I'm thinking about replacing the Catalytic Converter on my 87 1/2 GT with one of Rodney Dickman's bolt-on replacements.
Though the current cat doesn't appear to be bad, I always wonder if a new one would be worth the investment just to see a gain in horsepower.

Can somebody share your thoughts on this?

Buy a cheap new one and get your money back by selling the old one for scrap.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Owner (edited 03-27-2008).]

What about the "performace" headpipes on fierostore that replace the cat? Make much of a difference?

quote Originally posted by Fiero Owner: Buy a cheap new one and get your money back by selling the old one for scrap.

Huh? You're kidding, right?

If your CAT is original equipment, it's probably close to end of life and has significant blockage. Just a new stock one would improve performance, and a high flow CAT is going to make a noticeable improvement.

I am in the process of replacing mine (88GT) as we speak. I have the high flow from Rodney and the only issue I've had is that it is approximately 11" long where the old one was around 14". No problem though, I just used the straight pipe that came with it to make up the difference. I was kind of surprised when I pulled the old one that it was completely hollow. Good luck

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: Huh? You're kidding, right?

No, he is not kidding. Cats all do the same basic job. The older ones use a lot more platinum which makes them worth between $75 and $150 around here from scrap dealers. I bought a pair of universal type "high flow" cats off ebay for around $30 each for my 70 Plymouth.

It's been a long time since I've been to a muffler shop, but I may need to be putting a new cat in a Fiero GT that I just bought.

I have a question for those of you who buy cats/mufflers online and/or on eBay. What kind of a response do you get from your local muffler shop when you bring your own cats/mufflers in to be installed? Since they obviously make a profit on exhaust components that they would've sold if you didn't bring in your own cats/mufflers, do they then jack up the charge for installing customer supplied components?

Out of curiosity, just what is the going rate for installing a cat on a Fiero? (I hate taking my cars anywhere for servicing, but I don't have a cutting torch or any welding equipment for doing exhaust work).

The good thing about the Rodney Dickman Cat is that it's bolt-on

quote Originally posted by jscott1: The good thing about the Rodney Dickman Cat is that it's bolt-on

Okay, that's one option to keep in mind (which would be $112 plus $14 or more for S&H). Thanks.



How difficult is it to cut through the old stainless steel cat? Would a regular hacksaw work or is an electric reciprocating saw required?

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: I'm thinking about replacing the Catalytic Converter on my 87 1/2 GT with one of Rodney Dickman's bolt-on replacements. Though the current cat doesn't appear to be bad, I always wonder if a new one would be worth the investment just to see a gain in horsepower. Can somebody share your thoughts on this?

jscott1 makes a good point to consider in regard to your inquiry, one that frankly I'd not thought of:

quote Originally posted by jscott1: If your CAT is original equipment, it's probably close to end of life and has significant blockage. Just a new stock one would improve performance, and a high flow CAT is going to make a noticeable improvement.

Consider also, Ayrow, how long you're likely to keep your Fiero. If it's a short period of time, probably few potential buyers, if any, will appreciate that you've a more expensive, high-quality cat in your car. If, on the other hand, you plan to keep your Fiero for awhile, then don't replace it with a cheapo cat as I once did with mine. What I did was "false economy" IMHO, and in hindsight, just a waste of money.

I first went the "cheapo cat" route with my daily driver Fiero (which I plan to keep), and I regretted it. The cheapo cat I bought rusted out very prematurely at its connecting pipes. In contrast, the Rodney cat I subsequently bought for my daily driver has not rusted out at its connecting pipes, likely because those pipes, unlike those of most cheaper cats I'm aware of, are stainless steel.

Caveat emptor, Ayrow, and good luck with your project!

.
How much different is what Rodney Dickman sells compared to the following from Race Pages? There's a $40 difference in price (when the shipping is factored in). Both are adverstised as bolt-on applications made of stainless steel by Catco.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-29-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: How difficult is it to cut through the old stainless steel cat? Would a regular hacksaw work or is an electric reciprocating saw required?

I used a sawzall but a hacksaw should be able to do it as well, even if a bit slower.

