Exhaust Replacement Advice

Hi there, just joined TW. Been creeping threads and researching for months though, just bought my first tacoma in July - used 07 TRD Sport with the 1GR-FE. Miles were a bit high (176,000 km) but the truck is in great shape, engine is clean, runs smooth. Basically everything works as it should except I noticed pretty quick it sounded like it had an exhaust leak. Started doing research and find out I'm not the only one who's encountered this..

Anyway, looking to replace the whole exhaust system. Most people seem to go headers, but unfortunately I live in Vancouver and we have to comply with emissions, so I must run cats. Thought about shorty headers to cats, but it just seems like too much of a pain, bunch of welding and fitting involved. So I've been looking at these Magnaflow large stainless replacement manifolds instead:

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/mpe-49341/overview/

Basically come with integrated cats, just like the stock ones, but are definitely made from better, thicker materials and would give more flow, I think. They're a little expensive, but I can offset some of the cost by taking the stock cats in for scrap.

Anyone tried these? Or have other suggestions on which way I should go? Thanks in advance.

 

subd I got one them there leaks to myself. Welcome to TW

 

Is there a reason you don't want to replace w/ stock? $509 seems kind of high for a cat, you still have to get the rest of the exhaust replaced.

 

Looks like a good option since you don't want to mess with the welding and such. The TRD exhaust is already mandrel bent from the factory after the rear cats so all you really need is a muffler to complete your exhaust after installing these magnaflows. If you have to keep all four cats then trying to replace the Y pipe with a madrel bent one really isn't going to do much for you and probably isn't worth the cost.

 

Check out these manifolds.
http://afepower.com/shop/details_ne...as&engine=4.0L&searchtype=vehicle&make=Toyota Truck&model=Tacoma&year=2008&engine=4.0L&&brandID=99
Might be an option

 

Thanks for the replies! I don't want to replace with stock, because toyota obviously doesn't use good manifolds. My stock ones leak, and sound like sh*t, and the whole exhaust is rusty from the engine to the tailpipe (not killer rust, no holes or anything- yet). I do most of my own work, and I hate doing things twice.

So, I can't seem to find too much info on the rear cats - are they inside the y-pipe? Because I haven't seen a 2nd set of cats on my truck. Did they only start putting those on the later years? Do they have a 2nd set of O2 sensors too? Replacement y-pipe seems to be the hardest thing to find. The only aftermarket ones are Doug Thorley's and they want alot for them.

 

Thanks man, good find. These seem pretty sweet as well.

 

The DT Y-pipe is not expansive! Mostly cause of the steel material instead of SS.

Have you done research about the smog test. How are the regulations in Vancouver compared to California? This truck is legal California and i'm preety sure there is a way to pass the test only with 2 cats.

The second bank of cats are on the Y-pipe, let say Under the driver and passenger seat.

 

Yea, I see what you're talking about now. Vancouver emissions testing is pretty lax, actually. if your vehicle is 97 or newer, they don't even hook you up to a sniffer, just plug into your dash and make sure all on board emission controls are functioning.. but we are required by law to run cats. I'm sure I could pass without the second set.. no sensors downstream from the y-pipe cats, correct?

 

Not to mention that is the price each. The OP is looking at $1010 and then the rest of the exhaust. That seems pricey to me.

Except for they are "race only" which means you likely will not pass emissions, which is something you indicated a need for originally.


Why not get the Shorty Headers (

Doug Thorley Headers thy-515-1-c Smog Legal Header for Toyota Tacoma/4Runner/Tundra/FJ Cruiser 4.0L V6

http://www.amazon.com/Doug-Thorley-Headers-thy-515-1-c-4Runner/dp/B007NJXXOG) and then get an exhaust shop to install. I've read people on here paying between $180 and $250 (US) to get all the work done. You get to keep the cats, but also get the benefit of headers and replace the stock manifold. All that for less than the other two products that have been mentioned here.

 

Yea I've considered the shorty headers, but if I went that way, $350 for the headers, with shipping/import fees they'll be up around 500. add stainless cats at 150 a piece, then Labour, plus stainless exhaust flanges, plus I'd have to drop my only vehicle off for a day or two to get it done, leaving me no way to get to work. All to save maybe 100-200 bucks? and as far as I know, the longer the tube, the better the performance, so I'd argue that the performance advantage of short tube headers over a large, high flow manifold would be negligible.

at this point I'm still leaning towards the magnaflow manifolds.. still some research to do before I pull the trigger on anything, and I always like to hear what people think.

As far as these "secondary cats" - are you sure they're actually cats and not just resonators?

 

Just a heads up, Amazon appears to sell the Magnaflows as well. The same part # is about $60 a piece cheaper. They also show another part # that says it's compatible with our trucks for under $400 a piece.

 

Yea, thanks, I saw those on there, unfortunately they won't ship to Canada..

autopartswarehouse has a Canadian site and charges no brokerage fees, so I think it'll be the best option.. Canadians get hosed on car parts.

 

It's my understanding that the long tube headers provide gains in the high RPM range, whereas the short tube headers provide gains in the low RPM ranges.

 

makes sense. I still don't think there would be significant advantages to running the shorty headers over those magnaflows though.

 

Can anyone confirm the Magnaflows will fit other years besides 2005 - 2009?
I can't see why they wouldn't.

 

As long as you've got the 4.0L 1GR-FE engine, it SHOULD fit, but that's an assumption, so definitely research it a bit more.

 

Thorley pipe bomb is 1...... Urd is another.....Apr is another.

u should have 2 sensors at the manifolds themselves... Then 2 more downstream on the y pipe. This design is normal for 2005-2014.


I'll hop on my PC and get some pics in a second for ya

 

stock manifolds next to doug thorley long tubes......Yes, the headers have 2 bungs on each bank for 02 sensor locations and optional wideband setups







and stock y pipe next to URD y pipe

see the buldge in the stock y pipe on each side? You should also see the bung (threaded hole) right by it, thats where the secondary 02 sensor screws in

 

well your pics aren't showing (might be my smart phone). So you're saying there should be 8 O2 sensors total? because I just crawled under my truck and all I see is one bung on the manifolds before the first set of cats, then the flange to the y-pipe, then another sensor on each side before the second set of cats but nothing after that.. so 4 O2 sensors total, two on each bank, one upstream, one downstream from the first set of cats.

EDIT: your pics are working now. Yeah, I misunderstood you, my bad. Looks exactly like what I've got.. so the y-pipe actually has cats, they're not just resonators right? Does anyone know if all 4 cats are the platinum ones? Cause you can get $100+ for each one if that's the case..