cat converter questions

[wengr]

Hello, are the inlet and outlet of the original converter pefectly in line? My car is an 83 with four bolt flanges on the converter. it's looks like they are inline but hard to tell for sure without taking it off. the reason I ask is if the test pipe would be a simple straight pipe, I'll consider making one myself.

[pope]

Ah pretty close. Anyways, once you unhook the cat, there is lots of wiggle room on the rear pipe that leads to the muffler

[wengr]

Thanks Pope. My fabrication skills are not so good, so the plan is tentatively to remove the cat, mount the flanges to the headpipe and rear pipe, measure, cut and place the new test pipe, and then tack it in place. Then I can remove the test pipe and do the final welds on the bench.

[RoadRacer]

What I did was cut the cat off with a saws all leaving the flanges connected. I cut close to the cat itself leaving about 3 inches of pipe on each side. I then went to VIP auto and bought an 18 inch pipe with the ends spread. I then measured the distance I needed which was 16 inches, cut the pipe, re spread the end and put in on with two C clamps. works great!

[wengr]

What I did was cut the cat off with a saws all leaving the flanges connected. I cut close to the cat itself leaving about 3 inches of pipe on each side. I then went to VIP auto and bought an 18 inch pipe with the ends spread. I then measured the distance I needed which was 16 inches, cut the pipe, re spread the end and put in on with two C clamps. works great!

That's a good idea, not sure if I can sacrifice the cat though. might have to reinstall it once a year for inspection. Did you notice any difference running without it?

[mbouse]

[quote="wengrThat's a good idea, not sure if I can sacrifice the cat though. might have to reinstall it once a year for inspection. Did you notice any difference running without it?[/quote]

answer to that question is not necessary relative.

is your cat plugged? if so, removal will produce a fantastic change in performance.
is the cat free flowing? doubtful that removal will produce a significant change in performance.

[RoadRacer]

Yes, it improved performance................... It had broken pieces inside.... I bought a new magnaflow cat I was going to install to try to quiet down the tin can sounding muffler I just got. I bought a Stainless steel muffler from Toys Import. I don't know if its the Stainless Steel that produces that fart can sound or the muffler itself. I regret not replacing the Ansa which had a nice deep sound. If this cat does not help the sound I am taking the muffler off and getting an Ansa again.