I threw on a cat-back that's quite a bit under tension and is bottoming out at the center plate (where exhaust hangers are). Seems rather thin steel so doubt it adds rigidity to the chassis. Any thoughts on leaving it in place or ditching it? I'm worried the extra tension's going to do a number on the low-mile cat welds over time. It's likely to transmit a bunch of noise to the cabin as well.

Those running aftermarket exhausts, did you keep this plate in there?

Thank you,

Basically this guy's problem:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mare-help.html

 

^^^ FWIW, I had similar problems. Initially blamed the 4:1 header's cat flange as positioned a bit too high for sufficient clearance from top of Milltek resonator can to the Getrag shifter box above and did a bunch of stuff with attempts to mitigate (all documented/shown in my sig topic). You can use spacers between that center plate (which I suggest keeping in play) to provide more clearance to the pipe above, however my issue turned out to be the B&M short shift kit (SSK) which utilizes an extended rigid dust cover enclosure wherein the OEM clearance is lost.. Instead, I'm using Milltek's non-res forward pipe while having insulated above the OEM heat shield(s) with sound deadener installed there. As always, no fee lunch with aftermarket performance mods.