Metalit high-flow cat heatshield
11-29-04, 09:35 PM
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Metalit high-flow cat heatshield
One issue with replacement high-flow cats is that there is rarely the provision for mounting the stock heatshields. I believe that the heatshields are important for keeping exhaust/cat heat away from getting to the rest of the underside.
In the spirit of sharing solutions to technical issues, I offer the attached images showing how I simply fabricated suitable mounting points. Since I just learned how to MIG stainless, please cut me slack on the quality of my welds. Since the weight is not much, pretty much only tacks are needed.
For the main upper heatshield I arranged and tacked some stainless strips so they would support the shield at its normal mount points. For the small bottom shield I tacked on some small stainless brackets. I found some metric spot-weld nuts that could be welded to the brackets.
In the spirit of sharing solutions to technical issues, I offer the attached images showing how I simply fabricated suitable mounting points. Since I just learned how to MIG stainless, please cut me slack on the quality of my welds. Since the weight is not much, pretty much only tacks are needed.
For the main upper heatshield I arranged and tacked some stainless strips so they would support the shield at its normal mount points. For the small bottom shield I tacked on some small stainless brackets. I found some metric spot-weld nuts that could be welded to the brackets.
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11-29-04, 10:23 PM
#8
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Man, that just flat looks AWESOME! Where did you get the heat shields - are those new, or just cleaned up or what?
Yeah, more info on where and how much that cat was - I really dig those Knightsports cats!
Dale
Yeah, more info on where and how much that cat was - I really dig those Knightsports cats!
Dale
11-30-04, 08:59 AM
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I got the Metalit/Knightsports cat through Corksport. Due to snow I have only had a few test drives since the completed install (with TechEdge WB02) but the ol' butt dyno says it made a significant difference. Not much louder.
The heatshields are stock for the car, which is in very good condition.
The goal of heat management is to get it out of the engine bay and down into the cat, but without overheating the cat or heat stressing anything around the exhaust system. The ceramic-coated downpipe moves it away from the exhaust ports. The metalit core of the cat should be able to handle turbo heat but having better flow and having a decent cat-back allows heat to move quickly out the tailpipe.
Note that I put the WB02 sensor pretty far downstream on the midpipe ahead of the cat. In that location it can be completely vertical and fits in nicely into one of the few spaces under the car by the tranny. I did not show the picture but it is just ahead of the leading edge of the heatshields, which helps keep the sensor body from overheating.
The heatshields are stock for the car, which is in very good condition.
The goal of heat management is to get it out of the engine bay and down into the cat, but without overheating the cat or heat stressing anything around the exhaust system. The ceramic-coated downpipe moves it away from the exhaust ports. The metalit core of the cat should be able to handle turbo heat but having better flow and having a decent cat-back allows heat to move quickly out the tailpipe.
Note that I put the WB02 sensor pretty far downstream on the midpipe ahead of the cat. In that location it can be completely vertical and fits in nicely into one of the few spaces under the car by the tranny. I did not show the picture but it is just ahead of the leading edge of the heatshields, which helps keep the sensor body from overheating.
11-30-04, 09:05 AM
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Oh, and one more thing...
Another motivation for remounting the heatshields is that I am trying to make all my mods very discrete. The guy doing visual inspections at the smog station would have to know quite a bit about 3rd gens to catch the mods. Certainly with the shields on, the cat looks stock.
Whether it would pass the gas analyzer is another question....
Another motivation for remounting the heatshields is that I am trying to make all my mods very discrete. The guy doing visual inspections at the smog station would have to know quite a bit about 3rd gens to catch the mods. Certainly with the shields on, the cat looks stock.
Whether it would pass the gas analyzer is another question....
11-30-04, 01:11 PM
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I think that looks way to "bling" to be anything stock, It might be enough for them to look the other way if they didnt care. But i think anyone who is out to bust your *** isn't going to buy that your cat you have is 10 years old.
11-30-04, 01:18 PM
#16
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It's not really "bling" looking - that's what the heat shields should look like when they're brand new. He's just lucky to have a super-low-mileage car that has clean heat shields 
.
Dale
.Dale
11-30-04, 01:48 PM
#17
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I passed with my KS Metalit-cat back in late August.
