P38 GEMS Catalytic Convertor Replacement

[BusinessConnected]

Hi Guys,
Had the Dreaded Cat Rattle recently, had my mechanic clean out the Cats and refit and now I have that awful Wheezy Style Noise....

Obviously my solutions are either
1) Getting a Piece of Straight through Pipe Welded in Place of the Hollowed Out Cats.
2) Getting some Generic Magnaflow/Similar Cats that can be welded in place
3) Getting the Aftermarket Complete CAT Setup from UK/USA Shipped to Australia.

What has everyone else done in my position... especially interested if someone in Melbourne has had this done somewhere.

Regards
Heath

[mtb_gary]

Heath

I did the aftermarket cats as well as a good excuse for the sports system from cats back. All up at one of the exhaust places around $700 fitted. Apart from getting rid of the rattle it also sounds like a v8 :D

Gary

[wanglemoose]

put pipe there instead of the costly cats, pre 2000 vehicles with a full separate chassis are classed as commercial and not needing cats, also gives you 149db to play with instead of the 85 for cars.

[BusinessConnected]

WangleMoose: Any Proof of this anywhere?
I'd prefer to go that route... but want something to fall back on officially...

[Keithy P38]

That's the first I've heard of that! A bit of doco to back that up would be all the evidence I'd need.

[benji]

I 'may' have gone route one.
Admittantly doesn't sound as nice, a bit more tinny.

But does give slightly more torque, and noticably more off idle response.

I really don't see the point of paying for cats that are just going to be killed by a system with no O2 sensors.

Also... don't need to worry about damaging the CATS off road; the pipe now sits up nice and high.

[BusinessConnected]

I'm beginning to think it might be worth getting a Local Exhaust Shop to do something from The Header Outlet Back... Twin Exhaust or something Similar :)

[wanglemoose]

WangleMoose: Any Proof of this anywhere?
I'd prefer to go that route... but want something to fall back on officially...


i haven't been through the entire the new code since it went national and don't have the time atm. if you got roughly 20+hrs up your sleeve you will find it here Home (Department of Transport and Main Roads) (http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/) the advantage to the national code is that there is so many grey areas that you can basically do whatever you want. good luck

[poleonpom]

Every time a bit of my exhaust falls off I think 'what a great sound' :)

[BusinessConnected]

Jonathan:
Not this time... it's horrible... All Airey and Yuck...

[benji]

Started it up a few weeks ago with nothing from the manifolds back, awesomely loud!!!:twisted:

[redandy3575]

Just reviving this thread from the dead.

Have just bought a new set of cats from the UK from europarts.

They seem ok, though the welding is a little rough. Cats are definetaly smaller than original and more free flowing. Comes in three seperate parts, making them easier to install.

[TheTree]

Every time a bit of my exhaust falls off I think 'what a great sound' :)

:Rolling::Rolling:

[Hammer H]

I was also thinking of improving exhaust, looks like in the pic the 02 sensors are located after the cats, mine an 2000 year is located before the cats.
Are your sensors after the cats?

[Keithy P38]

My '99 Thor has the O2 sensors pre-cat

[redandy3575]

I was also thinking of improving exhaust, looks like in the pic the 02 sensors are located after the cats, mine an 2000 year is located before the cats.
Are your sensors after the cats?

Sensors are before cat, but I blocked mine off with two bolts as mine doesn't have OBD sensors.

[Hammer H]

No further info re comment by wanglemoose (put pipe there instead of the costly cats, pre 2000 vehicles with a full separate chassis are classed as commercial and not needing cats, also gives you 149db to play with instead of the 85 for cars.)

Ive been looking for the best cat solution, although mine being 2000 will not pass according to the above. Keithy you may benefit.

Anybody have any knowledge of where cats have been removed, (assuming that its legal) and have had a noticeable power/economy improvement?

[Keithy P38]

I'm tempted to remove mine and run flanged pipes... Have to sort my barwork before I play any further!

If I do go ahead with it, I have a mate who works with 4-wheel dynos all day....... Before and after will be done.

In the meantime, I'm going searching to see if I can find a loophole in the government's VSI!

[Hammer H]

The results would be interesting, Ive also heard that removing the center muffler helps some,

[Keithy P38]

So a scout of the QLD Gov's website, clearly stated is "Exhaust systems may be replaced by aftermarket/non-genuine units provided they remain ADR compliant with regards to noise limits and emissions".

[redandy3575]

So a scout of the QLD Gov's website, clearly stated is "Exhaust systems may be replaced by aftermarket/non-genuine units provided they remain ADR compliant with regards to noise limits and emissions".

Hmmmmm......... That means Cats and all. Haven't checked for Victorian compliance, but probably not far off.

[benji]

I got mine cut out and replaced with a straight pipe almost two years ago. Immediately I noticed a lot more throttle response off idle, a tiny bit more torque but not much up high in revs. I didnt notice any difference in economy, but it sounds a lot better under load.

If I was to do this again though I'd pull the inards out of the cat housing, stuff it with muffler filling, then put a straight pipe through it, as mine sounds noticanly more tinny. Maybe a thicker replacement tube is all that's necessary as the classic rangies never had that tinny sound.

Mine's built in 95 though, and 95 models didn't have cats....:rolleyes: