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VicVan
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Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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 Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2018 10:54 pm Post subject: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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The Van is a 1990 Westy, 2.1 auto, stock. I have no history on the exhaust. The muffler is crumbling, there is a leak between elbow collector and J pipe. I'm considering the GoWesty stainless steel exhaust. Question : should I throw in an new cat converter, or does mine still look OK ?
The thing is I'm having the work done by a garage. So I need to order all the stuff before the cat converter is taken apart and we can have a look at it.
(Dampness on flanges is penetrant I sprayed to ease removal by mechanic)
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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levi
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Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 1:33 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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You need to look inside it.
You look through it and if the honeycomb pattern is all intact it should be good.
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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If I was replacing the exhaust system, I would include a new cat. When they fail, you can get some real drivability problems. Plus you'd be blowing chunks of media into your new muffler. When it is removed, if it is intact, you can list it for sale here.
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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As you can tell from the comments - no way to judge from a photo. Possibly also hard to judge looking down the barrel of one unless damage/failure has already occurred.
At the very least I would replace the bolts at both ends but a new one is tempting.
Seems unlikely to me that anyone would buy a used converter but people do pick strange places to save money. |
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VicVan
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Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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Thanks folks
I'll just spend the extra $$ and get a new one, for peace of mind and cleaner air.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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DanHoug
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Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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vanagonjr
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Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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kamzcab86
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Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7925
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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Mine looks far, far worse than yours on the outside and it still passes emissions.  So, yeah, as said, the exterior is not an indicator of what the interior is like.
When it comes time to replace the cat, the entire exhaust system on mine will have to be replaced because there's no way any of the bolts are coming undone. If going the other direction, I'd agree, just replace the cat so that everything, without any question, is nice and new. 
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DanHoug
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Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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| VicVan wrote: |
Thanks folks
I'll just spend the extra $$ and get a new one, for peace of mind and cleaner air. |
the other aspect is that it is quite a bit safer from an asphyxiation standpoint to be running a CAT. a working CAT allows very little carbon monoxide to exit the tail pipe and whether idling in a garage or driving with the hatch open slightly, your chance of CO poisoning is greatly reduced.
i tried 'humanely' killing a woodchuck one time by running a hose from my 94 Buick V6 into a cardboard box containing said varmint. after 10 minutes, just had a hot, mad, woodchuck. realizing it was the CAT in action, i routed the exhaust from our 5hp rototiller and within 30 seconds the deed was done.
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60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
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syncrodoka
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Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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Even if the cat media inside is intact there is no way of knowing that it is doing it's job without a smog check. Only when the catastrophic failure of the media inside is it obvious that it is bad.
You likely made the right call by replacing it though. |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| ...When it comes time to replace the cat, the entire exhaust system on mine will have to be replaced because there's no way any of the bolts are coming undone... |
The wrench that will undo (almost) any bolt:
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-60625.html
Now 9.99 with a widely avilable coupon. |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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VicVan
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Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| I use a dremel with a cutoff wheel. Makes very quick work of the bolts or the nuts. |
My favorite too
| vanagonjr wrote: |
| VicVan wrote: |
Thanks folks
I'll just spend the extra $$ and get a new one, for peace of mind and cleaner air. |
No, thank you! |
Oh, the cleaner air will be on the West Coast far from your location, so you won't have any of it, don't worry. 
Good to know ! And the cat is not the 1st pace I'd think of when trying to diagnose low power
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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wesitarz
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Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 1491
Location: Victoria,B.C.Canada
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| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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Anyone have experience with the Magnaflow direct replacement from Summit Racing?
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/mpe-22918/overview/year/1988/make/volkswagen/model/vanagon
The pic looks like it's similar to Smallcar's direct replacement but cheaper. I have a Subaru 2.5L. I replaced my Emico cat with a Bosal from Rockauto, but subjectively it seems a little more restrictive. I need a direct fit to work with my Smallcar header and 911 muffler. |
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davideric9
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Joined: January 21, 2009
Posts: 1002
Location: Oakland CA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Catalytic converter - change it or keep it ? |
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Walker exhaust systems has a page for testing the catalytic converter. Basically the rear weld ring should be around 150º F hotter than the front weld ring, tested with a infrared thermometer. Also "thump" the shell with a rubber mallet listening for loose components.
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1987 Westfalia (bought 2010)
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