5-90 said:
Going with a converter that flows more shouldn't be a problem - it just removes what would normally be a flow restriction (to a certain extent.)
Understood. My main concern was opening it up too much - since I'm planning on keeping the stock muffler for now (I have too much in pennies and JB-Weld invested into it at this stage to let it go
), spending $400 on a cat that would just be restricted by the muffler anyway seems pointless. I also didn't want to end up with a situation whereby I'm eliminating backpressure.
I usually use "universal fit" catalytic converters sizes for BBChevvy motors, which don't cause any trouble for me, opens the exhaust up a bit, and makes the El Cheapo Walker Turbo II mufflers I use sound good.
OK - so something suitable for, say, a 5.7-litre engine would be OK? Is there a specific application I should quote when buying it? Sorry for the dumb questions, but all my past dead cat experiences have been one-to-one replacements.
A decent welder can stick some pipe to the bolt flange for you in a few minutes - and I do suggest you keep that bolt joint, rather than having the whole system welded.
Yup, this is the plan - people forget that exhausts like to be able to flex a little.
I'm not big on fancy, and (according to my MkIII Butt Dyno) I seem to get a little pickup from the aftermarket parts just by picking something a little more open.
Same here. Actually, even a straight drop-in replacement would be an improvement, since mine seems to be shot. I figure that if I'm going to have to replace it anyway, may as well go to something a bit less restrictive while the guy's at it.
The only thing you'll really want to worry about is making sure you can remount the downstream HEGO sensor - so you might have to have a bung welded on, or preserve the original pipe while you're replacing parts. Up to you...
Yeah, that would be nice, seeing as how I just replaced both of them not two months ago
Fortunately, I've got a muffler guy who's a whiz at the cut & weld routine in tight spaces.