Back in the saddle

[98SF19]

So I've been out for a while; took some time to prepare for and take an 8 hour test that would allow me to put the letters "P.E." behind my name. Well, I found out Friday I passed. WHEW!!! What a battle that was. Hopefully a little $Cha-Ching$ will result . . .

Anyway, time to get back to Dirty Girl, specifically some interior issues (multifunction switch, instrument cluster leds), and some really rough running down low which I suspect is a result of clogged cat(s). Can't afford the sho source magnaflow setup (IE not a wise investment with 3 kids and oldest about to start driving), so I'll probably just go with new cats, likely deleting the 3rd. Any suggestions on replacement cats? Also, I never messed with the exhaust before. Is it a chore just to remove the cats?

Found these:
https://www.summitracing.com/search...splayPrice&SortOrder=Ascending&N=submodel:sho

Thanks!

 

[gamefanatic]

Glad to see you back!

 

[SHOdded]

Congratulations!

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Long time no see !

3rd cat is the easiest to change and the most useless. Deleting it is easy (with a 5-7hp gain according to our archives). But I will suggest to keep the 2 others as climate changes aren't so benefic for anyone (I think you had some though hurricanes in Florida in the last years...).

Now that said, I bought an Y pipe from Magnaflow and during installation, we realized that he could fit but not perfectly. The last section is too low and near the ground. We try to correct this and try to better sit the Y on headers but none will do the trick, its just too long. We place it as is (he is placed correctly on headers however because no extra sound). I kept my old and one day, he will be back again.

I have some photos if you need. For the price and the quality expected, Im really deceived. And no gain on performance moreover (even if Magnaflow is saying that the flow will be better).

 

[stephen newberg]

I put in the Magnaflow Y Pipe and cats and had no fitment problems at all. Bolted right up and tucked in correctly. Plus, they were actually close to the lowest cost replacement solution with new parts, rather than used. Used can certainly be done more cheaply.

Do not expect performance gains from changes to the exhaust. At best you will push the curve about a bit, but what solid research into it that has been done over the years has shown a pickup low will produce a loss high, and vice versa.

pax, smn

 

[98SF19]

keep the 2 others as climate changes aren't so benefic for anyone (I think you had some though hurricanes in Florida in the last years...).

Je ne le comprends pas monsieur . . . You have the incendiary "climate changes" in there, so I hope you're not saying what I think you might be . . . I have a turbocharged nitrous-powered can opener on standby . . . (Stephen Newberg's eyes get big LOL)

Re: your magnaflow . . . was/is your vehicle lowered or suspension old? If not, you must have had an anomalous unit, IE maybe it saw some strain during storage or shipping. It would take quite a load to deform permanently though.

I expected to replace cats since I don't want my car stinking up the neighborhood.
3rd cat delete - yes - I think I'm way overdue for that upgrade. There was a thread where they talked about getting rid of the bends just before the mufflers, or something like that.

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

My SHO isn't lowered (and it's almost stock). For my magnaflow Y pipe, i think they are made like recipes. If one segment doesn't have the right lenght the overall product isn't good.

Sorry for the climate changes line, I don't want to bother any owner but probably like you in US, Im seeing changes in weather. Anyway, the world will probably ends in a Mad Max movie.

Until your turbocharged nitrous-powered project still in stand-by, we are all safe...

 

[98SF19]

I think after the new year, I'll get underneath Dirty Girl ("YEAH baby, yyyeeaahhh" - Austin Powers) and start tinkering. Hopefully, the cats are the primary issue. I suspect it is since the "fluttering" effect seems to abate at speed, my rationale being the decreased pressure at the tips as speed increases. As for nitrous can opener, let me bring it out . . .

Im seeing changes in weather

Are YOU seeing the changes or is it what local and national news programs are showing? There are trends in climate that have been occurring for millenia. But should ALL of current observed trend be attributed to human activity? As for predictions of gloom and doom, they have been occurring for decades, as compiled here: https://cei.org/blog/wrong-again-50-years-failed-eco-pocalyptic-predictions You won't find this in mainstream media, along with so many other current "fads" undone with a simple historical analysis . . . and if you're looking for a new ringtone, peep this one:
https://www.zedge.net/ringtone/9322dd45-18b6-4bee-8965-d7505b513825

 

[luigisho]

Oh boy. Climate change is the new abortion topic.

 

[stephen newberg]

+1. Yes, it is.

However, and though I agree with almost everything that Ryan posted, I can say pretty confidently that yes, I have seen actual changes. It comes from being 70 years old and having the longer perspective.

The problem, of course, is that climate does change all the time. Separating out what is due to human activity and what is due to normal cycles is really not, so far, possible, as any halfway unbiased climate scientist will admit. There is really no doubt that human activity has some effect on climate. Simple physics tells you that and it is not deniable. But what effect, well, that is as yet unknown.

And with that, perhaps it would be best to leave the climate debate to some other forum. Yes, that is a hint.

pax, smn

 

[gamefanatic]

Well here in the desert we got rain.. That's gotta say somethin'.

Was hopin for a white Christmas, but we only get those every 10 years or so...

 

[98SF19]

Yes, that is a hint.

WILCO SIR! <Ryan puts nitrous-powered can opener back in the drawer>

 

[stephen newberg]

And Happy Holiday Season, everyone.

pax, smn

 

[Funmart6]

For what it's worth, a cheap, (free), way to delete the 3rd cat would be to just gut it, that's what I did to mine many years ago. I disconnected the exhaust at the flex pipe and removed the cat part of the exhaust from the hangers. I then took a piece of rebar steel rod and a shop vac and stabbed the inside of the cat with the steel rod breaking up the ceramic honeycomb insides into chunks that I could remove by hand. After removing most of it, I then used a shop vac to completely remove any remnants. I then reconnected everything and started the car and a little dust that was leftover blew out of the tail pipes. It was very easy to do and didn't cost a dime, other than the electricity used to operate the shop vac.

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[98SF19]

Thanks. I remember reading something about someone doing that - may have been you.
How long ago? Was there a significant (read NOTICEABLE) difference in response or low/high end?
All 3 of mine are original so at a minimum, I'd be looking at replacing the main 2 in addition to what you describe.

 

[SM105K]

Well here in the desert we got rain.. That's gotta say somethin'.

Was hopin for a white Christmas, but we only get those every 10 years or so...

Ha in Apple Valley they got snow, and I was stuck for 4 hours because the Cajon Pass was closed due to snow.

 

[gamefanatic]

Ha in Apple Valley they got snow, and I was stuck for 4 hours because the Cajon Pass was closed due to snow.

Yeah, they are slightly higher than us in elevation. I was driving home the night before in Jack Hammer pass on my nearly slicks (2/32) in the rain. Thankfully no snow there... And I got those slicks off right afterwards...

 

[Funmart6]

Thanks. I remember reading something about someone doing that - may have been you.
How long ago? Was there a significant (read NOTICEABLE) difference in response or low/high end?
All 3 of mine are original so at a minimum, I'd be looking at replacing the main 2 in addition to what you describe.

Hey, sorry it took so long to reply.
I gutted the 3rd cat on my car back around, I want to say, 2006, or 2007, somewhere around then. As far as response, the car seems a little quicker but I was mainly going for a little more noise which did improve some. My car also has the Ron Porter style cold air intake or as they say has been "Porterized", and that also is a very cheap wa ay of getting more horsepower out of the engine. That was the first mod I ever did to the car and it really helped unleash a little more power and you can really hear the engine sound, what a wonderful sound we have from our V8s!!!

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[stephen newberg]

On a dyno the change to the air intake as per Porter produces significant results across the entire RPM range. I do not remember if anyone did a dyno test for removing the 3rd cat.

pax, smn

 

[Funmart6]

Thanks, I have no idea how much power is gained from any of my mods but the sound of the V8 is awesome!!!

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