After the weather warms up a bit more, I'm finally going to lose the catalytic converter.

I'd just like to ask what you think of my way of going about it.


Since the converter has some really odd connection to the rear half of the exhaust pipe, (it goes from the converter into a 3 way pipe, then immediately back into one again!), there is no way I could make a pipe to fit it.

Instead, I will make two cuts where there is only one pipe, and remove the entire thing as one unit, replacing it with a straight pipe.

When the time comes for inspection, I can easily re-install the converter with some coupler piping and heat tape for a few hours.


Questions I have;
My car is very quiet. I have a Flowmaster DeltaFlow on it, and it's STILL almost stock. Is the converter really restricting it (volume wise) that much?

In this is video, the owner comments 'very little piping'. Would it be that loud without a converter, mine does have the flowmaster muffler and a full length pipe.
Link to Oldsmobile Header Pipes

Here's a video of my actual car with the flowmaster.
Link to my video

Edit;
It sounds loud in the video, but it's really not. Notice my voice is louder than the thing.

I took mine to a local "mexican" muffler shop and they cut out the converter and welded in just a pipe, 50 bucks parts and labor.
And there's no smog test for cars 95 down nomore.

What does that mean?

Norm

Well when i took it to merlins they said its illegal and they can't and wont do it. So I took it to this "mexican" shop sitting on a corner next to a yunk yard with the shop big enough for two cars, and only one of the mexicans spoke broken english.

OK, it is not a muffler shop that sells Mexican mufflers.

The explanation sounded more bigoted than the original statement.

Norm

Is it really true, that there is no smog test for cars 95 and under in New Jersey??

If so, I just as well might run open headers!
Environment be damned!

Not if it's really, ridiculously, 'get-pulled-over-for-noise' loud, though. This must be tested.

I also could pull all the emissions control junk cluttering up my engine too..
WHY, God, WHY is there a pre-heater going into the airbox!!?!
Warm air is bad for power!!!!

Hearing be damned too...



I can tell you from personal experience that it is that loud!




You will want that if you are driving around in a New Jersey winter. The heat riser has a valve in the exhaust manifold that moves as it gets warm, and this warms the car up faster, and prevents carb icing. Once the car is warm, hot air is not going into the air cleaner.

It is get pulled over loud, I drove around like that once, never again. And that was just a 307. I yanked out my emission crap a long time ago, but I live in Illinois, not sure if the laws are same in NJ.

"General inspections are not required for historic or collector vehicles. To be classified as a "historic vehicle" it must be:
At least 25 years old
Specially registered and display QQ plates (1945 and earlier models are required to displayone plateon the rear of the vehicle. 1946 and newer models will be issued two plates and both plates must be displayed, 1 on the front and one on the back of the vehicle). "

The car is older then 25 years. But do you need both?

I'm going to necro this thread, as I don't feel this is worthy of a new topic.

I finally cut the catalytic converter off, and currently I'm running with the exhaust dumping at the down pipe.

I think the converter was clogged, because my car has a LOT more power now. I was never able to chirp the tires from a standstill, but now it can do it with surprising ease, this is definitely not a placebo effect.

Also, the converter weighed about 30~35 lbs!! Why so dang heavy?!

Anyway, here are some videos to compare before and after.


Before (all exhaust piping, catalytic converter, and a flowmaster 40 series)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_JBX-oVLVE

After (Headers dump at the down-pipe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_rPzSfU9Pc


Like you folks said;
It's way too loud to be street legal, but like I suspected not so bad with the muffler on.
I'm in the process of putting up a real replacement pipe, so it will be going through the muffler without wire and heat tape before tomorrow night.

Sounds great, in my opinion.

I put the muffler right on the header pipe, and dumped it out the side of the car, behind the passenger front tire.

Has alot more power.


The tailpipe was 1" smaller than the header. D: