Catalytic Converter (2 of them? Are they necessary?) - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

KingKurt · 04-03-2003, 22:55

Today I decided to go ahead with the replacement of my exhaust system. I found TWO catalytic converters... one big, old, and rusty and the other newer, much smaller and in great shape. IM going to try to save them both and just replace the pipes, muffler, tail pipes and chrome tips, but was curious as to why there are two of them. Can I do with just the small one? Can I remove them completely? I know I wouldn't pass emissions without one, but I am exempt anyway. What does a catalytic converter do, and will my car run as well, better or worse than it does now if I removed it?

big1 · 04-04-2003, 06:18

The "Cat" lower's "NOX" emission's. Weather or not you can remove it is up to your state's law's. There is no reason that your car should have two of them. Have a mechanic do a back pressure test to determine which one has the least back pressure and go with that one if he deem's it to be good.This will insure that you have less back pressure and that should mean more power and better milage.

KingKurt · 04-04-2003, 19:08

I guess it's not a catalytic converter. I think it's a rsonator. It is against the law to remove the catalytic converter in Wisconsin, so the muffler shop will not install a straight pipe in it's place. This angers me because I have it set up so I'm exempt from emissions testing, so no one would know, I would have a simpler, cheaper exhaust system, and it would run better, sound nicer and get better milage.... damn the man... damn him to hell.

Vlad_Padberg · 04-07-2003, 08:28

That's funny because I only have 1 on mine. I suppose it depends on what state you live in, huh?

93EGTinLR · 04-07-2003, 18:40

on my 93 htere is one cat and one resonator further back in the system....I guess you may have had a different set up if your car was originally sold in CA

KingKurt · 04-08-2003, 00:42

It was one cat and a resonator. The car was sold in Appleton, Wisconsin originally... which leads me to another point. Any suggestions on how to remove a dealer sticker on the hatch? I don't want to damage the paint job.

93EGTinLR · 04-08-2003, 03:46

if it is a regular vinyl sticker then a heat gun will work to loosen it up...when I ook mine off it was one of the plastic chrome things and I peeled it off and used acetone to clean off the sticky leftovers

Vlad_Padberg · 04-10-2003, 09:52

I carefully took mine off and used a rag soaked in windex it took the residue right off but I even time I wash my car you can where the was so I don't wash my car anymore.

07-31-2003, 18:08

ones a cat and ones a resonator. if you take the cats off youll get more horsepower but its not good for the environment. buy who cares. why should we be nice to the environment when it kills us with tornados and hurricanes?

Vlad_Padberg · 08-30-2003, 20:55

I hope evironmentalists isn't reading this.