I know a guy who hack sawed his cat right at the inlet (with the exhaust system out from under the car). He then took a tire iron and knocked the insides out, dumping them out from the cut end as to not plug the muffler. He then mig welded it back together (had scribed a line as to make sure things matched back up). It still passed emissions the next year. It sounds cool also. (he has a red 86 GT)

------------------
...Perfection....Where have you driven yours?

quote Originally posted by jscott1: I used a sawzall but a hacksaw should be able to do it as well, even if a bit slower.

Yeah, there's probably not a lot of room to saw back and forth. Might be worthwhile for me to break the bank and spend 50 bucks on a cheap electric reciprocating saw.

quote Originally posted by wkayl: I know a guy who hack sawed his cat right at the inlet...

You've known this guy all your life, haven't you?

Wait a second, I am confused here.... is the cat even needed for vehicle performance or to have it run correctly?
I mean seriously, we don't have any emissions testing in Indiana. Can't I just bypass the thing with a straight pipe or will there be a problem??

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: Can't I just bypass the thing with a straight pipe or will there be a problem??

Well, whether you consider it a "problem" or not, your engine will be spewing unburned fuel into the atmosphere without a cat.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: It's been a long time since I've been to a muffler shop, but I may need to be putting a new cat in a Fiero GT that I just bought. I have a question for those of you who buy cats/mufflers online and/or on eBay. What kind of a response do you get from your local muffler shop when you bring your own cats/mufflers in to be installed? Since they obviously make a profit on exhaust components that they would've sold if you didn't bring in your own cats/mufflers, do they then jack up the charge for installing customer supplied components?

Personally, I've noticed a marked change in attitude about this sort of thing in my area over the years.

The local shops that I've dealt with now just seem to expect some on-line customer buying of new parts as a fact of life, a fact of life essentially no different than if I order tires from The Tire Rack (instead of whatever "private label" tire brand the local independent shop happens to be selling), and then have them installed and balanced at the local shop.

In contrast, on-line buying of any used parts, via e-Bay, for example, is something else entirely IMHO. It's been much less well-received in my area, and perhaps understandably so. Would you as a repair shop want to warrant your work on the installation of a used part whose quality you yourself couldn't vouch for with a manufacturer's guarantee?

I've found the same holds true for the purchase and installation of new wheels as well.

Given that the installation of these parts isn't free, perhaps the local independent shops are thinking of that adage, "Half a loaf is better than none."

In any case, overall my guess is you may have more luck with an on-line strategy for buying new parts if you're dealing with a local independent shop for installing them, than if you're dealing with a chain. (Sears Automotive, for example, may not be too keen on the idea of installing the tires one bought from The Tire Rack.)

Good luck with your project.

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: Wait a second, I am confused here.... is the cat even needed for vehicle performance or to have it run correctly? I mean seriously, we don't have any emissions testing in Indiana. Can't I just bypass the thing with a straight pipe or will there be a problem??

You could, and I "ahem" know a guy that has done it On just about ever vehicle he has owned. Doing away with it and just putting a pipe in its place does seem to help performance, and fuel mileage, though individual results may vary .

I also "know" a guy that does what was mentioned before, and empties out the cat and just runs it hollow to increase performance, and look stock, though um he yea he uses a piece of flexible tubing off of a sewer snake on a drill, and lets it beat the platinum out of the cat, much simpler than taking it apart, though a person will probably have to take the screens off of either end, and a piece of re bar wouldn't be bad to have on hand too . I would cover my nose/mouth with a t-shirt or something as the dust probably isn't good for you.

There is the legal side of things, federal law is the reason they were put there, just like all the other emission stuff on the car.

I'm just guessing on how this is done you know. I would never do this myself.

Brad

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: Wait a second, I am confused here.... is the cat even needed for vehicle performance or to have it run correctly? ...

In a word. No.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: In a word. No.

Well, from what I've been able to gather from tons of reading on this, and other forums, is that to remove the cat is good for performance and mpg, but bad for the environment and anyone within breathing distance of the exaust. Not to mention, it is probably illegal to remove it.

Think I'll just leave it on there - or at least get a new one from Rodney.

quote Originally posted by project34: Good luck with your project.

Thanks for your helpful/thoughtful post!

I guess I have received some good luck - I looked under the car far enough to actually see the cat (first time since I bought it a week ago) and lo and behold, it's a newer looking high-flow cat.

This is the first time (after buying three previous Fieros) that the original cat has already been replaced. I'm hoping this car will pass the smog test after all.