of looks like stock, no big can hanging from the back of your car.

[Lil Freek]

^ RB has gains of 4-5hp, i believe.
It's a really nice setup. Sounds almost exactly like the Magnaflow. OttawaP5 and I have revved at eachother to hear the diference and there's almost no difference.. the Magnaflow is a little deeper than RB, but that's about it.

[illogik]

I second that - the Magnaflow's got a nice growl to it. (yes)
The build quality and fitment (on my 01 ES anyway) is excellent too. Finally got some pics:

I did switch out the 3.5" tip to a 3" so it would look closer to stock tho. Good luck - I'm sure you'd be happy with either!


^ RB has gains of 4-5hp, i believe.
It's a really nice setup. Sounds almost exactly like the Magnaflow. OttawaP5 and I have revved at eachother to hear the diference and there's almost no difference.. the Magnaflow is a little deeper than RB, but that's about it.

[nate0123]

Okay, what is the best exhaust for an 02 es protege, by best i mean which one will give me the biggest hp gain.
Does Greddy make an exhaust for the protege, i was talking to some mechanics at work and they said Greddy was good.the only one I know of that greddy makes for protege is the SP2 for mazdaspeed/turbo protege, it will bolt up to your car but may be a bit too large (diameter) for N/A proteges

[zak]

Heck yea, so if you guys had the choice of either the Magnaflow or the Racing Beat which one would you pick?

[jeffmsp]

from my experiences on n/a cars, adding a 2.5" highflow cat made more of a difference than a catback exhaust piping and muffler. Combined they make the most obviously, but if you dont have the cash right away to get a whole system just get the cat and a nice muffler, then get the piping later when you have the $$ to get nice stainless steel mandrel bent pipes (hump) Then get a cheap header with your tax return, have it coated and your all set.

[zak]

whats the difference between a high flow cat and just a regular cat back exhaust system?

[nate0123]

whats the difference between a high flow cat and just a regular cat back exhaust system?cat-back doesn't touch the catalytic converter, it replaces everything beyond the cat

high-flow cat is just the cat section, it replaces the stock cat with a less restrictive one

[zak]

Is it better to go with a high flow cat, and than get the get the parts to build a full exhaust, like jeffmsp was saying?

[nate0123]

I don't really know, I still have the stock cat, although I have now have no precat b/c I got a 4-1 header (this is a small but noticeable bump in power)

[zak]

do you know if it would be less expensive for a kit, or peice by peice?