KA exhaust/cat clearance (SEARCHED)

[WanganRunner]

So I've got a largely stock '95 S14, aside from PBM coilovers and a few other bits and bobs.

It was, until very recently, at the following height:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5680052495_385d0940fd_b.jpg


This was reasonably low, but nothing crazy. Wiring harness in the driver's fender hadn't even been ziptied up and it wasn't rubbing at all, etc. Coils can go a lot lower in the front and miles in the back.

I was driving around in Baltimore and I apparently fractured my upstream cat by banging the exhaust on something. The exhaust hangs down almost an inch below the frame rails, so it's the first thing that hits.

Obviously this won't do. I don't mind a little scraping, but I don't want to get my cat welded back together every few weeks. I've since raised it back up in a comical reverse rake.

I assume SR'd cars don't have this problem, downpipes don't hang as low or something? How does anyone get KA cars lower than this, will an aftermarket header provide more clearance?

I can do an underbody shot if it will help, showing how it hangs below the rails.

[Biggamehit]

Yea your kinda slammed for Baltimore with the size wheels you are running.... the super slammed profile is going to hurt you on those streets...im from baltimore and my s13 was functionally low never had any issues. Sr piping is in the same place an oval shaped downpipe can be run to reduce the chance of banging while driving/racing.

This is a picture of my setup while I was working on it.. only clean shot I got of the bottom and the height. Not an s14 but same applies. I had zero aero on this car also... so probably looks high to most.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v249/208/40/5707395/n5707395_39105029_3532.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v182/208/40/5707395/n5707395_38021915_5600.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v249/208/40/5707395/n5707395_39105018_9561.jpg

[WanganRunner]

I don't actually live in Baltimore, but I still deal with fairly bad roads here and there.

I'm never one to complain "We have the worst roads derp", but if it's actually breaking my shit, I need to address it.



So not really anything I can do? Just not be as low?

That's kind of a boner. I really wanted to be stupid low stock body, lip on the ground. Coils can get there, I can bang out fenders and shit, but not if my exhaust is going to get destroyed.

Some guy offered to fab me up something that might have better clearance, maybe I'll take him up on that, barring any other ideas in this thread.

A header won't give any more clearance?

[Biggamehit]

why do you want to be that low if I may ask?

[upsdude]

you're using stock exhaust? only thing i can suggest is taking out the stock rubber hangers and using something else that will allow you to pull the exhaust a little higher...but i honestly don't know how much room you have to do that-and wouldn't the heat radiate to inside of the cab?

[WanganRunner]

you're using stock exhaust? only thing i can suggest is taking out the stock rubber hangers and using something else that will allow you to pull the exhaust a little higher...but i honestly don't know how much room you have to do that-and wouldn't the heat radiate to inside of the cab?

Megan Type II catback, everything else stock.