92 VX Catalytic Converter

RedBetta · #1 03-03-2003, 02:01 PM

Hello fellow Honda owners! I am new to this forum because I myself am a new Civic owner. Love the car!

Here's where I got really annoyed: it gets only about 28-30mpg, doesn't go faster than 80mph, and it failed emmissions here in Houston

I have the Honda service manual and reading from it, I have deduced that I have a plugged up catalytic converter. Now here is the problem: the damned thing is bolted onto the exhaust manifold itself and no muffler shop wants to touch it and a replacement from BAP-GEON is about $300. So I am thinking of replacing the entire exhaust system with a bolt-on aftermarket system (maybe OBX).

Have any of you guys/girls attempted or completed such a job? Have you had trouble with emmissions if you had to relocate the O2 sensor (since the aftermarket cat is further away from the engine, therefore cooler)? Can you tell me how much I am looking to spend?

Please help! Any and all suggestions will be appreciated like you won't believe.

Thanks.

wheel1856 · #2 03-03-2003, 02:10 PM

That sounds like a strange setup. I too have a 92 VX, and my cat (OEM) is about half way down the car, no O2 problems. Don't know about emmissions, dont have checks here in Ohio. I've priced a header and GReddy cat-back at about $800.00. (DC Sports 4-2-1 Header, $299 modacar.com) and (GReddy exhaust at $501.50 modacar.com)

You can find cheaper and many, many, many different products for a 92 civic though, depends on what you want.

Course, you should be able to get an entirely new OEM system at Mineke er some place like that for about $175-$225 (at least I have).

Good luck. And welcome.

RedBetta · #3 03-03-2003, 02:18 PM

Thanks for that QUICK reply wheel1856!!!

One more question: are you sure you are not talking about the resonator? I took mine to a muffler shop during lunch today and they showed me the cat. It is just below the exhaust manifold under the heat shield, I swear. And the O2 sensor is just above the manifold-to-cat flange.

Cheers!

jcrx · #4 03-03-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

I too have a 92 VX, and my cat (OEM) is about half way down the car

If you have a VX your cat is right after the header before the downpipe as he said his is.You're thinking of the resonator inline to your exhaust.The problem with the VX is I haven't seen any aftermarket headers for it.Didn't look real hard cuz there isn't a point in a header for the tire melting 92 BHP motor.As far as a cat back,if you can find one for a VX you're doing good.The others like the SI,are made for a cat the is in the normal place behind the motor,so your going to come up short.You may as well go ahead and get the OEM replacement.One option,that will cost a little more,but will leave you happier with performance,if you care,is finding a D16Z6 the si motor and dropping it in.All you would need is the motor which you can probably find for the price of a new exhaust and the labor.It is a direct replacement for your motor,you can even use your tranny.It can be done in a couple hours and requires no wiring since the VX runs a vtec-E motor.Not to mention it will give you around 30 more horses,and parts are much easier to find.

wheel1856 · #5 03-04-2003, 01:05 AM

Sorry to both of you, I musta had a moment of true stupidity, the exhaust prices that I was quoting are for a b16a SiRII, that's the engine I plan to put in this spring. sorry sorry sorry, Im dumb.

But, no, honest to god, my cat is half way down the car. Now, it may be that my muffler guy, I usually go to this mom and pop shop, changed the exhaust around a lil bit, cause he asked me if I wanted a better sound one day whoa many moons ago, and well before I knew the slightest thing about any part on a car, so that may explain why I thought that what I have is the standard for a VX. But yeah, Im sure that's the cat just behind the shifter. Which would explain why the Meineke guys I went too while my muffler shop was remodling had such a rough time with it.

anyway, sorry about the header and exhaust confusion, I wasnt thinking, duh on me.

anyhow, yeah, a D16 is a good swap for our car, all +/- 750lbs of it, so any engine above our : "tire melting 92HP"

engine is a good swap. But a new exhaust should be about $200 er so at just about any shop. Cat backs will fit, and will install ok if you have a decent exhaust shop.

good luck.

RedBetta · #6 03-04-2003, 12:25 PM

I had totally forgotten about Meineke! I am going to call tem to see if they have a cat for me.

The lates is, one mechanic thinks that my timing is waaayyy off.

Thanks guys!

Cheers

RedBetta · #7 03-04-2003, 01:16 PM

I had totally forgotten about Meineke! I am going to call tem to see if they have a cat for me.

The lates is, one mechanic thinks that my timing is waaayyy off.

Thanks guys!

Cheers

Greenblurr93 · #8 05-18-2005, 07:39 PM

wow.. this thread is over 2 years old... do you honestly think hes still looking for advice on how to pass emissions 2 years later?? Especially when he hasnt even been on this forum since January of this year?? Come on now, look at the post dates before posting, or your stay here wont be a pleasant one.

twoputz · #9 05-19-2005, 12:50 AM

Yeah, didn't notice the posting date. Stumbled across this website when looking for a cat.
But I was just trying to give him my feedback. It shouldn't affect you.

wow.. this thread is over 2 years old... do you honestly think hes still looking for advice on how to pass emissions 2 years later?? Especially when he hasnt even been on this forum since January of this year?? Come on now, look at the post dates before posting, or your stay here wont be a pleasant one.[/quote]

Greenblurr93 · #10 05-19-2005, 09:16 AM

Quoted from the official Rules and Guidlines:
"2) Do not bring dead threads (Old Threads) back from the dead. Using them as a source of research is fine. However, check the thread dates before you post and do not post in dead threads. Dead threads brought back to life will be locked. If you have a problem or question relating to the thread, start your own thread instead of posting in the dead one"

so excuse me for enforcing the rules...

twoputz · #11 05-19-2005, 11:15 AM

Will do. Like I said, I was just surfing and saw the thread. I don't believe there's a date on the list of threads, only when one replies then the date is on the left hand side, which I definitely missed.

I've deleted my original posting response.

"2) Do not bring dead threads (Old Threads) back from the dead. Using them as a source of research is fine. However, check the thread dates before you post and do not post in dead threads. Dead threads brought back to life will be locked. If you have a problem or question relating to the thread, start your own thread instead of posting in the dead one"

so excuse me for enforcing the rules

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