Zasker1

First off let me say the build of this Cat is really nice with good clean welds. I decided to try to do this in my garage with wheel rams however it would have gone faster with a lift or if I had used a jack and jack stands. The install took about an hour but that is mostly because it is hard to get leverage with a ratchet when using wheel ramps, had I used say a lift, I think you could do this in about 30min or less. I gave the nuts a good douse of Liquid Wrench about an 30min before I started and again during as this makes it a little easier to get the exhaust nuts off. RT supplies a set of bolts, washers and nuts with the install kit but they only shipped me 4 not 6 of each thus I had to run to home depot. Once I had all the parts it was a pretty easy install, the one item to note is that the CAT is not exactly the same length of the OEM cat thus it was almost a 3/4 inch gap between the exhaust and the CAT once I had the cat mounted to the Header. Part of this is the CAT itself but I think the bigger problem is my DC Header as it is not the same length of the OEM Header. While this makes the part easier to work with, you essentially have to suck up the slack buy torking the bolts thus putting an additional strain on the entire exhaust system. I am thinking I may bend a few exhaust hangers Post-CAT to ease the strain but I am also lazy so we will see.

Driving Impressions:
First thing you notice when starting the car is a nice exhaust note between 900 and 1500 rpm, the car sounds much "meatier" now than stock and you can defiantly notice an increase in engine response. Driving around there is a noticeable gain in torque/power from 1k to 4k rpms and it starts to scream there after. I had planned on a dyno run before and after but I just bought an engagement ring thus I had to table that idea, once I get Hondata (Next Month) I will do a before and after.
One of the bonus I have noticed already is accelerating from say a stop sign is much smoother as the car is more torque down below. It is little louder than stock but not by much.
I looked over some notes that I had written down regarding my CAI install and I think there is a more noticeable gain in the CAT than a CAI. Overall this is probably the best mod I have done yet on my car according to the butt dyno. If you have $300 to spend and had to choose between this and a CAI or Header I would choose the CAT.
The only items I would change about this product would be the following:
1. love to see RT's logo etched on the CAT rather than a sticker.
2. If it was a little longer by say 1/2 inch that would be a perfect fit.
3. As you will not be able to reuse the old shield I would be willing to pay more if RT had provided a shield to protect the CAT. As it stands now, I may try to make my own.
4. They did not give me a sticker with the kit, I want my sticker dammit.

Butt Dyno Factor:
Install Difficulty: Easy
Tools Needed: 12mm, 8mm 17mm sockets.
Snap-on Flex Head rachet or equivelent. ( Is there one?)
12mm 1/2 drive socket with 1/2 drive Breaker Bar
Large Adjustable Wrench to remove the O2 Sensor.

Tsx536

Thanks for the review

I think I'll have to do this in a couple months after our development season here at work is over. I didn't realize that you actually gain low end torque instead of losing it!

This definitely sounds like a worthwhile mod. So no CEL's so far, right?

So your running the stock exhuast right?
If you could Marcus, next time you're on the freeway see how much extra cabin noise there is.

Thanks man!

eviljai

nice writeup = )
yes, i wonder how much louder did the cat make?

arch

Great review! Im still waiting on mine to arrive and it sounds like everything is almost back to normal with Dezod getting these out. I can understand the situation and Im patient when waiting for something I really know will be a great mod.

So could you tell us what extra bolts/parts you had to buy from Home Depot. I want to pick everything up and head over to a friend's shop to put this on. I hate to lift the car, take off the stock cat, try to fit the RT cat, and have to reassemble and drop the car to buy parts.

Zasker1

So the new CAT does not have any bolts welded to it they use loose bolts, lock washers and Nuts. Since I was missing 2 bolts/washers/nuts I went and bought a few. 1.5 inches long with a 17mm head.

I have not seen any cells and put about 60 miles on my car tonight, the cabin noise is not very noticable but bear in mind that I have dynomated my entire car so I am sure I would notice it less. I do have stock exhaust, aftermarket seems a waist.

If there was an increse in cabin noise it would have to be less than %10 cruizing and maybe 15% when you WOT

peter_bigblock

I'll be asking for this for Christmas! This will complete my bolt-on horsepower mods and then I can concentrate on speaker upgrades. Although I love the way the car sounds with the short ram and it will sound just a little cooler with the RT cat. Great write-up, Zasker1.

