Allergy to cats...

[getto]

What are the pros and cons to making my 62 cat free. It is running rough right now and I plan on replacing the O2 sensors. I probably will take the down pipe off to make it easier. The converters are rusted to sh*t and are original so I know they probably need to be replaced. But I just plopped $600 to Toyota to get my truck running, and with putting new O2's in, I don't want to spend the extra for cats if they are not needed.
I live in an emissions free state, so I am not worried about that. My Cruiser has 207xxx with the original sensors, cats, and pipes to the muffler.
Thanks.
Getto

 

[lovetoski]

The obvious pro is it's cheaper not to replace them. The equally obvious con is that they actually do clean up the stuff that comes out the back. There are some aftermarket cat suppliers that aren't too expensive...I'm sure it's been discussed on here if you do a search.

 

[60wag]

I'll second that. At least dig around and find out what it would cost to install some aftermarket cats. They might be in the 80-90$ a piece. That's worth it. I'll like a fully smogged vehicle but if the the OE cats are some outragous price, I'd think twice before going that route.

 

[fsusteve]

I cut mine off years ago, made no difference in performance and we don't have emissions here. A well tuned truck should get thru anyways.

 

[batman]

An easy way to check the CAT is to go down to your local driving range and purchace a bucket of golf balls take them home and remove the section of your exhaust with the CAT. Then cram all the golf balls you can and then when you can not fit another ball, take a hammer and apply forcefull preasure. Oh hell just smack the crap out of it.. If the golf balls come out the other end with some black honey comb looking stuff, it was restricted. No need to replace the CAT, because you now have just remove the CATS insides and you should have a straight flowing exhaust..

Now for the muffler, cut the section of pipe right before the muffler and now you have a unrestricted exhaust..

I will warn you, using the golf ball method really works!!! I have used this technique in several of my cars. Well I dont have to pass a smog check for inspection. The guy just simply looks under the car to see if the CATS are there, and to him they are..


BTW I posted this same message on another post here. https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=57403

 

[kybishop]

Magnaflow cats

I got a high flow Magnaflow cat for my Jeep ZJ (soon to be replaced by an FJ60) and I am very pleased with it. Got it new off ebay for a total of $85, this includes shipping. It is a direct fit model, not the cheaper generic fit which could work just as well but you need to add in some pipe as they are shorter. I wanted less joints as that is where sometimes the exhaust gives out.

 

[Mike S]

... we don't have emissions here.

Wow! This is the answer to air pollution worldwide. Care to share how this is accomplished?

M

 

[andrew7elk]

Basicly i took everything starting from the down pipe off (cat, muffler, exuast pipe) replaced muffler with 2.5" performance one, got a staight chunk of 6 ft exuast pipe (2.5") and staight piped the rig. Made a noticible difference in power (even with 35" tires on)!!!!! Best thing about it was that it only cost around $100 canadian!!!!! I definatly recomend doing it, but if you dont go that far, definatly do not waste your time trying to find a cat, or waste your money buying one. Their useless, you can only gain, if you remove it!

But just so i dont get hassled by the tree huggers!!! It is bad for the environment

 

[batman]

But just so i dont get hassled by the tree huggers!!! It is bad for the environment

yea what he said... for the record I still have my cats for now..