Just looking for some answers From People Who KNOW.

I've searched and go mixed feedback....

Some say "Leave the Catalyst" and other say "Test pipe" and others Say "High Flow Cat"....I've Heard Non-Vtec motors need more Back pressure...And Vtec Motors Don't....I've heard it the other way around.

So here we go I have a 99 Prelude with H22a4.

Set Up I am going to be run:

5Zigen Fireball Cat-Back Exhaust
Kamikaze 4 into 1 Header
High Flow Cat....(Maybe)


Now the Maybe for the cat is because of the Back Pressure. Having such free flowing exhaust Parts.....Should I leave the stock Cat to keep Some Back Pressure....Or Go High Flow......The High Flow Cat I have looks like a small resonator...



HELP PLEASE

 

go with the high flow cat.
The test pipe is overkill for your set-up.
No engine Needs backpressure,an engine needs balance.
You want to keep velocity up and backpressure down, do that and you'll have good flow. If you have good flow you'll increase performance.
If you go to large on your exhaust piping then you lose velocity, and you end up creating backpressure because the exhaust gasses travel slower, cool down and create backpressure which results in poor flow.
Go to small then you effect flow by creating a restriction which causes backpressure.
The ultimate set-up would have high flow, no backpressure, and high velocity, but you cant have that so you have to sacrifice one for another.

 

Backpressure is more of a myth than anything for a N/A car.

The flow of exhaust gases is what you need to worry about. Too large of a diameter piping will hurt your low end power because the exhaust gas is not exiting the exhaust quickly enough and stagnating at low RPMs. Too small of a diameter piping will kill your top end power because exhaust gases will bottleneck at high RPMs where exhaust flow is greatest.

You may lose some low end power with the cat on but if you are racing, thus spending your time at high RPMs, what is the need for low end torque. It will not effect your low end power more than it will give you in power gains. Freeing up exhaust flow is usually a good thing until it reaches a certain point where it is too free flowing and exhaust stagnates.

And, do not get a test pipe. Your setup doesn't need it and it will make your car sound and smell like ass. Keep the air breathable and keep a catalytic converter on unless it is a track only car.

 

http://www.team-integra.net/sections...p?ArticleID=47

you may have to register to view it, but the read is worth it.

 

Thanks for the Info....And that article was great.

So to finish the setup:

AEM V2 Intake
Apexi Vtec Controller 2.....(on the way..-Freind owed me money)
Kamikaze Header
High Flow Cat....(already Have in box...FREE)
5zigen Exhaust...(on the way...$300)

That Is the plan. All I need is the intake and Header. And a little bit of Dyno tuning. I will run this setup until I get more cash next year and figure out more plans for the engine then.....Got some suspension things to do....

 

with that setup you dont really need any tuning. with some bigger cams then tuning would be more worth it.

 

Agreed. Save yourself the time and money and tune only when completely necessary.