89V6FBIRD

Hey guys, my cat rattles like crazy and I need to replace it. I've picked up the Autozone ones but from what I've heard from the V6 and the So-Cal board it is one of POS quality. (Probably going to end up returning it) I'm a student in high school, so money is tight. Any suggestions on a stock replacement that won't fall apart as the Maremount/Arvin one would? How hard is this job to do? Tools needed? Any suggestions wanted, the rattling is driving me nuts.

brodyscamaro

i would either not run a cat or just go to a muffler shop and see how much they charge to put a new one on there...

89V6FBIRD

Gotta run a cat, because its LA and California, the emissions crap has to stay. I can get a high-flow cat in for $130 or so, but I don't have that kind of money right now. How long do you think the OE cat will last til I can come up with the funds?

Any opinions on the Maremount/Arvin cat I have in the box right now? It <i>does</i> have the lifetime warranty on it...

Trent257

i got a catco universal from summit for like 50$, had to do a little fab work tho, if u dont have a welder u can just get a length of pipe cut and clamp

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

The direct-fit replacement is the only way to go. By the time you dick around with making a universal fit, you'll have spent almost as much money and will have wasted a bunch more of your time.

I don't know about Maremont directly, but the Walker I got from Checker (known as Kragen in CA) for my full-size van is of the same construction as the high-flow Catco I got for the Camaro. If you have doubts about the one you got from Zoned-out Auto, take it back and get a direct-fit one from Kragen.

chitowncruiser

Dude......I have the Maremount/Arvin OEM Direct fit Catalytic Converter from autozone in my 1992 Firebird.......not a bad price for $69.99 if you ask me and it helped me pass emissions here in Illinois, the total for me having it put on my car was $60.00 and they threw on an O2 sensor also........I got a shop I can go to and buy the parts myself and they only charge me a flat labor rate to put them on...best way to go if you want my $.02.....if it helps you pass emissions why not...then get a high flow one when you got the cash to do so.......... :lala: :lala: :lala:


1992 Firebird LO3 V-8 TBI, Automatic with OD, Forest Green with GFX,Formula Hood,Black-Tan Interior,GTA Lumbar Power seats,92 GTA rear spoiler,Gold GTA Crosslaced rims with 245-50-16's,4th gen am/fm cassette deck with Blaupunkt front/Cerwin Vega rear speakers.

Mods: Aluminum Radiator, 200* C-4 Corvette fan switch, 180*stat, Louver Assembly from a 83 TA for Ram Air in Bulge Hood, 2002 WS6 springs, Ravin Cat Back Exhaust System with Camaro LT 1 Tips, Accell 8mm wires/cap/rotor/coil.

89V6FBIRD

OK I think I'm just going to install the Maremont/Arvin one, because the only reason I got that one is because I had a $50 Autozone gift card. I will probably check my car if it's running rich this week first, thru the ALDL port. It is a rich exhaust that kills a cat right?

BTW, <i> chitowncruiser</i> how long have you had the cat on your 'Bird? Longer than a year I hope.

Now I need a list of tools to do this job. My girl's family has a crapload of tools, so I want your suggestions on the tools we need to pull out for the job. (I'm lucky, this girl knows how to do bodywork... )

chitowncruiser

Dude......its a fairly recent addition to my 1992 Firebird.....i'm like you didnt want to spend al whole lot of cash on it until I got it to pass emissions........it took the guys at the shop like 35 mins to pull old one off and install the direct fit from autozone.....im saving up some cash to get a Ravin High flow cat from Midas $300.00 to match my cat back system ( summer project im sure )my problem was passing Illinois emissions which suks like Cali does.....just for piece of mind do the autozone one test your ride so you will have a whole year to save for a high flow one if thats what you want......

TransAmTBI

I'm going to buy a cat as well... can you buy a direct fit if your installing new headers... direct fit only fits your stock ypipe right???
how much fab work is need to install the catco universal??
i think i'm going to go catco cause i have access to a welder

TransAmTBI

does how long the cat is make a difference? i see some for 18 " long and 14"long? any difference?

chitowncruiser

TBI............im quite sure someone makes a connector to hook up a cat with headers on it, have you checked ..jegs or summit...to see if they have a connector for headers???..one of the things i'm going to get for my ride is a Y pipe from SLP for engine code E...it fits in the stock manifolds but the pipes flow much better than stock and since I have a Ravin cat back set up i'm saving cash for a Ravin Catalytic Converter...$300.00 installed from Midas.....I like the sound I get with this Ravin set up....its not harsh like flowmaster and doesnt rattle my teeth when i'm driving around town...gives me more room to boom the tunes..........

