1st gen/323/GLC Engine and Drivetrain Engine/Drivetrain Modification Discussions for 1990-1994 Models (BG chassis) and 1981-1989 GLC/323 Models (BD and BF chassis)

Eliminating Catalytic Converter & going w/straight pipe

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old October-31st-2002 | 08:40 PM
  #1  
tronic's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 24
tronic is on a distinguished road
Eliminating Catalytic Converter & going w/straight pipe

hey guys,

need yer help!

wanna take out my very "OLD" catalytic convert and switch to straight pipes... what things should i take into consideration?

since i don't have the equipment, i called a local muffler shop and they said they wouldn't do it cuz it'll mess up my computer chip. I was thinking in my head WELL can't you just do it anyway i'll pay you foo... the guy just wanted to get rid of me looks like.

What's the worst thing that could happen? gain in horse power? louder exhaust? My car's got over 140,000+ on it already and I am the third owner of it. I get enough exhaust sputting problems while accelerating, which i use redline to get rid of, but it seems that the catalytic convert or something is restricting the exhaust flow.

thanks!

Last edited by tronic; October-31st-2002 at 08:48 PM.
Old November-1st-2002 | 01:12 AM
  #2  
zchild92's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 176
From: Somewhere near the yellow brick road...
zchild92 is on a distinguished road


Consider getting a new engine if you keep straight pipes on it very long. Not a good idea! You will be seriously straining your engine with such a free flow set up. Turbo'd cars benefit from this, but N/A cars need the back pressure.

There are many others on this board with 200k+ miles on their stock cats...I have 160K+ on my stock cat, I think your sputtering problems are from other issues.
Old November-1st-2002 | 04:05 PM
  #3  
protegeDX's Avatar
Protege Owner
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 492
From: va beach 757
protegeDX is on a distinguished road
91,000 miles on stock everything =P
Old November-1st-2002 | 04:23 PM
  #4  
Identity_X's Avatar
Protege God
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,183
From: Chicago
Identity_X is on a distinguished road
why don't you look into buying a high-flow cat ??
Old November-5th-2002 | 06:16 PM
  #5  
suprastylin23's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 95
From: san antonio,texas
suprastylin23 is on a distinguished road
whut?

i drive with a straight pipe. The only strain i could feel on my engine was before i installed my short ram intake and cone filter. The engine seemed to run less harder at highway speeds. aside from the backfires on downshifting i like my setup for a daily driver. BTW i have a 175,000 miles on my car.
Old November-6th-2002 | 04:16 AM
  #6  
RX7_2ner's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 120
From: Davenport, IA
RX7_2ner is on a distinguished road
Replacing your cat with straight pipe will not harm your engine. You can have straight pipe coming all the way from the manifold to the exhaust tip and it will create enough backpressure for your engine, even if you go with 2 1/4" piping. You'll gain slight hp towards the end of your powerband. If you put on the RX-7 VAF, it will be noticable.
Old November-6th-2002 | 04:17 AM
  #7  
RX7_2ner's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 120
From: Davenport, IA
RX7_2ner is on a distinguished road
Also, it will not affect your computer. Your oxygen sensor is in your manifold, not catlytic converter.
Old November-8th-2002 | 05:44 PM
  #8  
RX7_2ner's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 120
From: Davenport, IA
RX7_2ner is on a distinguished road
If you went with straight pipe for your whole exhaust, it would be very loud. I have straight pipe with a muffler at the end and its still very loud. Loud enough to **** off old ppl
Old November-11th-2002 | 02:00 PM
  #9  
zchild92's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 176
From: Somewhere near the yellow brick road...
zchild92 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by RX7_2ner
Replacing your cat with straight pipe will not harm your engine. You can have straight pipe coming all the way from the manifold to the exhaust tip and it will create enough backpressure for your engine, even if you go with 2 1/4" piping. You'll gain slight hp towards the end of your powerband. If you put on the RX-7 VAF, it will be noticable.
Do me a favor and tell this to my neighbor who blew all his engine seals from running 2.5 straight pipe!

Some cars have multiple O2 sensors such as my Z32 which has 4 all together, 1 in each manifold and 1 before each cat. In that sense it will mess with the ECM causing the car to run much richer...hence the sulfer smell.

In regards to straight pipe not harming the engine...I think everyone would agree that any mod which causes the engine to backfire is harmful. This is my 2 cents, I'm speaking from experience...Been there done that, just don't want any other newbies to go through multiple exhaust systems like I did.

Being load doesn't make you fast, unless you drive a Honda. I kept my cat on my car cause I'm a "Rice-ist"
Old November-12th-2002 | 09:18 AM
  #10  
acidhorse's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 34
From: Normal, Illinois
acidhorse is on a distinguished road
no cat. take it out. im running 2.25 all the way back and have been for about 6 months now with no issues yet. and as RX7_2ner said, there is only one O2 sensor and it's in the manifold, no sensors in or after the cat.
Old November-12th-2002 | 11:31 AM
  #11  
zchild92's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 176
From: Somewhere near the yellow brick road...
zchild92 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by 90&00 Protege
Granted, a 1st gen Protege doesn't have OBD II, so no O2 sensor after the catalytic converter, but, normally aspirated 4-cylinder motors will loose low-end torque if they don't have back-pressure, so you're best bet is to remove your plugged cat and install a high-flow one. Then you've got the best of both worlds...enough back pressure to still have low-end torque and enough free-flow for high-end power.
Holy Crap man...You and Protege Menace are post ******! I joined the forum a month after you and look how many post I've got Can I have some of yours?
Old November-12th-2002 | 04:58 PM
  #12  
semtex's Avatar
Protege crazy
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 665
From: Canada, Wolfville, N.S.
semtex is on a distinguished road
lol so the diffenition finally comes out lol (semmy-post whoring)
Old November-12th-2002 | 05:48 PM
  #13  
acidhorse's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 34
From: Normal, Illinois
acidhorse is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by 90&00 Protege
Granted, a 1st gen Protege doesn't have OBD II, so no O2 sensor after the catalytic converter, but, normally aspirated 4-cylinder motors will loose low-end torque if they don't have back-pressure, so you're best bet is to remove your plugged cat and install a high-flow one. Then you've got the best of both worlds...enough back pressure to still have low-end torque and enough free-flow for high-end power.
i haven't noticed any downgrade in low-end torque, however there was a gaping hole about an inch in front of the cat when i bought the car. what im sayin is, i don't know any other way. i've been thinkin about buying a high-flow cat too, but i always convince myself with "eh....screw it."
Old November-18th-2002 | 01:10 AM
  #14  
93Hybrid's Avatar
Protege Newbie
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 42
From: na
93Hybrid is on a distinguished road
glass pack

when I had my sohc head I used no cats and straight pipe w/echo changer.but for low end and high end I had to put a glass pack where the cats were it will work trust me this added at leats 10 ponies with a cone filter.
Old November-8th-2019 | 03:52 AM
  #15  
Stephni Cherrone's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1
Stephni Cherrone is an unknown quantity at this point
Straight pipe

Originally Posted by RX7_2ner
If you went with straight pipe for your whole exhaust, it would be very loud. I have straight pipe with a muffler at the end and its still very loud. Loud enough to **** off old ppl
Mine is clogged, I'm thinkin straight pipe with the resonater?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:39 AM.