Okay, so I failed emissions a few days ago and decided I need a new cat. I'm almost positive the one on here is the factory one, and it has 17 years an 81k miles on it, so I think it needs to be changed. I'm looking at buying a Magnaflow Carsounds 3" cat on eBay for $60 shipped. They are the universal ones though, not direct fit.

Anyways, is this something I could probably do myself if I can weld?

Also, should I get one with the AIR tube or without the AIR tube? I'm planning on taking the AIR stuff off as soon as I pass emissions, but for now its still on the car. Should I just buy a cat with the AIR tube and cap it off when I remove the AIR system?

Thanks in advance!

 

if you can weld and cut it to fit i dont see a problem for you putting it on.

air tubes your choice i dont know what to do with that

 

I'd get the ones with the AIR tubes. The AIR helps the cats work correctly. I'd also leave the "AIR stuff" on the car if it was me. Very little power lost due to the pump, and if you're leaving on the cats they need the AIR flow.

Plus you'll just have to put it all back on for next year's inspection anyway

 

Well inspection is every two years, and I don't mind leaving the pump on there I guess, even though I am trying to reduce weight wherever possible cheaply. The header tubes are coming off no matter what eventually and with them the diverter valve. I like the clean engine bay look and ease of working on things, and the manifold AIR tubes just get in the way.

As for emissions, I hear the AIR system doesn't do much anyways, but I figure I might as well leave it intact right now since I failed already. Hell, two years from now, I may not even be in IL anymore. Maybe I'll make it a point to move somewhere emissions-free

I'm always going to run a cat though..

 

definitely get one with the air tube. theyre not any more money and then you'll have the flexibility to choose later if you want to remove it or not. then just cap it if you take it off. you know that there are two versions, of those cats, right? the magnaflow is stainless steel and the carsound is aluminized steel

 

Which would be the better choice?

 

Capping the AIR tube can cause the cat to clog over time. You can pass the sniffer without it but not visual. I would keep it on.

 

What if I hook the AIR pump straight to the cat and leave it hooked on there all the time without the diverter valve or anything else besides the pump and cat AIR tube?

 

depends on what you want. the stainless is going to look better over time, wont rust very easily, and will be easier to clean. just get the aluminized if you're not worried about the looks (like if the rest of your exhaust is rusty looking) to save a little money, but if money doesn't matter (there's not a huge difference in price anyway), then go with the stainless. the stainless is better for looks but both are functionally the same

 

Sounds good.

Will this have any ill effects?

 

I believe that would work fine..... a lot better than removing the AIR pump for sure.

 

Sounds good. I guess I'll do that then. Shouldn't be too hard to adapt the lines.