catalytic converter

[croucher]

My catalytic converter is horrible, think its messed up inside bcz it still rattles. i guess some solid objects are loose and its stock, the car has 76000 miles on it. Do you have to get a certain type of converter for my model. i have a 99 firebird 3.8, or can you just slap on any converter you buy. some ppl tell me to get hi-flow cats

[BiggyD]

Hi flow would be better, but I would personally leave it off and patch it.

[Philo]

Originally Posted by croucher

My catalytic converter is horrible, think its messed up inside bcz it still rattles. i guess some solid objects are loose and its stock, the car has 76000 miles on it. Do you have to get a certain type of converter for my model. i have a 99 firebird 3.8, or can you just slap on any converter you buy. some ppl tell me to get hi-flow cats

Before you do anything else, check the heat shield on the outside of the cat to see if it is loose. If it is, get a few large radiator-type clamps and put around the cat, and tighten it up. This has worked on my truck for more than two years.

Removing the cat is a Federal Crime. If you get caught, the fines are more than $1500 for each 'caught'. In NY state for instance, the only legal way to take an original cat off is if it is damaged beyond repair and you replace it with another suitable cat. But, if at the time your cat is damaged, you also convert to duals and use two suitable cats, you can probably get by without mufflers, unless your state has a enforced noise limit.

[TransAm_Ownr]

lol...he took that thing off (the heat shield)

[savagewolf]

just gut the stupid thing if its not welded to the pipes. all u do is take a long chisle or something to break apart the brick inside it. then just start it up again and blow the dust and particles out of it (leave the muffler off while u blow it out or ur gonna have a problem.) then hook it up. they sound better with it gutted annd there is no way to tell unless a cop has a "sniffer". but there is no more immisions testing so they wont do that