Cat Replacement
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 120
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From: Port Angeles WA
Cat Replacement
The cats on my 92 LT1 need to be replaced and I plan to do the job myself. I chose Catco direct fit for the project. Could someone whose done this repair offer me some helpful advice on the best way to do this job? Can this be done on jack stands or do you need to get it up on a lift? What is the pain quotient? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
I have just finished replacing the entire exhaust on my '89 (I went with a complete stainless steel Magnaflow system, including main catalytic and pre-cats).
If you have access to a lift, that's the best way to go, but if not then jackstands will be OK. Just make sure you can get the car up as high as the jackstands will go. I don't think that ramps will get the car high enough for you to work.
Another good idea is to take of the wheels and tires (loosen the wheel lugs before lifting the car). Having the wheels off the car makes it a LOT easier to slide underneith the car (another reason I don't like ramps, since you can't take the wheels off the car).
Get some PB Blaster and spray it on all the fasteners on the old exhaust system at least 24 hours before you start to tear the old system off the car. WD40 will work too, but I've found PB Blaster to be a much better product.
Becareful removing any of the existing exhaust brackets and hangers when you pull your old system off the car. GM is discontinuing alot of these items so accidentally destroying one may delay reinstallation as you hunt for a replacement. It might be a good idea to head over to your dealer and see what hangers they CAN still get. At least that way you'll know what's stil available.
Other then that it's pretty much all straight forward. Make sure that everything is lined up straight when you reinstall the system and that the system isn't touching anything (ie rear bumper, floor panel, etc...) and you're good to go. Oh yeah, and a pair of goggles or safety glasses will be your best friend under there so don't forget to bring them along.
Good luck.
If you have access to a lift, that's the best way to go, but if not then jackstands will be OK. Just make sure you can get the car up as high as the jackstands will go. I don't think that ramps will get the car high enough for you to work.
Another good idea is to take of the wheels and tires (loosen the wheel lugs before lifting the car). Having the wheels off the car makes it a LOT easier to slide underneith the car (another reason I don't like ramps, since you can't take the wheels off the car).
Get some PB Blaster and spray it on all the fasteners on the old exhaust system at least 24 hours before you start to tear the old system off the car. WD40 will work too, but I've found PB Blaster to be a much better product.
Becareful removing any of the existing exhaust brackets and hangers when you pull your old system off the car. GM is discontinuing alot of these items so accidentally destroying one may delay reinstallation as you hunt for a replacement. It might be a good idea to head over to your dealer and see what hangers they CAN still get. At least that way you'll know what's stil available.
Other then that it's pretty much all straight forward. Make sure that everything is lined up straight when you reinstall the system and that the system isn't touching anything (ie rear bumper, floor panel, etc...) and you're good to go. Oh yeah, and a pair of goggles or safety glasses will be your best friend under there so don't forget to bring them along.
Good luck.
Last edited by TheCorvetteKid; Jul 1, 2006 at 02:33 PM.
