The catalytic converter on my 88 GTA is rattling like crazy....Should I replace it or cut it off and replace with straight piece of pipe....What will I gain or lose by just replacing with pipe?

 

That is probably just the heat sheild rattling. You can shut it up with a paper clip if you wanted something cheap, and didnt have access to a welder.

Maybe gain 3HP by running a straight pipe, but alot of third genners are against this, and you can get in alot of trouble as it is against the law to do so. IF you do it though, just weld up your heat sheilds to the run-through pipe to make it look like its still on there for visual inspection.

 

Could be the heat shield rattling but it could also be the stuff inside the cat has come loose and is rattling around. Thats what happened on mine.

 

yea mine did that so i cut it out.... but in canada you dont need a converter in these cars... if you live in the states... from waht i hear you need to pass emmisions testing or something so you should look into that before you do
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oh... forgot to tell you.. if you jsut cut it out and put a piece of piping in... when you rev your car it will backfire.. you might want to keep the cat or get a new one

 

That might only be because your weld isnt completely sealed. If you have left holes, then that is what is causing your backfiring. If you clamped it, well then that is definately it. Just get a better weld in there.