[Ciara99]

What would happen if I took off my cat convertor and put in just a straight pipe? My cat might be plugged. If it is could I do this? I have an 1989 mustang with a 2.3 that shuts off after 30 seconds starting. It restarts and then does the same thing.

[Red_LX]

I may have asked this before but can you rev the car up at all?

[Ciara99]

Yes I can rev it up but it sputters and pops a little. It usually only runs about 30 seconds before it dies. I took off the EGR tube to see if it still ran (cat plugged?) and it did keep running. There is a small cat up by the manifold and the regular looking one about half way back. What is the one up front? The car does smoke alot, so was wondering if its burning enuff oil to plug up the cats?

[Red_LX]

I think it would have to be burning a LOT of oil to clog up the cat.

Usually that happens because of the vehicle running rich, but I don't know, I've never had it happen.

So, to clarify- you removed the EGR tube from the manifold or intake and left that tube open to atmosphere, and like that it stayed running?

That does kinda point at a clogged cat or some kind of restriction in the exhaust that is preventing exhaust flow.

I'd try disconnecting the exhaust from the manifold and leaving the EGR hooked up and see if it will stay running like that, before you go cutting/removing anything.

[Ciara99]

I will try that. The car does run rich. When I ran the codes it gave my 31 and 83. Both EGR related if I remember. Any info on that would be helpful. Does anybody sell and off road exhaust for the 2.3 like they have for 5.0's

[Red_LX]

Nope, nobody does. And you'd probably have a hard time finding a muffler shop that would do it also (they get in big doo-doo for messing with cats).

[wlabrum]

racer walsh seals a header for it(found out after ording its a ranger header)
but it fits great threw my cats away