TransAmTBI

i never thought of a connector, i figureed i'd just stick it onto the stock pipe that goes twards the rear and attach it to the new y pipe i'm getting....(headman headers and hedmen y pipe) but i'm waiting for cnformation on getting headman.. they were the cheapest for the biggest(1 5/8 for 120$)

fbdychck

okay back to topic at hand.... :lala: what tools do we need for the job besides basics (wrench, welder, etc.) oh and what size bolts do we need for the flange? in case u havent figured it out i'm 89v6fbird's chick and im helping him do this thing....

chitowncruiser

fbodychick.........I myself didnt do that cat installation on my car...i go to a shop and by the parts and pay for labor...easier for me so I dont bust my knuckles........I did see them take a torch to the front part of the cat and it came right off after it was heated up, the back bolts they used a air wrench for it.....zip zip and it was off and the new one was on....real quick....it only took them 35 mins to do mine.......if you get the direct fir one like i did you shouldnt have any problem with it.....dont rush and take your time............lots of guys on here have done it themselves..........also.... fbodychick.....were you the one who bid on a dual snorkel on ebay the other day????? if you are I was the winner of that auction and might have it for sale or trade....if that was you who bid on it........

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Depends upon what application your headers were made for.

If you have headers made for '86-'90 TPI single-cat, for instance, a direct-fit cat for the '86-'90 TPI single-cat exhaust will fit the header y-pipe. Same for a cat-back for the '86-'90 TPI single-cat application. This is true even if you have a TBI car and buy the aftermarket parts for the TPI application.

The Catco universal isn't worth the lesser money they cost. The inlet will fit the above application, but the outlet will require an insert piece of pipe and modification of the cat-back. By the time you get it adapted to the cat-back, you'll have wasted the savings and have one degree less freedom for adjusting the system to the chassis.

What I'm offering here is the opportunity for you to learn from my mistake. Get the direct-fit cat.

fbdychck

Nope that wasnt me on ebay... sorry.... Any ways, this may sound like a silly question but did they weld it on and if they did did you catch the type of welder? (OxiAcetelene, arc, mig,...) I've got 2 out of the 3. I've got the air ratchet... sure there isnt anything else? He was going to take it to a shop except $$$$$ is an issue and hes dating a mechanic (ME!!!!)

chitowncruiser

fbodychck..............when they put the cat on it was bolted with a ( U ) clamp up front that is close to the Y pipe, the only time they put heat on it was to remove the Cat........after it was off he roughed it over with some sandpaper to make installation easier.....hope this helps you..........

89V6FBIRD

Thanks for the input chitowncruiser. fbdychck is here with me and she says thanks.

btw, chitowncruiser what part of Oak Forest are you in? My great aunt lives somewhere in Oak Forest, near the water tower and that park... I don't recall the street tho. I think she's near 58th street or a street that has something to do with 58.

chitowncruiser

89...........I'm just east of the water tower on cicero ave, 153rd st....very nice community to live in but i'm sure your family has told you that also thats why she lives here.......lets hear how things went with your Cat installation...........

copperhead110

I guess this is probably way too late, but....

You might want to jack the car up and take a look at the exhaust before you get all ready to replace the cat. My cat seemed to be rattling, but replacing the broken u-bolt took car of the rattle.

later....

fbdychck

actually we already did that (I'm 89's chick and mechanic) and the cat has a dent in it and the ceramics broken.... defintely needs to be replaced only thing we dont know is if it wouldnt be better to just wait until it needs to be smogged.... only problem is we dont know if it'll clog with the ceramic broken.... any one know?

89V6FBIRD

The difference is NIGHT and DAY. My car breathes so much more easily. No more rattling, no more being embarrassed at stoplights. It even seems a little louder at idle (you know the good kind when your car breathes better). It's just that much better. The old cat, if you shook it, you could feel that HUGE chunk of crap inside clunking around. Installation took about 1 1/2 hours, hardest part was peeling the pipe off the old one and finding new bolts for the new one.
:lala: