Catalytic Converter Question

[RedBetta]

Hello guys!

The cat in my HB is mounted on the exhaust manifold and it nees replacing. What would happen if I get a universal cat from autozone and mount it n the underside of the car like regular cars? I know that I will have to fabricate a downpipe of some sort from the manifold to the new location of the cat. Will the fact that cat now sits further away from the engine lead to a less efficient cat (because it's not heated by the engine as much as it used to be)?

This way I get to install a new muffler and all that. The stock cat is going to cost me about $270 from BAP-GEON.

Any and all ideas and views are appreciated. Thanks.

Red

[strodda]

im not positive, but i think if you buy a new header, it will force you to relocated the cat. just get a header, and weld a cat in with a custom catback or the stock piping if you prefer.

[RedBetta]

Hey Strodda!

I have thought of getting a new header, but the engine in my car is a D15Z1 (vtec-e) and parts like that are hard to come by. Do you think a header from another 1.5L engine would fit mine? If so, which engine/car?

Plus, I am not looking for performance. It's my daily driver. So in this case, cheapest is the way I am going.

Thanks.

Red

[B16EJ1]

I have worked the exact same situation and seen others work it on many different Civics. My friend has a 97 CX and he swapped a C5 in his car so the relocation of the cat was done after the swap w/ the oem header. You can use any D series header to do this but you stated you are looking for performance so I suggest getting an aftermarket header, new high flow cat, and custom piping or catback exhaust system. My girls car cat converter location is the same so I chose to wait for a swap instead of going that route. Anyways there's a guy on here that just bought a DC sports D series header, high flow cat, and a cat back for an EX model and they all bolted right up.(you'd use a 92-95 Si cat back and header) The only o2 sensor you'd have to worry about is the one in the manifold but DC sports takes care of that with an o2 bung and sensor extension.

[RedBetta]

Nice! Now I have to locate a D series header... local junkyard I guess. Does anybody have a spare lying around?

Thanks.

Red

[gunnmen01]

you can buy them sll over the internet, and on ebay....


gunnmen01

[RedBetta]

Ok. So I've looked around AF about headers that fit my D15Z1. Looks like it is pretty unique and other D series headers will not fit. AARRGGH. I wish I had the money to swap engines.

Are these all the options I have?

Red

PS: I repeat: I am not looking for performance. Thanks guys.

[Tofuboy]

I've looked around AF about headers that fit my D15Z1. Looks like it is pretty unique and other D series headers will not fit.

Are you sure? I tried putting the D16 intake manifold on a D15 head and it's a perfect fit, but I didn't try the header, but it should fit also since the D series parts are interchangable.

[RedBetta]

Looks like I loose 2:1!

But my concern is if there's a difference between a regular D15 head/header and mine (which is a VTEC version)? I really don't know anything about the similarities/disimilarities between the two.

What do you think?

[Tofuboy]

Let me make something clear before everyone is confuse about this thread. A head is different than a header. Head = cylinder head, Header = exhaust manifold.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the D15 engine was ever made VTEC, that's why so many people trying to swap a D16 VTEC cylinder head on a D15 block (so call mini me swap).

Anyways, all you have to do is to get one of the D16 exhaust manifold (header) and Catalytic Converter (Cat) from your local junk yard or anywhere you can find (ex. ebay) to put on your D15 engine and you should be all set.

All I am wondering now is will your exhaust piping length be a problem since your old header and cat length is different than the D16's

[RedBetta]

Hello Tofuboy.

Yes, the 15D was made as a VTEC-E type engine with the code D15Z1 which comes in the Civic VX. It was made to get very good fuel economy. It even has the VTEC oil pressure sensor.

And I know that I have to redo the exhaust piping.

Thanks guys.

[jcrx]

I'm 90% sure you can use any of the other D series headers, BUT, the VX (which yes, is a 1.5 vtec-E) o2 is a five wire, so you have to run a five wire extension, not the typical four wire that DC sends with their headers.