I went today and looked at a 89 camaro rs and when it was running for a minute or so i kind of heard a popping/ticking noise under the car and asked him what it was. He said he had a new catalytic converter on it and that the popping noise was it expanding. Does this happen or is it something else??

 

Sounds like B.S., the converter might be making the noise due to unburned fuel igniting inside it which will kill it pretty fast if left unchecked. I'd ask him what fuel he's running and what his timing is set to.

 

Today I was waiting at a light for it to turn green and was just sitting there listening to the popping noise and next thing i know bam it dies.....in your opinon do you think this is what octane gas he put in or the timing??? Need help!!!!!

 

Something is totally wrong either with the catalyitic itself (internal, maybe installed wrong or just defective) or the ignition/timing in my opinion. I would check the timing and visually inspect the cat to make sure it is not installed backwards or whatever...believe it or not there are some pretty stupid so called "mechanics" out there that just throw things together without checking to make sure their work is done right. Hope you get it figured out!

 

my exhaust does this all the time, the different metals expanding at different rates, headers, y pipe, cat, rear pipe, flowmaster..

most cars ive had with worked exhausts do this