I need your thoughts/recommendations/opinions regarding whether connecting the DP to the MP without the bracket is inadvisable.

I suspect most don't secure the DP to anything but quite honestly I'm concerned about the weight of the CAT and the resulting torque on the turbo manifold-DP connection.

My impression from crawling under the car and pushing up on the CAT (which I was about to connect to the DP) is that it's too heavy and NOT a good idea to run as is without the added support.

Makes me want to go out and get a high-flow CAT or MP but I don't have an ECU yet!!

Are high-flow CATS significantly lighter??

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

high flow cats are MUCH lighter. i would say about 1/3 of the weight of the stock cat. i do not have my bracket connected to my DP, but I am running a hiflo.

 

The high flow cats are alot lighter. If you are going to add a high flow cat sooner than later I would attach some small brackets to stiffin up the exaust system. That way you dont have to worry about extra force on your DP. I dont really see a problem with adding a high flow cat and MP without a ECU if thats the only mods you have done to the car.

 

To be safe you can easily fab a bracket. I think Advanced or most parts stores sell hanger material

 

I have a dp without a hangar attached to the stock cat, it's been that way a year and a half without a problem. I don't see the issue.

 

I've had the same results... no issues here.

 

No issues. DP's are super light. So are MP's

 

if i remember right the weight diff between pre-cat and DP is about 20lbs. And from what i remember my precat didnt have any extra bracked attached to it.
Ie both my precat and the DP is only attached to turbo and the main cat

 

Thanks for the input guys-much appreciated!!

4Fun: Indeed I don't have any other mods that would affect air/fuel mixture or timing.

Is that the consensus=that going hi-flow or MP would be safe without an ECU in light of the fact that I don't have an IC, Catback, or Intake mod?? Anyone with impressions for or against this notion please let me know??? I need to make a decision fairly soon. Wife needs her side of the garage back!!

 

Use a bracket. The stock DP and all of the good aftermarket DP's (Bonez, Pettit, M2, HKS) have a bracket. The reason is simple. With a support brace there, you are putting a lot of stress on the welded joint at the DP flange.

It takes very little time to make and it can save you a lot of potential headaches in the future.

My 2 cents...

Sonny

 

you need to make a bracket and attach it to the tranny. you dont wanna hurt the welds or the flange at the turbo. all that torquing over can wear away at it.

paul

 

I think with a dp/midpipe or highflow you could still be boosting 11psi + get a home depot boost controller to be on the safe side

 

i've got an m2 (in person) and mine didn't have a bracket. haven't had a problem in 4 1/2 years. ymmv.

 

I think you'll be fine without the ECU. Get a boost gauge and keep and eye on your boost levels. Some people get a boost spike when they install those items. Its even worse if they put in a new style y pipe.

 

I think you'll be fine without the ECU. Get a boost gauge and keep and eye on your boost levels. Some people get a boost spike when they install those items. Its even worse if they put in a new style y pipe.

 

I think you'll be fine without the ECU. Get a boost gauge and keep and eye on your boost levels. Some people get a boost spike when they install those items. Its even worse if they put in a new style y pipe.

 

I think you'll be fine without the ECU. Get a boost gauge and keep and eye on your boost levels. Some people get a boost spike when they install those items. Its even worse if they put in a new style y pipe.

 

what kind of boost numbers/hp numbers are you running?

paul

 

Thanks again for your thoughts. I'm looking at getting an ECU so I can relatively safely start running a hi-flow cat now. At least until I get it to a tuner.
One of the things I had to do with the DP in is completely remove the stock bracket that was attached to the transmission. The pipe was literally jammed up against the bracket. Which means that fabricating a hanger type system off the bracket won't work.

Anyone run into this problem?

 

high flow w/o an ECU upgrade is okay if you only have 1 other mod. I wouldn't run a MP w/o an ECU upgrade.

Bracket is not needed. I haven't heard of anyone had a leak after switching to DP. I haven't heard of any DP with a bracket either.