catalytic converter

[Happy Noodle Boy]

what exactly does a catalytic converter do, and do you need it if you get aftermarket headers? <img src=/images/forums/snitz/oogle.gif width=15 height=15 border=0>

[Cottonmouth]

The catalytic converter is what keeps your emissions in check. It heats up and burns all of the gasses that will cause you to fail the test. If you get headders you will need to re-locate the cat. Right now it sits inside your engine bay underneath that big silver heat shield infront of your engine. When you get headders, you will need to move it underneath the car to a location between them and your catback exhaust. An exhaust mechanic should have no problem with this. You will also need to relocate the oxygen sensors so that you have one adead of the cat and one behind it in it's new location. Mose headders come with a hole for the front oxygen sensor to plug into, but you will have to make a hole behind it since it will be more of a custom setup.

You could go without the catalytic converter, but I wouldn't since it would probably violate one of your local laws. So you should also look into getting a performance catalytic converter. The one you have won't have a big enough pipe to efficiently run the exhaust. Which brings me to the point of the catback exhaust. I wouldn't consider headders unless you have added a full catback system. It doesn't make sense to make the exhaust piping larger in the front end of your car if you are running on a stock exhaust. The headders are usually 2.5" piping. The stock exhaust is 2". Get my drift?

The smoother the exhaust can flow the better performance you will get.<img src=/images/forums/snitz/thumbup.gif width=25 height=18 border=0>


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[Lantra]

Unless your turbocharged, keep your catiltic converter for backpressure.


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[Random]

By federal law(USA, not sure about Canada or elsewhere), it is illegal to Move or REmove a fuctional cat converter.

That being stated...lots of people do it.<img src=/images/forums/snitz/thumbup.gif width=25 height=18 border=0>

Cat converters provide some needed backpressure on N/A motors, they also do a great job of cleaning up the schmutz your engine puts out. They are usually not a huge restriction in the exhaust stream.

If you get headders and a full exhaust, change out the stock cat for a high flow unit of the same diameter tubing as the rest of the exhaust.

The stock tibby cat narrows down to 1.5 or 1.25 inside. Going to a high flow cat will also increase the noise that comes out your tailpipe, so unless you want a LOUD exhaust, plan on installing a resonator inline behind the cat.


<hr width=60% noshade size=1 align=left>Leave it to Random to Needlessly complicate things.