Cat Converter Selection Help

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Hey guys, my 91 TT I just bought has test pipes and no cats, but it lives in Texas now, so I need to pass emissions. I don't feel like messing around with swapping test pipes in and out to pass inspection, I'll just do it legit, do good for environment and take the small performance hit by putting in cats. Right now I have downpipes to 2.5" test pipes to newer 2.5" catback (don't know the brand) that I've been told is legit.

I thought I had this figured out until I visited my Z shop today, who I'm going to have swap out my dead injector. We had talked previously about the cats, and he had recommended just getting a universal fit and having them cut in. I did my research and picked out the Magnaflow 2.5" 53006 (which is what Magnaflow recommends when you go through their site), and I tought that would work http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic_co ... rsal=53006.

However, he recommended I got 2.25" because the way it will pair up with the test pipes for welding without having to "stretch" or "shrink" the ends of the cat, and this "spun" style, because it leaves more room and is easier to work with. This would match up with the Magnaflow 54955 http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic_co ... rsal=54955

What are your guys opinions between these 2 options? Will the 2.25" work just as well? I'll also listen to other ideas as well.

[t.mcginley.jr]

I'm pretty sure the first option is best. Why would you want 2.5" test pipes into 2.25" cats and then into 2.5" catback? That's like the definition of "bottleneck". If he just stretches the pipe on either end of the converter it will slip onto the pipe, he can weld it in and you'll have 2.5" straight thru. This is actually what I plan on doing at some point. Not sure what the difference is with the spun style vs regular cats, I suppose they are smaller though.

BTW not sure how much those 53006's are on Magnaflows website but on ebay you can get them for $67 each shipped. Just type in "mangaflow 53006"