During some pre-emissions testing. I did notice some extreme heat under the shifter, which would be rather normal after I spent sometime trying to chase a problem with the PFC not controling my air pump correctly. Even though mine was during extreme condition (no air flow and reving the motor for a long period). I haven't notice a difference with heat between the stock cat or the KS cat while cruising or tracking, so I'm not worried. The testers here don't know what a FD should have so it was not a problem for me. Will be interesting to see if they say anything during your visual test.
Also,
Don't know what your State numbers are for emissions but below is a copy of my pre-test, along with a few photo's of my WBO2 installation.
//Oliver
During some pre-emissions testing. I did notice some extreme heat under the shifter, which would be rather normal after I spent sometime trying to chase a problem with the PFC not controling my air pump correctly. Even though mine was during extreme condition (no air flow and reving the motor for a long period). I haven't notice a difference with heat between the stock cat or the KS cat while cruising or tracking, so I'm not worried. The testers here don't know what a FD should have so it was not a problem for me. Will be interesting to see if they say anything during your visual test.
Also,
Don't know what your State numbers are for emissions but below is a copy of my pre-test, along with a few photo's of my WBO2 installation.
//Oliver
12-02-04, 05:12 PM
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image 1 of 3
There are several options for running the WB02 wires and mounting the boxes. Since Oliver was kind enough to post his install, I will post a couple of images in hopes that they they provide useful ideas.
I looked at many options for getting the rather thick WBO2 lead into the car. I even considered firewall approaches, which is why I bought the (now unnecessary) extra-long cable. I ended up using the convenient hole already present under the passenger seat (covered by rubber plug). The wires run mostly behind the body-mounted heatshielding until it takes the final 4 inch bend through that rubber stopper. A tight fit and lots of silicone should keep any water from getting through.
Where to mount the TechEdge controller and the DataLogit box?? In my case I put it flat in the depressed area under the seat which does not get filled up when the seat is moved all the way forward. Once everything is in place, I covered it with a plasticized-cardboard panel. Everything stays in place using stick-on velcro to the carpet.
I looked at many options for getting the rather thick WBO2 lead into the car. I even considered firewall approaches, which is why I bought the (now unnecessary) extra-long cable. I ended up using the convenient hole already present under the passenger seat (covered by rubber plug). The wires run mostly behind the body-mounted heatshielding until it takes the final 4 inch bend through that rubber stopper. A tight fit and lots of silicone should keep any water from getting through.
Where to mount the TechEdge controller and the DataLogit box?? In my case I put it flat in the depressed area under the seat which does not get filled up when the seat is moved all the way forward. Once everything is in place, I covered it with a plasticized-cardboard panel. Everything stays in place using stick-on velcro to the carpet.
12-02-04, 05:15 PM
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I don't want to stick/bolt anything to the dash so I combined the PFC commander and the TechEdge display together. Since they are of different thicknesses I made an offset aluminum backing for them.
12-02-04, 05:19 PM
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I use a cell-phone holder that mounts using the front seat mounting bolt. It has a flexible but sturdy positioning arm that can be moved out of the way or closer to my line of sight as desired. The current version is a bit low - putting it about radio height - but it is adequate for my purposes.
12-03-04, 02:41 PM
#22
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Yes, your bracket looks very nice. I believe Crispy was the first person I have seen on this forum stack the commander and display like yours. One thing I like about your way...with them together, it must be nice while you tune the motor.
Like you, I did not want to drill or stick anything to the dash. I wanted all my gauges and displays to be in one area, around the steering wheel. I mounted my commander in the sig lighter plug and WB display under the fuel gauge, just enough not to block any of the left side instrument cluster while in the driver seat. For me, this set-up works great. The only problem with digital displays is the sun. cruising around with a low setting sun can be a problem. I made a sun viser for both the commander and WB display out of card board. It really helped.. so I will make it again with a better material over the winter.
sorry, back to your original topic.....
How's it going with the sheild? Is it finished and installed?
Like you, I did not want to drill or stick anything to the dash. I wanted all my gauges and displays to be in one area, around the steering wheel. I mounted my commander in the sig lighter plug and WB display under the fuel gauge, just enough not to block any of the left side instrument cluster while in the driver seat. For me, this set-up works great. The only problem with digital displays is the sun. cruising around with a low setting sun can be a problem. I made a sun viser for both the commander and WB display out of card board. It really helped.. so I will make it again with a better material over the winter.
sorry, back to your original topic.....
How's it going with the sheild? Is it finished and installed?
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