Catalytic Converters on an '86

[Patio]

How many catalytic converters are on an 250 HP - 350 cui engine in an early 86? (Cast iron heads vs aluminum).

Someone is telling me there's three, one from each engine side and a third before the "Y" pipe.

 

[Edmond]

There is one each on the exhaust manifolds and one between the front and rear y-pipe.

 

[Ken]

There are three catalytic converters on the '86 L-98: one small "pup" cat on the front Y-pipe coming from each of the exhaust manifolds, and a main catalytic converter towards the center of the vehicle before the rear Y-pipe.

 

[Mart]

Hey, there is only one on mine...

And to be exact an early 86 ironhead is 230 Hp.

But they have ****load of torque....

Mart

 

[paulie]

you're one of the few to have only one cat on your 86. 84-85 only had that center cat with no "pre-cats" (I think that's what the call them) on the y-pipe. Pretty sure most 86-present vettes have 3 cats or just 2 "pre-cats" on the y-pipe.

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah if you remove them you will pick up some deacent power. You can order a catless front Y pipe, and still stay emissions legal.

 

[Ken]

Be aware of states that perform a visual inspection; it's liable to cause you headaches if you remove them.

 

[Edmond]

Are all 3 cats required in your state? If not, remove the pre-cats and get a high flow main cat. That, along with a nice exhaust system (i.e. anything other than stock) will get you a nice power gain.

 

[Vettefan87]

Be aware of states that perform a visual inspection; it's liable to cause you headaches if you remove them.

I was talking about the precats.

 

[Ken]

I am too.

 

[Edmond]

I was talking about the precats.

That would apply in states where they do visual inspections. CA is one of those states.

 

[Vettefan87]

That would apply in states where they do visual inspections. CA is one of those states.

He doesn't live in California.

 

[Edmond]

He doesn't live in California.

I just used that as an example. I'm sure there are more states that require a visual inspection but I'm not sure which one of those does.

As bad as they are here in Illinois, they don't require a visual inspection, yet. I wouldn't be surprised if they implemented that in the future.

Do you Hoosiers have emissions testing?

 

[Vettefan87]

Nope, no visual inspection nothing. It better stay that way too .

 

[Edmond]

Nope, no visual inspection nothing. It better stay that way too .

:L You guys have it pretty good in Indiana: no emissions and friendly gun laws!:L:L:L

I went shooting in IN last summer. They didn't ask for ID or anything. Here in IL, they ask for your FOID (firearms owner identification) and keep it behind the counter. It's like a tracking system of sorts.

You have no idea how much misery the emissions people can cause you. If you don't pass, you can't buy a registration sticker and you can't drive your car. I guess you could but the ticket would be pretty hefty when you get pulled over for having an expired registration. Or they could suspend your plates.

To make matters worse, the idiots who work at those places seem to enjoy failing your car. That's another reason why I'm getting a '96. With OBDII here, they just plug it in and if the car doesn't throw any codes, you pass. With pre-OBDII, they run the car on the dyno and check the tailpipes. It's pretty easy failing. My Toyota Camry barely passed last summer! A freakin' Toyota!

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah I am pretty sure if the hooked that "sniffer" or whatever it is to my car, it would definetly blow up.

 

[Mart]

The precats have been removed on mine and it tested clean last year and is due for a sniff test in November.

As far as extra power I'm not sure, it was this way when I bought it, all I know is that it has lots of power, pulls strong, and has kicked a few butts of what I would consider quick cars.

One day I'm gonna have to dyno this thing.

Mart

 

[scorp508]

Cats.... there are supposed to be cats on these things?

 

[Vettefan87]

Cats.... there are supposed to be cats on these things?

Yup, thats news to me too

 

[Achilles]

To make matters worse, the idiots who work at those places seem to enjoy failing your car.

Sounds like a control issue.:crazy