cutting cat on 1988
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 992
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
gutting cat on 1988? how do you do it????????
Does the cat on a 1988 just unbolt so I can gut it out? What is the easy way to gut it and what kind of time frame am I looking at to do it from start to finish?
Thanks
Pete
[Modified by apollo30346, 8:44 PM 2/19/2002]
Thanks
Pete
[Modified by apollo30346, 8:44 PM 2/19/2002]
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: gutting cat on 1988? how do you do it???????? (apollo30346)
I think it is supposed to be able to unbolt so you can get it out...mine does. As far as how to gut it out, I havent done mine yet, but I think you just take a piece of pipe and bang on it until the stuff comes out. Make sure there arent any loose pieces left in there when youre done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 1
From: Sarasota, FL
Re: gutting cat on 1988? how do you do it???????? (tan85vet)
Yup that is pretty much it. On my '88 the cat has a flange/bolt connection on one end (back end) and a slip-fit on the other. The slip fit does NOT wanna come off, so if I were to do mine I would do it on the car. Just get it up on ramps or jackstands, unbolt the back half of the exhaust, get a steel bar or long screwdriver and pound the matrix out. Use a shop vac and/or start the car periodically to blow out the chunks of matrix so it won't clog your mufflers. I would also wear a dust mask of sorts. I can't imagine that breathing that dust is good for you. Plan on at least 3-4 hours start to finish, but you might get done faster if all your bolts are easy to remove and you have a VERY big hammer. Good luck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 992
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Re: gutting cat on 1988? how do you do it???????? (BobMachus)
:cool: thanks guys.....I think I will tackle this on the weekend.... Unless I change out the system......My is set up the same way flange in the back and the slip fit in the front.... I was wondering what kind of connection that was.... and now I know....thanks... Is the crap pretty hard to get out of there? My car still does not even have 50K on it, so I would guess the stuff would still be fairly good, allthough the car is 14 years old..... Maybe it will be dust. I don't have any mufflers for the crap to get stuck in but I would want to make sure it all came out. Will that slip fit front come off with ease and then go back on the same way and be sealed? Or Can I just make a (test pipe) that will just be in there for good?
What would be better to do, keep in mind I have no welder anymore, so need to be able to just bolt something in there.
Thanks...... :confused:
What would be better to do, keep in mind I have no welder anymore, so need to be able to just bolt something in there.
Thanks...... :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
Re: gutting cat on 1988? how do you do it???????? (apollo30346)
How many cats do you 88 guys have? My 89 has 2 little pre-cats, and 1 main cat. One thing I did when servicing my exhaust system was to weld in an extra O2 bung in the pass side collector for future use with A/f meter. It paid off when I needed to burn the new chip.
Apollo, do you have to worry about smog checks? I know I do(it just passed 2 weeks ago and am good for 2 years) and am now gonna drop the stock system and keep it in tact for future test. Am planning on just running 2 1/4" primary from the manifolds into 3" straight back to elims.
oops! sorry just read you don't have a welder :eek:
[Modified by 89 Paul in cal, 11:07 PM 2/20/2002]
Apollo, do you have to worry about smog checks? I know I do(it just passed 2 weeks ago and am good for 2 years) and am now gonna drop the stock system and keep it in tact for future test. Am planning on just running 2 1/4" primary from the manifolds into 3" straight back to elims.
oops! sorry just read you don't have a welder :eek:
[Modified by 89 Paul in cal, 11:07 PM 2/20/2002]
