Catalytic converters...

[LEB Ben]

Little bro failed his inspection on the 98 sploder. They said he needed to replace the catalytic converter. He was freaking out because he was told it would be $600. I didn't think that could be right at all...so I hit the usual parts sources, RockAuto/Ford Parts/Summit/JEGs/etc. I saw cats for a 98 sploder with 302 ranging from $150ish from Magnaflow to $800ish from Ford. There appeared to be about eleventy different listings on every site I visited. How do I figure out if I need the $100 variety or the $800 variety??? What's the difference between the Magnaflow and the OEM??? The only thing I know about catalytic converters is how to hollow them out and put a pipe through them...so any help would be appreciated.

 

[1970Custom]

I've bought all my cats off of either Ebay or Summit, never paid over $100 and passed emissions. I used the high flow Magnaflow units.

Go to the magnaflow website, look up the p# and search it on the two aforementioned sites...

 

[m78]

I used the cheap cats with NO muffler on the Jeep that I had.

 

[LEB Ben]

Nice...thanks guys, applicable 49 state legal, Magnaflow universal, is 106.99 on summit.

 

[1970Custom]

Yep, they sound pretty good as is also. That's all I had on my '93 F150.

Check Ebay too, sometimes can be had for less than summit

 

[dustybumpers]

Make sure to get a cat "kit" You need the down pipes to tie into each other, and then into the cat. stock ties both pipes into the front cat.

Also make sure that your new cat has an air pipe into the cat so you can tie in your air pump. Most cat "kits" come with a piece of silicon hose, and some clamps

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^My intent...cut off the old cat...slip in the new one, clamp it on and go. You're saying there's more to it than that. I haven't actually ever looked at his, so I don't know what all is attached.

 

[dustybumpers]

You might want to look first. My evplorer has the pre cats right off the exhaust manifolds, then the pipes run into the second cat, 2 in, 1 out. The kit comes with a crossover pipe like the old days, and then into the cat. 1 in, 1 out. The aftermarket cat takes place of both sets of cats.

 

[taxreliever]

You might want to look first. My evplorer has the pre cats right off the exhaust manifolds, then the pipes run into the second cat, 2 in, 1 out. The kit comes with a crossover pipe like the old days, and then into the cat. 1 in, 1 out. The aftermarket cat takes place of both sets of cats.

That's how my 98 xploder was.....was easier for me to pay a buddy to hollow them out...why aren't you looking at this as an option?

 

[LEB Ben]

Needs em to pass...

 

[1970Custom]

Its not too bad, I worked over the truck with little effort. Besides if he orders the correct cat it'll be correct fit.

 

[taxreliever]

Needs em to pass...

Oh...aren't necessary up here in Maine.

 

[Fellro]

They are required actually everywhere, just enforced in certain areas...

Pretty much everything that needed to be addressed has been.

 

[taxreliever]

They are required actually everywhere, just enforced in certain areas...

Pretty much everything that needed to be addressed has been.

I know very little about emission laws, but I did verify from a few mechanics that a cat is not an item that is an item is part of the inspection list for a sticker, but in the manual, if they see (physically, ie: cat is split open) an issue, it can cause a vehicle to fail, just hasn't happened; not to the mechanics I know of anyways, nor have they ever heard of it happening. So hallowing is commonplace up here in most people's personal garages as well as most of the small garage shops.

 

[Fellro]

Oh, it is common here too. There is no inspection or emissions testing here either, but it is actually federal law that they are supposed to stay intact and functional. It just isn't commonly enforced outside of the emissions testing areas.

When they do emissions tests, the cat is required, even if you can get the motor tuned to blow clean without it. That is difficult to do, but actually can be done.

If I recall, it is $15,000 per offense for individuals, and $30,000 for an actual business.

 

[smokey]

same here not required to be functional but they have to be there. They do a visual test but no sniffer test.

 

[m78]

Here it's if it came factory equipped, it has to have it and be functional.

