Catelytic converter

[bobmik]

Just bought 84 sprt and needs new cat. conv. I am not in an emmision area so can I just get rid of it and weld iin a straght pipe to bypass it?? Any advise appreciated. Woudl I have toplug anthing up??
Bob

[bigdog56e]

  There is a pulse air plug that connects to the converter, should be plugged after converter is removed. The pulse air is the emission system.
                                                                                                                                        Eddie
                                                     

[Jurjen]

You can take it out, replace it with some 2" straight tubing, here is a picture:

http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=15588.msg176823#msg176823

Page 2, scroll down a bit.

[bobmik]

Thank you for your help & responses. will keep you posted
Bob

[eaglefreek]

By federal law you are not supposed to replace it with a straight pipe and you will probably have a hard time finding a sho that will do it for you. But yes you can replace it without any performance problems. You could also take it off and hollow it out.

[jim]

My muffler shop has a sign that says,
"Don't ask me to remove your catalytic convertor and I won't have to tell you no."

[IowaEagle]

Mine was removed by a deer. 

[AMCEagle80]

My muffler shop has a sign that says,
"Don't ask me to remove your catalytic convertor and I won't have to tell you no."

So if you go in there with your cat already out, do they have to put one in??

[eaglefreek]

Most exhaust shops probably won't touch an exhaust if the cat is removed. They don't want to chance the huge fine.

[amcbigeagle]

My 86 Eagle wagon seemed to be gasping for breath, like someone had shoved a sock in the air cleaner. Did all the usual stuff to no avail. Recalled someone saying the converter might be plugged up so I unbolted it and while still under the car I looked through the converter and it was open all the way through. Before putting it back on I crawled out and for some unknown reason I stood the converter up on end. A whole bunch of stuff rattled around in there and looking thru it again I could see it was now plugged up. The guts of the infernal thing had begun to fall apart and at idle would just sit in the bottom but with increased rpm would blow back and plug the pipe. A few jabs with a long chisel and the offending pieces all fell out. Put the otherwise solid converter back on and the car runs great.

[Dan]

I think mine has a resonator where the catalytic converter would normally be. It's cylindrical with smoothly tapered ends, looks like aluminum (aluminized steel?) and makes a hollow ring when I tap on it. It came this way from the previous owner, who lived in Alberta. There were no air lines or pulse air valves. Ontario does not test vehicles as old as my eagle.

[Pack Rat]

Up in Canada we didn't have catalytic converters on our Eagles. Can't remember how they did it but they were able to skirt around that some how.

[PAcowboy]

When I got my '88 Eagle wagon, last year, the mechanic (who I know) let me slide through PA Inspection with a blown-thru cat. It ran real nice, since there wasn't any back-pressure to the exhaust system.

But, this year, I had to get one. It cost me $135.00 for a universal cat though Advanced Auto Parts. It doesn't run bad. but, there is a difference when you stomp on the pedal. Seems like it runs slower, due to back-pressure.

Wish I could run a burned out Cherry Bomb thru a side pipe.

Steve

[bigdog56e]

 PR,
     Most like because Eagles were classed as trucks or MPVs.

[Jessefsd]

Yeah I too called my local muffler shop(s) And everyone said I had to put a cat converter back on. Aeeee, no. So I got a few friends who know auto pretty good, were just gonna weld some pipe together and put a new muffler on.  ,

[Mechanic]

When I got my '88 Eagle wagon, last year, the mechanic (who I know) let me slide through PA Inspection with a blown-thru cat. It ran real nice, since there wasn't any back-pressure to the exhaust system.

But, this year, I had to get one. It cost me $135.00 for a universal cat though Advanced Auto Parts. It doesn't run bad. but, there is a difference when you stomp on the pedal. Seems like it runs slower, due to back-pressure.

Wish I could run a burned out Cherry Bomb thru a side pipe.

Steve

that's what I currently have on my eagle. I'd say do it. I've never regretted it.

[IowaEagle]

Shops have to put them back on, its the law.

[milliard431]

Hate to be a party pooper but we all share this planet and Ive seen many cats on auction for less than 80 bucks.

[dunthatb4]

I just took the plugged up cat off of my Eagle, man, what a difference that made!!Now, I have to go cut a piece of pipe out of one of my old exhaust systems out back, and I'll be back in business. 
     Step 1: Get the durned thing running so it will pull itself up on the ramps.
     Step 2: Start fixing everything that is wrong,
     Step 3: Bring back the original GLORY of my Eagle.
     Step 4: ENJOY!!!

