Anyone with a magnaflow exhaust...

[Golf Houso]

Careful handing out that sort of advice mate, it's not a surefire thing that the cat will be broken. I'd suggest it is probable but it's debatable whether it will make more difference than a catback system.

In a VR6 that doesn't have a perfect service history i.e. 99% of them, then replacing the cat would most likely make more difference that just doing a cat-back.

Cats get blocked very easily from overfueling, and anyone thats owned a VR6 can attest to how easy it is to throw the motor into an overfueling cycle i.e. plugs, leads, MAF's, coilpack etc.

And besides, on a car thats well over 13 -15 years old the cat itself its more than likely shagged. Most people just disregard it because a 1/2 way decent replacement costs in excess of $300 fitted. You can be a tightarse and just not bother and just go for sound or you could it once and do it properly and get it all replaced.

Its up to you really, and just because your VR6 is running fine now, doesn't mean that in the other 10-12 years of ownership that someone neglected to change the leads and plugs a couple of times.

[VR6child]

It had definitely crossed my mind to replace the cat. I seem to remember looking at a site with different cats available for the VR6, but now I can't find it.

Also I wonder whether buying the cat from the US will mean the catback system will bolt right up as it is designed for the NA style exhaust I guess. But then again if I buy a high flow cat from over there, it might not meet emissions here.

[Golf Houso]

It had definitely crossed my mind to replace the cat. I seem to remember looking at a site with different cats available for the VR6, but now I can't find it.

Also I wonder whether buying the cat from the US will mean the catback system will bolt right up as it is designed for the NA style exhaust I guess. But then again if I buy a high flow cat from over there, it might not meet emissions here.

It has to be 200 cel or more to pass emissions here.

[The_Hawk]

For reference, mine was done a while back with a fairly generic Lukey 2.5 system:

YouTube - New Exhuast

I thought I did the cat too, but on reading through it seems I didn't. Eitherway, it's an idea of what a locally built system will sound like.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Eitherway, it's an idea of what a locally built system will sound like.

Very, very loud! hahaha.

I've got a magnaflow hi-flow 200cell cat on my list for very soon, I'm probably going to get it from 42draftdesigns along with some other beautiful metal.

[Shteifen]

just gonna put it out there, i just want an exhaust that sounds ace AND doesnt drone. both points being equally important.
are there any rules of thumb to getting rid of drone? ie. not going 2.5, more resonators, bla blah blah?
-steve

[Ben J]

stay above 3000 rpm and your all good

[MattyT]

Sometimes that just isnt possible. Also if its a vr6 we're talking about then you want to keep the revs low, lest you chew fuel like madness.

I am very keen on trying to discover the no drone rule of thumb. My current exhaust is on borrowed time until I can get something that doesnt drone like crazy at 60kph.

[Stephy]

ECV FTW, loud when you want it, quiet when you're taking your Nan to the shops, but don't keep it shut all the time it may hurt your engine...

[Mrk_Mickey]

just gonna put it out there, i just want an exhaust that sounds ace AND doesnt drone. both points being equally important.
are there any rules of thumb to getting rid of drone? ie. not going 2.5, more resonators, bla blah blah?
-steve

AFAIK a 2.5" system with two resonators and a backbox shouldn't be too bad. Mine's 2.25" and it's got one resonator and a backbox, and some will think it's too loud.