 

[Fellro]

That is the case anywhere in the US. If it was pre-cat, none needed. If it was not designated catalyst from the factory, it does not have to have one. It is illegal to "intentionally disable any part of the emissions systems"

Tampering is removing or making inoperable any system or device used to control emissions from a motor vehicle engine. The motor vehicle is defined as any self-propelled vehicle designed for transporting persons or property on a street or highway. The only exception to the tampering rule is the need to install a new certified emission control system or device that is equally effective in reducing vehicle emissions.

Tampering may include, but is not limited to:

Removing the catalytic converter, air pump, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, or doing anything to keep them from working properly, such as disconnecting vacuum lines and electrical or mechanical parts of the pollution control system.

Adjusting any element of a car or truck's emission control design so that it no longer meets the manufacturer's specifications.

Installing a replacement part that is not the same in design and function as the part that was originally on the vehicle.

Adding a part that was not originally certified on the car, such as installing a turbocharger.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) anti-tampering enforcement policy is covered under the provisions of Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum No. 1A.Exit the TCEQ This policy states that the EPA will not consider any modification to a certified configuration to be a violation of federal law if there is a reasonable basis that emissions are not adversely affected. A certified configuration is an engine or engine-chassis design that has been certified or approved by the EPA to meet certain emission standards prior to the production of vehicles with that specific design. Evidence of federally approved testing must be available upon request.

Vehicle Repairs

Anyone can perform the necessary work on a vehicle to correct tampering-related problems, although it is recommended that the services of a facility with experienced repair technicians be used. Vehicle warranties usually cover emission control systems and devices. However, if these components are tampered with, the manufacturer may not honor the warranty because the car has not been maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications.

You may remove an emission system or device at any time if you are replacing it with one that is specified for that vehicle and is equally effective in reducing emissions. For example, it is acceptable to replace the engine of a vehicle if:

the replacement engine is certified by the EPA;

the replacement engine is compatible with the vehicle chassis and all applicable emission control systems and devices are properly installed and operable; and

the resulting vehicle is identical, with regard to all emission-related parts and engine design parameters and calibrations, to the same or a newer model year vehicle, as originally equipped.

A damaged or missing catalytic converter may be replaced with an original equipment manufacturer's catalytic converter certified for that vehicle or an aftermarket catalytic converter that meets the emissions requirement for that vehicle. However, all aftermarket converters must be certified and assigned an EPA number. The EPA number should be visible.

An older engine may be installed in a newer chassis if all emission control systems and devices are connected, including the exhaust system and catalytic converter, and the resulting engine-chassis configuration conforms to the engine configuration of the model year of the chassis or newer. It is illegal for anyone to change a vehicle into an older configuration.

A diesel engine may not be replaced by a gasoline engine if the manufacturer did not offer such an engine configuration for that model year chassis.

A catalytic converter may not be removed from a motor vehicle that is currently being used only for off-road driving. This is considered tampering. Tampering provisions pertain to all self-propelled motor vehicles originally designed for transporting persons or property on a street or highway.

A single exhaust system may not be replaced with dual exhaust unless the vehicle's manufacturer certified an identical engine-chassis configuration for that model year of vehicle or newer that includes such an exhaust configuration. The exhaust system configuration is specified by the vehicle manufacturer because engines and some of the associated emissions systems are generally affected by the exhaust system backpressure, which in turn affects vehicle emissions. Therefore, the installation of a dual exhaust system with two converters in the place of a single exhaust system would be considered tampering.

http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/mobilesource/vetech/tampering.html
This is taken from Texas' EPA website, but is essentially the same as the US , as Texas has not legislated anything more than the feds.

This is the EPA's FAQ, which is in PDF, so no copy and paste...
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/enforcement/air/documents/fuelwaivers/exhsysrepair.pdf

 

[dustybumpers]

same here not required to be functional but they have to be there. They do a visual test but no sniffer test.

That's only in western Md. We have sniffer test,visual, AND they plug in a scanner, and get the codes.

 

[LEB Ben]

That's only in western Md. We have sniffer test,visual, AND they plug in a scanner, and get the codes.

Ding ding...that's what we have here on anything 25 years old or newer (and not a 1 ton or larger).