[thereverendbill]

what I did with mine was i put a cat on it from a cherokee that was "gutted" since there is no accual tailpipe emissions here it will pass the safety "check to see if there is one there" test

[Mechanic]

funny, thats the same test we got over here. only I think the eagles don't even need a cat, or a muffler, just need to be under the decible cap.

[colter]

screw emissions!!! rip all the emissions @#$!$#^# out and your motor will love you forever! plus if you do take out you cat dont just throw it away i got $25 for recycling mine.

[cj71983]

wonderful idea! 

[dunthatb4]

I cut my cat off and instantly my Eagle started running better!  Now I just gotta finish running all the old stale gas out of the tank, and find a suitable replacement for the cat, should be driveable!

[doneagle]

            HI I go to my parts store and ask for a test tub for the converter. and if they say no .ask for a piece of pipe the length and with that you need and 2 clamps.  They have the adapter to go where the converter went  I have dune it before ... ........DON                  Check with your state laws be fore .....

[pigonawing]

for heat shielding i have wrapped the side pipes in black header heat tape i think i should be cool there. but what about the small pipe the runs down the right side of the motor and connects to the cat can it just be plugged off?

[1982AMCCONCORD]

So does taking a Cat off a car with a hobby plate matter? I have a Hobby plate on my old Concord and technically in WI.. because the car is over 25 years old.. I can modify the car however I want... I can swap out the entire engine put dual exhaust on it, 4 barrel carb., header... etc... etc... so... can I chop off the Cat then without any problems? I called a few muffler shops and your right.. they all said they would not remove it... but I am about to sawzall it off because the air tube is NOT running to anything as the emissions stuff has all been removed under the hood. The air tube that was running to the check valve is now just hanging free behind the cowl and making a crazy howling noise when I get on the gas. So if I don't cut it off... what do I do... just cap off the air tube on the cat?

[eaglefreek]

Technically, it is against Federal Law to remove your converter no matter what state you live in.

[1982AMCCONCORD]

Got it.

[rohnk]

I just finished removing all the emmisions on my Eagle, but I left the cat in place. The tube that runs down to it comes from/came from the air injection pump. I cut that tube off my cat and plugged it with a 3/8" brass pipe cap and some muffler mend goop.

Leave the cat in place though. I have kids that want to breath cleaner air!

[1982AMCCONCORD]

OK... so I went and had my old cat tested... nearly completely plugged... had a new cat put on... no air tube... removed the air tube leading up to the check valve. Removed all the charcoal canister stuff too. Bad news is they told me that since the Cat. was so plugged up... it caused me to blow out part of the exhaust manifold gasket at the back of the cylinder head. (SIGH) Now I have a decision to make... do I just fix it or do I go the next step.... 4.0 head... 4 barrel intake and a Renix header? Decisions decisions...

[captspillane]

You can replace the head for very little money. The circa 1992 casting is the best and they are plentiful in the junkyard. In the process of removing the old head the exhaust and intake can be left connected to the exhaust pipe and just pushed off to the side. Once the new head is in you can push it all back with a fresh gasket. Install Grank's 2150 kit on the old intake manifold. Once you have the horsepower boost from the better head and the performance of a 2150 you won't bother with the 4 barrel intake. It will feel like twice the power and will wake your old Eagle up respectably.

The stock intake does not restrict the air from getting to the cylinders until you exceed a certain CFM that your engine will never require. The Clifford intakes are only appropriate for much more extreme engine modifications. They also do not install easily because of thickness issues. I've discarded mine.

Likewise 4.0 headers are nice, but not that nice. Its hard to justify the cost of the exhaust modifications unless your exhaust is already rotted out and in need of replacement. The head will provide a much bigger power difference than the headers will. If you're on a tight budget don't hesitate to get Gronk's kit and the head without replacing the intake or exhaust manifolds. You'll still be quite happy with the end product.

[captspillane]

No you do not. With a 2150 the cam doesn't matter much. Replacing the cam is an important step if you go fuel injection. Even then, I have an MPI kit on my CJ8 with the original cam and I still love the fuel injection performance. It would just be one step better with a 4.0 cam. If you're not removing the engine it isn't worth sweating over. If you still have the old camshaft then you should also retain your 258 lifters and pushrods.

If you remove the engine, then it's worthwhile to replace the camshaft. At the same time you should use 4.0 lifters and pushrods because they're marginally better. The 4.0 lifter is slightly longer than the 4.2 lifter, so it must be mated to a 4.0 pushrod which is slightly shorter than a 4.2 pushrod. Both of them have the same overall length and are interchangeable as long as you don't make the mortal mistake of using a 4.0 pushrod together with a 4.2 lifter.