Tsx536

I wonder if Random Tech would be willing to make a version of the cat that's 1/2" longer for some of the people with the DC Header.

HoRRo

5. Gaskets on both ends since the piping flares out 1-2mm causing a visual fitment issue, but no exhaust leaks. I would rate fitment of flanges at about 96%

moda_way

Mine just arrived!!! Won't be on until my Comptech SS Headers arrive though. Looks beautiful!!!

Zasker1

Common now, you can install it in an hour

JTso

iTrader: (2)

When you get a chance, measure the OAL of the cat. The stock cat is 17-3/4". A shorter cat could potentially post problems for people running aftermarket exhaust and swaybar.

moda_way

I have the OAL being EXACTLY 17 3/4"

HoRRo

Strange that they are both the same, if I remember correctly, the RT cat was ever so slightly shorter because with stock exhaust manifold and stock cat-back, we had to pull on the catback for a proper fitment during install.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Hmm... I wonder why Zasker1 said it's not the same length.

Maxboost

Mine's arrived! But it's kind of funny because i'm missing two sets of bolt/washer/nut just like Zasker1. Just plain funny.

Zasker1

Good, so I am not the only one

Zasker1

Ok so this makes two of us. I think my gap was increased by my DC Header

HoRRo

Zasker1, out of curiousity, did you put your OEM cat back into the Random Tech box? because my OEM didn't fit in the box, I had to bend the box a bit.

Tsx536

Hey Zasker1, what did you do to repair your DC header when you had problems with it?
Did you replace the flex pipe? Or you worried that it might break again?

CCColtsicehockey

Wow sound like another mod that has to get done to my car still.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Could it be the stock cat has studs on both ends, whereas the RT cat doesn't?

moda_way

Ditto for me as well!!

Guess we need to send a collective PM do DEZOD.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I guess they forgot the TSX front flange uses a 3-bolt pattern instead of most normal 2-bolt pattern.

moda_way

As well as the rear. Obviously we have 6 bolts and they sent 4 bolts/lock washer/nuts.

I've already send a PM and an email to Dezod.

Maxboost

I've sent PM to Dezod, too.
BUT the thing is that on the fit kit that came with Dzuy's CAT it has all the bolts. The number on the zip lock bag is the same as my bag, too. Maybe they were smoking sth very stong...

Zasker1

Actualy DC sports sent me a brand new collector pipe. I did have a new flex pipe welded on and gave it to Jonny, which looking back was dumb as I pad 30 bucks for hte flex pipe, but oh well, I got an oil catch bracket out of the deal so I am happy.

Zasker1

Nope, it wont fit in the box

HoRRo

For the record, I got all the nuts and bolts needed.

gfd1182

just got mine same thing with the bolts sent PM to dezod

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

So how loud is RT Cat??
Thinking of getting RT Cat before Comptech header, but like to know
how loud it will get.

HoRRo

A "normal" passenger will not hear the difference on stock exhaust. The exhaust note increase is very minimal. I wouldn't be surprised if someone with stock exhaust can't tell the difference. The sound difference is definitely better though, the exhaust note sounds sexy, even at low rpms.

Maxboost

The noise is hardly noticable. I can't hardly tell because the CAI is a lot louder than the CAT. However, the noise is a lot meatier and sexier now.
Throttle response is and it pulls harder, too.

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

words you guys are using "sexier & meatier" but not loud like catback system is luring me to buy one.

is the waiting line long?

Zasker1

yea at idle and below 1800 rpm it sounds realy nice.

HoRRo

moda_way, did you happen to measure the OAL from pipe flare to pipe flare or from flange edge to flange edge? Because if it's from pipe flare to pipe flare, that's not really the OAL, making the RT cat shorter.

moda_way

Pipe flare to pipe flare. I saw that the flanges didn't quite account for the flares.

eviljai

j.w. does it sound throaty/deep like wrx or G35?

moda_way

Posted in the GB section as well:

Okay, I also figured something out...

The 2004s came with part 18190-RBB-G00 and was 491mm

There is also a 2nd cat part 18190-RBB-S00 and is 558mm which is also part of the 2004-2005 models. This can possibly explain some of the differences we are seeing.

HoRRo

The sound difference isn't to that extreme, but if I had to choose wrx or G35, it'd definitely sound more like a subdued G35.

Maurice

Anyone able to post sound clips yet??