Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

[CaptDestruction]

Have a 97 3.8 and the cat is dead. Just wondering if anyone has ever replaced their own and what experiences they had with the replacement and afterwards.

Thanks

[Niko97RS]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

i have a 97, it went bad. took an air chisel to get it off because the pipes were slightly rusty and like heat bonded together or something. Just go to an exhaust shop.

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

Thanks Niko!
Exhaust shop is charging $250 for parts/labor. Was just wondering if it would be easier to do it myself, b/c I know it will be cheaper.
Anyone else have any experiences, good or bad?

[cam98aro]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

Thanks Niko!
Exhaust shop is charging $250 for parts/labor. Was just wondering if it would be easier to do it myself, b/c I know it will be cheaper.
Anyone else have any experiences, good or bad?

whoa, thats expensive

you can buy a cat yourself and get it welded on at an exhaust shop

total cost would be about $80

are you trying to use an OEM style cat, or are you just going to get a universal type?

[hockeyman]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

$250?!? Walk away! Before I owned a welder, I had a shop install an aftermarket high flow converter for $50 on my '96 3.8l

[truekoa]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

Yea man I posted in your other thread, $250 is alot for just a cat and labor!

Just finished replacing the coil packs, wires and plugs. Total of $142 and about 3.5 hours worth of work. SES is now off, but I have only run through 1 drive cycle. Going to drive it later tonight for a few miles to see if anything goes off.

I can still tell that the cat is out, because you can hear it rattle when under WOT. Time to save up for that crap...got a quote for $250 installed.

Thanks again all.

$250 bucks for a new cat and welded in? are you going to the dealer or something?

try here if your trying to save some money:
http://www.jegs.com/c/Exhaust_Cataly...10251/10002/-1

its a hi-flow so it should help you out in performance and being smog legal.
and getting it cut/measured/welded in should be like 20-25 bucks tops at a regular muffler shop I suppose.

also a hi flow may throw a code so keep that in mind.

come to think of it i have my old stock cat laying around, you can have for free just pay shipping. i doubt you would lol but just throwing it out there.

gl with your car!

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

Thanks all...just called a local custom exhaust shop and they will charge $55 to weld in a new cat...so I just need to buy one.

[Fondle]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

i have a high flow magnaflow 2.5" for sale pm me if you want it

[enzia35]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

I'm looking to replace mine pretty soon, along with a Magnaflow catback. My question is what I would use to connect the cat conv to the s-pipe, since the s-pipe has a flared end.

[HeadyFirebird'00]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

i did it, but it was pretty hard. its harder when your laying on your back to..

[HeadyFirebird'00]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

250 is nuts btw

[saltnvinegar6287]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

Your y-pipe is 3", and your s-pipe is 2.25" (flanged).

You need a standard 3" in/out catalytic converter which will slip OVER your y-pipe. Then, the exhaust shop will be able to fabricate a 3" to 2.25" reducer with a flanged end. Thats what I did and it worked perfectly.

I recently changed to a 3" straight piece replacing the cat, 3" s-pipe, and 3" to 2.5" reducer to go into my magnaflow 2.5" catback

[enzia35]

Re: Anyone ever replace their own catalytic converter

I plan on getting a reducer for the y-pipe to cat, since I already have a new 2.5" cat.