aam high flow cats?
08-02-2006 | 10:42 PM
#21
Originally Posted by ht4
As I said before: I am unaware of any UT-R, Helix or AAM cat that ever "imploded." If I am wrong, sorry... please correct me. Random Tech is another story... I have no explanation for their proclivity to self-destruct. I would have to assume that the substrate was ill-suited to high-temp operation... there is really no excuse for that.
I'm not even sure why this thread has lasted so long -- there can be no reasonable debate on this topic. Metal substrate cats are better than their cermic counterparts. End of story. They flow better and are more durable.
EDIT:
If I had to gues why they were dicontinued:
Random Tech: poor quality leading to bad reputation and poor sales
UT-R: terrible marketing
Helix: Poor marketing/sales due to uneducated consumers not understanding the superiority of their product.
I'm not even sure why this thread has lasted so long -- there can be no reasonable debate on this topic. Metal substrate cats are better than their cermic counterparts. End of story. They flow better and are more durable.
EDIT:
If I had to gues why they were dicontinued:
Random Tech: poor quality leading to bad reputation and poor sales
UT-R: terrible marketing
Helix: Poor marketing/sales due to uneducated consumers not understanding the superiority of their product.
AAM....havnt heard anything about them imploding.......yet (then again, when r/t first came out they were praised, until the problems started)
11-29-2006 | 03:16 PM
#22
just wanted to say I got a set of the AAM cats because my crawfords finally burned out due to running too rich and these things are the worst fitting cats my shop has EVER seen
they're putting extra stress on my nismo exhaust because they don't have brackets or even attempt to use the stock mounting brackets. The flanges aren't angled right and are too thin. When my installer first looked at them, he said these aren't anything special and that they're actually standard magnaflow cats that are maybe a little bigger than the crawford ones I had. They do flow more than crawfords though - the cat isn't as dense as the crawford. There's some other company's logo stamped all over them saying that this other company actually made them. Maybe AAM outsources these things?
My shop put them on anyway and turned on the car and there's a leak at the flange....also when I got them, they looked like they used to be on someone's car because there was all sorts of carbon buildup inside of them and grease/gas residue. Their website says they're all test fitted before being shipped out, but apparently they must've test fit them to another car
they won't be staying on my car. I'll be calling AAM for my money back
these things are a huge POS and I'm just using this post to vent my anger about these supposivly perfect high flow cats
they're putting extra stress on my nismo exhaust because they don't have brackets or even attempt to use the stock mounting brackets. The flanges aren't angled right and are too thin. When my installer first looked at them, he said these aren't anything special and that they're actually standard magnaflow cats that are maybe a little bigger than the crawford ones I had. They do flow more than crawfords though - the cat isn't as dense as the crawford. There's some other company's logo stamped all over them saying that this other company actually made them. Maybe AAM outsources these things?
My shop put them on anyway and turned on the car and there's a leak at the flange....also when I got them, they looked like they used to be on someone's car because there was all sorts of carbon buildup inside of them and grease/gas residue. Their website says they're all test fitted before being shipped out, but apparently they must've test fit them to another car
they won't be staying on my car. I'll be calling AAM for my money back
these things are a huge POS and I'm just using this post to vent my anger about these supposivly perfect high flow cats
Last edited by sentry65; 11-29-2006 at 10:20 PM.
11-29-2006 | 06:21 PM
#23
+1 on the bad fitment. The flanges seemed to be off a little for me also, but I couldn't be sure it wasn't something else on the exhaust system that was misalligned. I torqued them down good and I've got no leaks. They didn't come with any hardware either, no gaskets, no nuts and bolts. They do sound good, threw no CELs, and the welds and material appear to be very good.
11-29-2006 | 09:07 PM
#26
Originally Posted by sentry65
just wanted to say I got a set of the AAM cats because my crawfords finally burned out due to running too rich and these things are the worst fitting cats my shop has EVER seen
they're putting extra stress on my nismo exhaust because they don't have brackets or even attempt to use the stock mounting brackets. The flanges aren't angled right and are too thin. When my installer first looked at them, he said these aren't anything special and that they're actually standard magnaflow cats that are maybe a little bigger than the crawford ones I had. They do flow more than crawfords though - the cat isn't as dense as the crawford. There's some other company's logo stamped all over them saying that this other company actually made them. Maybe AAM outsources these things?
My shop put them on anyway and turned on the car and there's a leak at the flange....also when I got them, they looked like they used to be on someone's car because there was all sorts of carbon buildup inside of them and grease/gas residue. Their website says they're all test fitted before being shipped out, but apparently they must've test fit them to another car
they won't be staying on my car. I'll be calling AAM for my money back
these things are a huge POS
they're putting extra stress on my nismo exhaust because they don't have brackets or even attempt to use the stock mounting brackets. The flanges aren't angled right and are too thin. When my installer first looked at them, he said these aren't anything special and that they're actually standard magnaflow cats that are maybe a little bigger than the crawford ones I had. They do flow more than crawfords though - the cat isn't as dense as the crawford. There's some other company's logo stamped all over them saying that this other company actually made them. Maybe AAM outsources these things?
