there are many vanagons running with hollow cats. That by itself does no harm. ( if chunks of cat material went downstream into the muffler..........that could cause problems of course ) a factor to consider ............a hollow can for a cat doesn't flow as well as a good cat, or a straight pipe in place of a cat. don't tell anyone I said this ............but a slick thing to do is weld a piece of straight pipe into a hollow cat. Best flow, least restriction. There's on size of EMT electrical conduit that fits perfectly - just weld it inside at both ends. I've never done this of course, just heard about it. re 'puffing' from a muffler - the most fun one I ever saw would expand out on the side as pressure built in it........then release..........looked like the thing was alive and breathing. it might be technically illegal to run without a cat, even if no emissions testing are required on your year van in your state. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Johnston" <inmytree1@GMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:06 AM Subject: Running without a cat...?
> Hello all, > > Vehicle: 91 GL with 163,000+, manual > Location: Wilmington, NC > > I'm trouble shooting a stumbling idle. I think I've found my problem. I > noticed the exhaust puffing and the muffler had some odd sounds coming > from > the muffler itself. So I pulled the cat and muffler. I only snapped two > of > the three bolts. It turns out, my catalytic converter has nothing left. > It's completely empty. The previous owner had a S & S Exhaust system put > on > a few months before my taking ownership 3+ years ago. The cat has big > dents > in it. My theory is this: when the shop put on the new Header and > Muffler, > they cleaned out the Catalytic Converter. In NC, vehicles older than 1996 > do not require emissions testing. > > I started her up, while a bit loud, no more puff puff puff.... > > Would running with an hollowed out cat lead to the muffler breaking down? > > Now I have to figure out if I have to buy a muffler from S & S or does a > stock muffler bolt up to the system. > > > Jim > Wilmington, NC |
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