Magnaflow VS LC Engineering
 

So I have purchased many things from LC Engineering and they have always come in well built and as advertised. So this post is about me being cheap and trying to get the same outcome.


I have found the following pieces for a muffler and catalytic converter. Mine is rusted out and what better time to upgrade.

88 Bucks

115.00 Bucks

My local muffler shop (that I trust) said they will install it for 100 bucks.

The LC Engineering has great reviews and many satisfied people that have purchased this system. Its 400.00 bucks though for the muffler system and then this same cat or theirs is another 150.

So in light of saving some money am I missing something critical here I would not get by not going with the LC one ? (other than the sweet satin coating which I admit looks killer).

Also does anyone see anything wrong with these part numbers from amazon or does anyone have any experience with them...

I am into the Turbo style exhausts for the truck (see the main thread on this site for things to know about this engine in the stickys)

I was looking for a Exhaust to help with efficiency and a hair of performance. Not a street rumble that is annoying or over the top.

I will be running 2.25 tubing all the way through.

https://www.magnaflow.com/products/1...rmance-muffler

So I received this in the mail today. 4x9 Magnaflow Model #11225 11225
The welds on this unit are a little rough. It is nearly strait through in design I did not see any pictures online of the build in and out so I thought I would add these for anyone considering this item. I ordered from amazon and while the exterior of the unit seems nice the welds looks as though they were done by hand and not a machine. I expected the cleanest lines for such a large company. I ordered the magnaflow cat also and will update with model and photos when they arrive.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...d06c8e640.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...09e9cd4bc.jpeg
Offset side

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...ee8ce69a0.jpeg
Center side (from the cat). You can see the exit flow on the offset side on the other end

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...91adc4311.jpeg
The welds like I said seem more than solid but not the smoothest looking thing. Hope these photos help Someone. I will keep updating with install pics along with the cat photos when they get here. My truck is about to hit the 200k mark and the factory one is pretty rusted through. I will post photos of that also when I get it off. A new o2 sensor will be going in at install time as well. Truck has got a lot of love in the last 3000 miles.

The cat came in and I took a new Toyota o2 sensor and off I went.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...608d3c889.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...d28cb8f42.jpeg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...ade7e5de8.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...3c315e1d2.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...a46b022e7.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...5b869b919.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...a38ae69ca.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...137a869da.jpeg
Here is a few more pictures of the cat.

My initial review is that it sounds very similar to stock. With a hair, think 7-10 percent more growl. Which is what I wanted. I wanted it close to stock. I am not looking to be a racer, it is a hunting rig. I do drive it on the street on the weekends and the main reason for going to a more strait through design was to try and improve fuel economy.

I will update in a few weeks with a final review. (If I remember …. )

Well I blew I headgasket. 198k and about 300 miles on the truck from the time I did this. Anyone think it was doing this exhaust that caused the headgasket to go or was it just bound to happen and now its done.

Bout to do the Headgasket this week or so... If it makes it 40k more miles that's about 10 years the way I drive it.

Spread5150,
I have a Magnaflow catalytic converter (model #39004) on my 1993 4Runner. The OEM converter got stolen from my 4Runner and I had to get it replaced. The Magnaflow works great - when I get my car smogged, it does a better job than the OEM converter on the emissions test. Granted, the OEM converter was older but I have no complaints about the Magnaflow's emission control.

What will cause problems is if you live in California and you need to get the EO number read to pass the visual inspection for the smog test. I don't know where you live but Magnaflow does not do a good job of etching the California EO number on their converter. So after a few years, the EO etching becomes harder to read and some smog test centers will fail you because they can't read the EO number. This has happened to me for the last 3 smog tests. I had to get the original installer to clean the converter to have it read, which is a hassle.

The guy who installed my converter told me that even the newer Magnaflow converters still have poor etching so replacing my converter with a newer Magnaflow will not solve this EO etching problem.

I appreciate the feedback. I live in Texas. We only care about BBQ and Beer. I did replace the O2 sensor at the same time. My factory CAT was acturlly in pretty good shape once I got it off. I only replaced it because I figured after 25 years of service it was probably getting around the time where it would need to be done. Since I was having the new stuff welded in it seemed like the time. Other than being rusted on the outside... the inner parts looked great and it did function as it should.

This might be a stupid question but....does Texas require you to smog test your car every time you pay for registration for your car?

Beer and BBQ I said.

not that it matters, but you installed your cat upside down. the heat shield is supposed to face down, to prevent igniting things you are driving over. (tall grass). magnaflow put their name on the shield for a reason, so that it can be seen when working under the rig (advertising).

Thumbs up for MF
 

Well, either way nice job!

Just chiming in about magnaflow. Its been 5 yrs and still going. I would definitely be proactive with things like plugs wires, af sensors... Time will tell how forgiving they are with unintended neglect.

I gotta say, since MF is aftermarket, thats a plus against the recent trend of cat thefts. :alert:

Hope the head gasket fix got your rig back in shape.

This setup is still doing well. No complaints