Scratch the Cats or spank the monkey?

[GDawg]

This sucks... it all started out with me getting some water into my tail pipes (or I think that was what it was) and the car started to run like crap and the CEL came on. P1131. So, over time I think I'm blowing out the water and little by little the car is coming back to normal. Now there is a clanking noise coming from my passenger side center cat. I got under the car with a stethoscope and the noise is definitely coming from that cat. There is a dent on that cat like I bottomed out on something. The clanking follows the rhythm of the engine rpms.

Do I replace the middle cat with a universal fit for $100?

I can't really afford an off road H-pipe right now.

I have no smog checks in my county.

How hard would it be to gut the cats and put some MILs on?

Or should I just buy the one replacement cat?

 

[TeufelGt]

to remove the cats and weld in piping on my old camaro it only was about 60-80 bucks? I'd call and ask. As for the Mils, they are plug and play, if you have a hand held you can knock it out in 5-10 mins?

 

[ItsStock02]

Find the cash for an o/r midpipe. Search around for a used one.

 

[vertigasen]

I had a stainless Bassani X with gutted cats. I bought it off craigslist for $100, then sold it when I started my new build for about the same. I just looked on craigslist and I found 3 locally o/r X and H pipes....all of them were less than $100. One of my friends had a custom X pipe made at a local muffler shop and installed (welded in) for less than $120.

I will have to look, but several years ago I wrote an article about how to make your own MIL eliminators. They worked great until I removed one of the O2 sensors to put a wide band in there......then it threw a code. I will look and see if I still have that article....I know I have the pictures, but I just need to see if I have the write up.

 

[GDawg]

I found an "H pipe" on Craigslist in Denver. I contacted the guy and Thursday I'll drive up there. He wants $100 and he says it came off a '97 GT so it should fit my '98. I found an article how to make the MIL eliminator but would be interested in any more information cause eventually I want to put in a wide band sensor.

 

[GDawg]

Does this pipe look right to you? The "H" part looks fine but the other end that connects to the exhaust manifold looks too much turned in. I have to crawl under my car tomorrow and look.

View attachment 160439


View attachment 160440

 

[vertigasen]

Oh hell, I just realized you are in Colorado Springs. Let me take a look, I might know of a place here local to get one. There was one for sale local, Bassani stainless X (the modular one), but I think he wanted $200 for it. I will check with the guy I know here and see if he still has the one from his shorties.

 

[GDawg]

Oh hell, I just realized you are in Colorado Springs. Let me take a look, I might know of a place here local to get one. There was one for sale local, Bassani stainless X (the modular one), but I think he wanted $200 for it. I will check with the guy I know here and see if he still has the one from his shorties.

I'm looking for an "H" pipe not an "X". I can buy a new BBK "H" for $200. $100 is the most I can afford right now. Hopefully this guy in Denver still has it in a couple days.

 

[AZmustang98]

Looks just like the one on my 98. The passenger side flange will become your worst nightmare if your car has ever seen road salt. If you pick it up then also swing by an autoparts place and pick up a new flange gasket for the passenger side too.

 

[cronin57]

Hey bro, I am replacing my mid pipe soon, right now I have a 2 cat Magnaflow X Pipe. I moved from NJ, big emissions control State, to SC, NO inspection at all. I am getting a Magnaflow catless X Pipe at a cost of around $500. If you want my old pipe, it's yours for $100 plus shipping. What State are you in?? It is 3 years old. PM me if interested.