99protege

ok, i've searched and read for days and i still can't figure out FOR SURE what my options are for a cat-back exhaust for my 99 ES 1.8L. the closest i have seen is that the racing beat exhaust for the 01-02 sedan will fit "with modifications." aahhh!!!

are there any cat-backs made to fit my car? or is the racing beat my only option? anyone please help...

redrims

The FAQs Scroll down to exhaust.

You can also get your cat-back exhaust custom made. That's what I did and it's usually cheaper.

99protege

i read the faq and looked into the brands mentioned. but the only info i can find says that they are made for the 2.0 engines. if there's info out there for the 1.8 i haven't found it.

any suggestions where i could go for a custom?

redrims

It's best to call the company itself. A lot of things may not be shown on their web page.

You can go to basically any muffler/piping shop to get a custom cat-back exhaust.

Installshield

If the hangers are different that would be more of a problem, but I don't think they are. Please correct me if I am wrong, not trying to spread viral ignorance...

If the hangers are the same the only thing needed to be changed is where the cat mounts to the new system. Take it to a decent muffler shop and they can cut a bit of the stock system before the secondary cat. They then weld on a new flange and an adapter after the cat to mount the new system, and this is done obviously so the new exhuast doesn't stick 2 inches out from the rear bumper. I had a hole before the cat on my old car and a muffler shop did the same thing, - the adapter, for $42...

Installshield

But it won't have the quality of the stainless Racing Beat exhuast...

tradr

Any exhaust for any 3rd gen Protege SEDAN will fit your car, as long as the exhaust is made to go from the bottom of the factory "header" as we'll call it (actually linking to the flexpipe/1st cat) all the way to the back of the car. Any exhaust. Now, if you have a 99-00 1.8L engined Protege which has a second cat (lets say CA emissions), if you want to be 100% emissions legal, a 2.0L exhaust would be your best choice because you aren't removing the second cat under your car.

Visual example (somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I think I'm not)

99-00 non - CA emissions car will have an exhaust like this, | is where a connection between pipes are made and where a pipe starts :

Bottom of header|--------(resonator with long pipe)--------|---(rear section with muffler)

99-00 CA emissions and all 01+ sedans will be like this:

Bottom of header|--(second cat)--|-----(resonator)-----|---(rear section with muffler)

Some 99-00 had a second cat (if you see ANY cat underneath your car you have a second cat, if you see a straight pipe with resonators all the way back you only have one cat)

All exhaust systems are the same length, however you can't use a "california cat-back exhaust system" on a federal emissions car without hacking, since it's not made to go from the bottom of the stock header back, its meant to go from the second cat and back.

I have a 2000 CA Emissions car, but I have a Bosal Federal exhaust system, and everything bolts up 100% perfectly, however I had to remove the second cat underneath my car.

Some of the newer exhausts out there, IF they are emissions friendly (i.e. for a 2.0 liter sedan, which are all CA emissions) will ONLY fit a CA emissions 1.6/1.8L car, not a federal exhaust car.

You definitely don't want a P5 exhaust as it is too short and the rear muffler won't be usable at all in its location.

From the bottom of the first cat all the way back is the same length on all 3rd gen sedans (minus MSP?) regardless of engine size. Hangers are all the same too.

99protege

sweet. i appreciate all the info guys.

so basically, once i determine the emissions (CA or federal), i can use any exhaust for any third gen sedan, regardless of engine, as long as it is made for my type of emissions. right?

so david, how is the bosal exhaust? more power? real loud? i am more concerned with power gains than sound. in fact, i do not want a loud exhaust. from everything i've read, the racing beat sounds like what i'm looking for, but i wasn't positive i could use it on my car.

again, thanks for all the help.

redrims

Explain what you mean by quality?

Looks...hp...?

tradr

The bosal is extremely loud without a silencer.

I couldn't say what the powergains would be like on a 1.8L but its very minimal.

Maybe 2-4 horsepower on my car, maybe.

If you get an exhaust for the proper emissions type you'll be good to go but, it is interchangable as I've said above in some ways..