Cat replacements

Myco

Myco

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I went over a bump a couple weeks ago while my car was still lowered and bottomed out. Instantly the car felt peppier and had a different sound so I'm guessing one or more cat is clogged.

I talked to a shop and they said it was 20$ per cat to test. 60$ per side for direct install or 90$ per side for an install of any 'universal cats'.

I figured I'd remove the 3rd cat also.

Does anyone recommend a specific cat? I figure I'll also go with removing the 3rd cat. I don't remember the muffler configuration under there but the LSC models (I have an LSC) have an x-pipe don't they?

As long as I'm doing exhaust work does anyone have any suggestions? I DO NOT want the car to be louder. ;-)
 
weird that driving over a bump would do that.

how do you test a cat?

lsc's dont have an x pipe. its more like a dual in dual out 3rd cat y pipe thing.

lscpipes.jpg
 
Maybe it's that 3rd cat that's clogged.

Test a cat by unplugging the o2 sensor and hooking up a gauge of some sort. Tests pressure vs. RPM.
 
Myco said:
I went over a bump a couple weeks ago while my car was still lowered and bottomed out. Instantly the car felt peppier and had a different sound so I'm guessing one or more cat is clogged.
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That's interesting...

Myco said:
I talked to a shop and they said it was 20$ per cat to test. 60$ per side for direct install or 90$ per side for an install of any 'universal cats'.
Click to expand...

Is that $120 bucks to install brand new cats????? Or is that just labor and you have to buy your own cats? Cuz that sounds super cheap!

Myco said:
I figured I'd remove the 3rd cat also.
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That's a good idea. Most of us have done that. It helps a lot. That third cat is basically useless anyway. All it's good for is getting stopped up and making your car smell like rotten eggs boiled in sulfur when you nail the gas:D

Myco said:
Does anyone recommend a specific cat? I figure I'll also go with removing the 3rd cat. I don't remember the muffler configuration under there but the LSC models (I have an LSC) have an x-pipe don't they?
Click to expand...

What year is it? If it's a Gen1, just get rid of the cats altogether. it won't cause a CEL. If it's a Gen2, you may want to look at getting some new front cats and deleting the 3rd entirely. Delete that third one either way.

Refer to the pic above for LSC dual exhaust setup:)

Myco said:
As long as I'm doing exhaust work does anyone have any suggestions? I DO NOT want the car to be louder. ;-)
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If you don't want it to be louder, just leave the stock mufflers on and get rid of the cats. The sound will be different, but I don't think much louder.
 
Just have them gut the cats it'll probly cost 50 buck. I did it on my 96 and louder not even a pinch louder then stock.
 
lincolnboy said:
Just have them gut the cats it'll probly cost 50 buck. I did it on my 96 and louder not even a pinch louder then stock.
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Want to pass emissions. I did that on my first mark.

Just to fill in questions I've seen:

I have a 97 LSC.

The price was for just the labor. Cat's not included so I'm wondering which I should buy. Any suggestions? Also, which x-pipe if I'm not going with a completely new exhaust setup and deleting the 3rd cat.


BUT: If you think about this price wise: If you have cats you can sell them online (used) for 95$ a piece (well, not sure If ours are on there but it's available for some cars.) So a car getting it's cat's replaced and getting charged 90$ a pop they are making 185$ on the darn thing if they are selling those cats off.

Quite a racket they have there.

(btw: can't find anywhere that takes our cats.. just looked)
 
Pricing out using an X-pipe and 2 resonators while deleting the 3rd cat.

.. hmmmm
 
I would use some Magnaflow or similar high-flow cats and replace the 3rd cat with an h-pipe. Not a big fan of X pipe sound anymore..
 
Magnetico said:
I would use some Magnaflow or similar high-flow cats and replace the 3rd cat with an h-pipe. Not a big fan of X pipe sound anymore..
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Is it possible to replace the front 2 cats without getting new exhaust manifolds? And +1 on the h-pipe, I meant to say h-pipe not x-pipe.
 
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