Exhaust ....

[Andrewkb]

Went down to Fong Kim today with the intention to get my exahust header wrapped.

 

However, when I reached there, I was "convinced" not to do so and instead to go for a "cat removal" ... however, he said the replaced cat will look like original and showed me one piece ... the outside look like normal cat, but inside is straight thru with some stuffs filling up the sides ... Price is $180 ...

 

Decided not to go ahead without any research ...

 

Comments from U guys ?

[Huggable]

I had my car's cat removed by Man before, but the extra horsepower is negligible. A better way to gain more power is to make the entire exhaust straight-thru.

 

Btw how did Fong Kim "convinced" you to remove cat instead?

[Hensony]

Just to let you know that a car that has been de-cat may not pass LTA annual vehicle inspection.

 

Of course there are workshops around which can help to overcome the problem before the inspection. Not sure what they can do. But for a small price, I believe any illegal mod can be legalised for the inspection.

 

The wonders of money never amaze me.

[Andrewkb]

No lah .. never "convinced" ... I left the place w/o doing anything :-P

[Turbobrick]

Go get your exaust thermal coated first, try approaching autofix for the job. Forget about removing the cat unless U're gonna have massive intake flow mod done up or have a VAFC controller to monitor your a/f ratio since cat removal "may" screw up your a/f signal to the ECU and run too rich instead.

[Andrewkb]

The Stream has stock cold air intake from the front of the bonnet, like those on Galant and Focus. However, the intake is covered with a plastic piece, which I suspect is to prevent water/stones from getting in. Tempted to remove the plastic cover/cut a hole and cover with wire mesh :-P

 

Like that sure improve a lot ... comments ?

 

But just worried that becoz the pipe goes down first, the vertically into the base of the intake box, any stones/water will actually be left in the pipe unnoticed .....

[Turbobrick]

That little extra piece is more of a debris guard rather than water guard. Check whether the intake tubing has holes to allow water to seep through, if they exist then consider chopping off that plastic blockade.

[Andrewkb]

On further study, it seems like it act as:

a) Air deflector

- If w/o this piece, hot air will flow back from the engine bay into the intake

But then again, when travelling, air flow is from the front, hot air should not be flowing the other direction rite ?

 

b) Debris Guard

- Less likely, since the bonnet already sort of block the intake hole.

 

See attached picture.

The 2 arrow shows air flowing from the front of the vehicle.

However, under stock setup, there is a plastic cover over this intake hole.