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View Full Version : Mummified cat back exhaust (header wrap)


kylemorg
06-01-2007, 01:44 PM
FYI -- I went to Advance auto the other day and got a 45' roll of 2" header wrap. I then proceeded to re-seal the cat back exhaust flanges on my KORE catback and wrap the exhaust from the muffler all the way up to the second cat. :)

I read on the internet that it might improve performance slightly by keeping the exhaust gasses hot. I haven't felt any difference.

I've also read that it will increase the rate of corrosion of the exhaust. However, the car is already 5 years old, the catback probably about 4 (got it used) and there is very little sign of corrosion yet. The exhaust will probably still outlast the car. :redface:

The primary reason I did it was to reduce noise. Re-sealing the flanges on the exhaust helped quiet it, but it was still annoying during log trips at 3K rpm (~78 mph on the highway for hours). The header wrap quieted the exhaust resonation quite a bit. :D

I thought about wrapping the stock exhaust manifold, too, but I'd have to remove the heat shield, etc., and it's such a small part before the first cat, and it's only the stock header anyway, so why bother?

The upshot of this is that if you want to quiet your aftermarket exhaust a bit (and are not worried about corrosion), for about $45 for header wrap and some hose clamps you could try this method.

DO NOT WRAP YOUR CAT CONVERTERS, though -- they can overheat and destroy the catalyst bricks.:eek:

Edit -- Before anyone says "where are the pics?" -- I am not going to post pics of it. It's not very impressive to see, I did not take pics when I did it, and I am NOT going to jack up the car and crawl under it again just to get some silly pictures!

bdiggy
06-02-2007, 01:02 AM
:eek: What! No pics.....:nono: :headshake :Blasting_ :hammer: :bang: :kick: :jerkit: :2gunsfiri :plzdie: :wtf: Oh well,lol.

silversharkXD2
06-02-2007, 01:39 AM
I bet it smoked like a mother ****er until the binding agents burned off.
I probably could have got it cheaper for you

kylemorg
06-04-2007, 11:38 AM
Actually, it didn't smoke too badly. It smelled the first two times I took it on the highway, a bit like baking bread. After that, it's been fine. I'm sure it would have been a lot smokier if I'd wrapped the exhaust manifold, too.

The noise level reduction is certainly nice. Now I can hear how noisy my tires are at speed (unfortunately).

I'll have to see how bad the corrosion is, but seeing how thick and corrosion resistant the KORE catback is, I doubt it'll be a problem. I don't know what grade stainless they used for that catback, but it's not corroding very fast at all after three years in PA salted winter roads.

jayupark
06-04-2007, 12:54 PM
That's great to hear (or not hear) that the noise has been reduced. I think I might try this on my car.

kylemorg
06-05-2007, 10:03 AM
It's really not hard. I started at the muffler for some reason, and wound my way up to the cat under the shifter area of the center tunnel in the car chassis. 45 feet of 2 inch wide fiberglass header wrap was just right to get a good overlap and not have any left over.

If you're looking for a bit quieter ride, I definitely recommend it.

silversharkXD2
06-05-2007, 06:54 PM
my headers smoked so bad afterwards that it looked like my car was on fire. And it did it for hours!!! I couldn't drive it home cause I looked really stupid. There is nothing better for getting laughed at than a "tuner" car that breaks down, or in my case one that looked like it was.