My shop put them on anyway and turned on the car and there's a leak at the flange....also when I got them, they looked like they used to be on someone's car because there was all sorts of carbon buildup inside of them and grease/gas residue. Their website says they're all test fitted before being shipped out, but apparently they must've test fit them to another car
they won't be staying on my car. I'll be calling AAM for my money back
these things are a huge POS
hummm....doesn't sound like AAM - but good thing their customer service is great. (IMO all companies make mistakes or ship out a bad/broken part here and there, but what makes a good company is how they handle it!)
hope it all turns out well!
-Peter
11-30-2006 | 12:21 PM
#27
called AAM, and there's a few options, but Mike said to send him some pictures of them and the fitting problem and he'd refund me some money to reimburse what it'd take my shop to cut them up and make them fit.
He also said they don't need mounting brackets because the metal is much stronger/thicker so it won't crack.
What I'm wondering though is if it could potentially crack my headers or something since the only thing holding the rest of the exhaust onto the car are the hooks way in the back of the car
He also said they don't need mounting brackets because the metal is much stronger/thicker so it won't crack.
What I'm wondering though is if it could potentially crack my headers or something since the only thing holding the rest of the exhaust onto the car are the hooks way in the back of the car
04-15-2007 | 11:33 AM
#29
What was the outcome with the cats? Im thinking about ordering a set for my g35, but not sure what to think. There isn't much feed back on them other than this thread...
-Sean
-Sean
04-15-2007 | 11:51 AM
#30
Originally Posted by ht4
I believe it is a metal substrate cat. Likely 200 cell/inch. These cores are MUCH more expensive then the ceramic cores (and are generally only used in VERY high end cars... porsches, assorted pasta rockets, etc...). They can also handle higher temps and pressures and flow more exhaust.
To my knowledge, only four companies have made metal substrate cats for the Z33: Helix ($500, discontinued), Unlimited Tuning Revolution ($599, discontinued), Random Tech ($699, discontinued), and AAM ($599)... (I don't know what element Nismo uses, but I didn't think it was Metal).
Trust me when I tell you that it is worth the extra $100... you will be getting a vastly superior product.
To my knowledge, only four companies have made metal substrate cats for the Z33: Helix ($500, discontinued), Unlimited Tuning Revolution ($599, discontinued), Random Tech ($699, discontinued), and AAM ($599)... (I don't know what element Nismo uses, but I didn't think it was Metal).
Trust me when I tell you that it is worth the extra $100... you will be getting a vastly superior product.
04-16-2007 | 02:51 PM
#32
My understanding is that AAM buys a metallic-core universal fit cat, then mandrel bends the connecting pipes and welds it all together with the flanges on-site. $600 for a pair of cat's isn't too bad when you realize their cat core retails for $200 each. Having been told who they source from, I can comfortably say the cat itself is high quality.
Round Metal Core Catalytic Converter, 2.5" inlet/outlet
Round Metal Core Catalytic Converter, 2.5\" inlet/outlet
Description: Round Metal Core Catalytic Converter, 2.5" inlet/outlet
Material: 100% Stainless Steel
MSRP ($US): $199.95
Warranty: 50,000 Mile Limited Warranty
Notes: Catalytic Converter Dimensions
-------------------------------
Inlet Diameter - 2.5"
Outlet Diameter - 2.5"
Outer Shell Size - 5.25" O.D.
Overall Length - 10"
Metal Core Catalytic Converters are superior to traditional ceramic core converters in many ways:
- 100% Stainless Steel construction
- Metal Monolith is much more resistant to the effects of vibration than traditional ceramic bricks.
- Capable of withstanding higher operating temperatures.
- 300 cell per Sq. Inch catalyst flows at 578 CFM, up to 40% better than a typical ceramic core converter.
- Suitable for use on engines up to 5.0L
Round Metal Core Catalytic Converter, 2.5\" inlet/outlet
Description: Round Metal Core Catalytic Converter, 2.5" inlet/outlet
Material: 100% Stainless Steel
MSRP ($US): $199.95
Warranty: 50,000 Mile Limited Warranty
Notes: Catalytic Converter Dimensions
-------------------------------
Inlet Diameter - 2.5"
Outlet Diameter - 2.5"
Outer Shell Size - 5.25" O.D.
Overall Length - 10"
Metal Core Catalytic Converters are superior to traditional ceramic core converters in many ways:
- 100% Stainless Steel construction
- Metal Monolith is much more resistant to the effects of vibration than traditional ceramic bricks.
- Capable of withstanding higher operating temperatures.
- 300 cell per Sq. Inch catalyst flows at 578 CFM, up to 40% better than a typical ceramic core converter.
- Suitable for use on engines up to 5.0L
04-16-2007 | 04:29 PM
#33
Originally Posted by 99atlantic
funny how all that you listed are discountinued because their inards kept imploding, hehe.
HELIX HFCs (200cel) still running strong after thousands of miles of WOT...
$450 shipped BTW
Zquicksilver
Last edited by Zquicksilver; 04-16-2007 at 04:34 PM.
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