Catalytic converters

[SCOTTYINWV]

I have a 1994 k1500 suburban so if i take my cats off i will have no check engine lights thrown but i also have headers and want to know what the best muffler would be so i dont warp my valves with straights


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You won't warp your valves with straits. Just don't run open headers. Bring the pipe to atleast the rear of the cab though.

 

[great white]

Here's my 89 K1500, 350 TBI. 3" system fr0m the Y pipe back. Mandrel bends, so it really is 3" from the y pipe right back to the tailpipe.

It has a "high flow "performance" converter, a 3" Cherry bomb elite muffler and aftermarket Ypipe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2hz-msHMGo

Nice pleasing sound, not too loud (even with the slider window open), audible when you stomp it, makes people look twice when it rumbles, no stupid rattling, rasping crackling or popping, always nice mellow rumble even under heavy load. (I no longer own the truck BTW).

Loud exhausts are just.....well, loud. Loud is pointless. And irresponsible. And annoying. Loud very often mean less power, no matter what your impressions are. Not many know that. It sounds faster, it must be faster, right? Not necessarily....not necessarily.....

Rumble says "I mean business" and "I'm built right". Yes, that truck meant business: that was my built TPI/411 PCM engine....junked it because of frame and body rot or I'd still have it today. Was just too far gone. Sold the drivetrain to a guy who couldn't shove the money into my hands fast enough.

Here's a "simple simon" video on how it all works together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6dIsC_eGBI

Basically, a "high flow cat" simply is made using modern methods. Most modern converters present very little restriction. "High flow" is sort of marketing hype for replacement convertors. The do flow more than the original style converters, but they are usually simply new convertors made the modern way.

Old way:

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Modern way:

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Further flow restriction reduction can be had by an aftermarket manufacturer "messing" with the "honeycomb" sizing and that's what they will list as "high flow". Regardless, they all pretty much meet OE spec, regardless of what they call it.

Keeping a cat costs you nothing more than a couple bucks up front. It keeps you legal and more importantly: it reduces the nasty stuff coming out the tailpipe. Contrary to popular myth, convertors are not a bad thing nor are they performance killers. "gutting cats" is an old mindset from about 1970-1980 or so when they were the older pellets style catalyst and were prone to failure from carburetors imprecise fuel metering gagging them solid (well, also the leaded fuel that was being phased out). They are a passive device and quietly go about their business until something ruins them. Up to that point, they are essentially no cost on the engine and an asset to everyone by reducing emissions.

You know, the stuff that causes more/stronger hurricanes, bigger/more thunderstorms and hail, more/stronger Tornadoes, and so on. If you think that doesn't cost you anything, think back to what happened to fuel prices after AKtrina and how long it took for them to level out again. It also is the stuff that makes it harder for you and others to breath in cities or if you are in a "tailpipe" region (ask anyone in the North East US or Atlantic Canada about that one) and if you have kids, well.....you're not selling their future environment for vanity's sake or that 5 hp (or less) that won't make a snot bit of difference to you on your usual way to work drive anyways.

I'm not an "environmental freak", a "tree hugger" nor the "enviro police" but I do know the changes I've seen in just my short 50 years on this earth and I also know far to much about what is coming out of my cars to ignore it. I replace my convertors when/if they die and I keep my vehicles in top running condition. It saves me money in the long run (ie: fuel, running costs and maint), gives me a stone axe reliable vehicle and it makes me feel good to know I'm doing something to make a difference (however small) in the world that I am going to hand over to my daughter once I'm gone. I see the OP has a picture of a young spud in his avatar pic, think about him/her when you chuck that piece of straight pipe in your exhaust...just pause and think....

If the cat gets fragged from running in short order, it's not the cat that's the problem. Your engine is not running right, usually rich. That costs you money in ruined parts and fuel mileage. Cats don't fail unless something causes them to fail...or they're 20 or so years old.

Nothing lasts forever....

 

[kevan.gibson.9]

I went with the true duals no cats but as soon as I got it done and took off down te road my engine light came on and it said egr system fail and I get horrible gas now idk if that's what did it or my o2 sensers bad


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[SkyHighColorado]

That shouldn't cause the egr problem. My understanding of OEM cats vs high flow is the high flow uses perforated metal instead of the restrictive honey comb that often deteriorates and crumbles causing a rattle and restrictions. My OEM cat failed and clogged my tail pipe with honeycomb. I gutted it and left it like that for a while with no tailpipe or muffler and it increased highway power but I lost some off the line power. It sounded badass, but the smell was getting to me. I then had to pass emissions so I got the flow master Y pipe with highflow cat built in. It is a nice unit. I felt a little performance loss but got the low end power back. It is currently 3" single from the Y back with dynomax race bullet 3" in 3" out 12" long shell and it exits in front of the rear wheel. I like the new sound and no smell, but miss being able to scare people

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

That shouldn't cause the egr problem. My understanding of OEM cats vs high flow is the high flow uses perforated metal instead of the restrictive honey comb that often deteriorates and crumbles causing a rattle and restrictions. My OEM cat failed and clogged my tail pipe with honeycomb. I gutted it and left it like that for a while with no tailpipe or muffler and it increased highway power but I lost some off the line power. It sounded badass, but the smell was getting to me. I then had to pass emissions so I got the flow master Y pipe with highflow cat built in. It is a nice unit. I felt a little performance loss but got the low end power back. It is currently 3" single from the Y back with dynomax race bullet 3" in 3" out 12" long shell and it exits in front of the rear wheel. I like the new sound and no smell, but miss being able to scare people

Video?

 

[SkyHighColorado]

Not yet, I'm still rebuilding after my roll over I'll make one soon!

 

[biggy-p]

U wouldint happin to have a sound clip of that would u ?



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well i would love to give you a sound clip but it wont be for another couple of months, currently over seas serving this great country. when i get home ill send you a sound clip