Removing a catalytic converter?

[haven]

I drove an late 1990s Ford RV across the country for a friend. The back pressure was like having a potato shoved into the exhaust tip. The tech at the Ford dealer took several hours to remove the cat, using a blowtorch and hammer to preserve as much of the exhaust tubing as possible. When the cat finally came off, its insides poured out like sand from a bucket.

With the new cat installed, the truck ran fine again. My friend was not happy to get the bill.

 

[bunduguy]

The bill is the part I'm not looking forward to either. My guy said there are actually 4 cats on the V8 LC's, which I'd never known. So he is going to replace it with a single higher thoughput cat on each side. Save me some money, and hopefully the O2 sensors will not feel molested!

 

[BlueBomber]

The hi-flow cats are a step in the right direction, however they can flow too well and not give the exhaust enough time with the catalyst to effectively lower the NOX. This in turn will trigger the CEL.

I know, the high-flow cats are for race cars, I was just trying to give a better option to just cutting them off. Good info, thanks!

 

[bunduguy]

Got the car back today, with new cats! What a difference! So much better on the throttle already.my mech said it was so caked with carbon, he'd never seen a cat that bad before. Soooo........it rides so much better already. But apparently will be even better once the gunk in the pipes gets blasted out after some use. Tomorrow I do a 200mile trip on the highway, so a good 80mph run for a couple hours should have her purring.
Thanks all for the input.

 

[gotmud]

You'll have to give us an update once you complete your trip!

 

[nucktaco]

Tampering with the emissions systems on your vehicle (such as removing a catalytic converter) is illegal if you plan to run your vehicle on the street. It also will make your vehicle fail its OBD-II smog test. It's legal off highway only.

It's against ExPo rules to use the forums to plan illegal activities. So if posts here talk about modifying emissions systems for on-highway vehicles, this thread will be closed.

Chip Haven

Not trying to start anything here but isn't this a little excessive? i could see if the guy was trying to start a drug smuggling ring or a street racing circuit but for talking about modifying cats? are you trying to bring back Communism? :smiley_drive: <--- swerving the wheel like that would be unsafe and therefore illegal should we ban this emoticon aswell?

 

[Street Wolf]

Not trying to start anything here but isn't this a little excessive? i could see if the guy was trying to start a drug smuggling ring or a street racing circuit but for talking about modifying cats? are you trying to bring back Communism? :smiley_drive: <--- swerving the wheel like that would be unsafe and therefore illegal should we ban this emoticon aswell?

 

[Skidoo]

What tipped you off to the plugged cats? Was your CEL coming on?

 

[haven]

Not sure who this question is directed towards.

In my case, there was no check engine light. The vehicle was built before the current on board diagnostics (OBD-II) were enacted. A code did appear intermitently.

The most obvious symptoms of the plugged cat were loss of power, and increasingly hot temps in the passenger compartment. The RV I was driving was based on a Ford Econoline van, which places the driver and passenger right beside the engine "doghouse." The floorboards of the vehicle got quite hot to the touch. In retrospect, I think we were lucky to avoid a vehicle fire.

 

[Skidoo]

Thanks for your answer, and hope bunduguy will answer also as I am running a 100 series.

 

[Wyowanderer]

So I overheard someone in a muffler shop;
Saying that if you remove the CC you'd get more power and better mpg.

so besides the downside of emitting a buttload more CO2 and whatever else, has anyone done this. Just curious. I'm about to replace mine (after a test tomorrow), and the rear muffler too.

If your rig is equipped with one, you'll not likely gain much if it's in good condition. The emission control systems on modern vehicles are very efficient, unlike the older cars many of us learned to hate.
If, on the other hand, you're adding performance enhancers, you might gain a little.

 

[bunduguy]

Thanks for your answer, and hope bunduguy will answer also as I am running a 100 series.

Hi Skidoo,
I just felt like the vehicle was a little sluggish. I'd have to really push the pedal to get up a hill. It was worse when I went up to altitude, so I thought I'd do some research. Then engine sounded, idled and revved great, but just had no oomph, so I thought it may be a breathing problem.
Nothing came up on my dash.

 

[freshspecbluegt]

Don't want to worry the OP but I thought a clogged catalytic converter was a sign that there is something wrong up stream such as oil blow by or poor combustion. Then again its a 12 year old truck, what's the life span of a modern catalytic converter on a well performing engine.

 

[bunduguy]

Don't want to worry the OP but I thought a clogged catalytic converter was a sign that there is something wrong up stream such as oil blow by or poor combustion. Then again its a 12 year old truck, what's the life span of a modern catalytic converter on a well performing engine.

Interesting thought. Any input guys? Anything else I should be on the lookout for?