Ok, got a little problem, can't get my bird over 3k RPM .. started a couple days ago.

I'm thinking it's the cat but can't get it off right now to verify. I just drove it around the block and all I can say is that the cat and exhaust at the back end of the cat are hot enough to fry an egg on (or in this case, my finger) .. Litterly drove it less then a mile, with almost zero idle time.

I'm not sure just how hot my exhaust should be, or how hot my cat should be. I noticed my engine warmed up alot faster then normal at this time.

When this started a couple days ago, I did notice that the hump between the seats got alot warmer then I ever remember them getting before (I have my center console out so it's easy for me to check heat on those)

I still make power under 3000 rpm, but as I get closer, the power drops. Not nearly as much power as I used to, but allows me to drive the car around the block, but no where else, because I live in the mountains, and uphills are not my friend right now.

Anyways, stats on the bird .. bone stock 305 TBI .. 147K miles on the engine.

I did some searching and I've heard an complete list of things it could be, from FPR, to cat, to timing, to 02 sensors. I can't say I get a rotten egg smell, but I do get alot of fumes in the car now, everything from sulfur smell, to almost a paint thinner smell, to fuel..

 

Sounds like the cat to me. Just think, you can replace it with a hi flow and get that exhaust flowing a little better.

 

Anyone have any idea just how hot the cat should be after a drive around the block.

I know checking the heat of the cat isn't a real good check, but it's all I've got right now ..

 

It should be pretty hot, there is combustion going on in there.

 

Drive your car at night. Pull it into a dark garage and look at the cat. If it glows it is plugged. It sounds like yours is plugged.

 

now the thing that you have to think about is that the substrate doesn't just fall apart and clog. There is another reason taht it's clogged...probably a misfire. When a cat wears out just due to use, it just stops working, but I've never seen one clog just from age. Replace the cat, but start thinking about what could've caused it.

 

Just because I like to let people know when they're right, you were all right.

It was the cat, but it wasn't from a misfire or any unburnt fuel getting into it.

I think it was age, because when we got it off, it was actually broken inside. A large chunk of the substrate was rattling inside. It had turned itself sideways and was causing massive restiction.

Just in case, I went ahead and gave her a tune-up at the same time, adjusted timing, replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor...

Put on a Magna-Flow hi-flow cat and absolutely love it, better sound, and really woke her up.

 

GUT IT F*CK SMOG W00T