California Cat problems

[neil30076]

After much trouble shooting and about an hour at a smog test station that was not busy, it looks pretty conclusive that my cat is shot, if indeed there is anything in it!
With my innovate before and the smog tester after teh cat at the exhaust the AFR was exactly equal - further checking with an IR thermometer showed the temp before, over and after the cat to be the same.
Now given i have replaced every other part that could affect the AFR, we came to the conclusion that the cat is completely blown.

Heres the rub - in CA it is not legal to replace a cat on an emission controlled vehicle with a non CA approved unit, and my 84 Euro has been modified to be a 2 in, 2 out system all the way, and it should be failed for that anyway, but the tech would let it go if it passed the emissions.

So, to get legal, and pass the test, I must take the headers into a 'Y' then into a 1 in 2 out cat.
Sounds OK, price for the whole job is $350 - way better than a OEM unit.

ANy comments?

Neil

[johnnywishbone]

price for the whole job is $350

JUMP ON IT !!

[neil30076]

You bet, going to the shop at 3PM today!

[JhwShark]

I'm real sorry to hear that, BIG bummer.
When I first got my '79 and took it in for some service at former 928 in Irvine (forgot his name but you SCal guy's knew him. the guy died and they closed the shop); I asked him to do a smog chack while he did some fuel system work while I was traveling...well we found no CAT at all and I had to conform to comply.

I am hoping that some new proposed CA smog legislation will bring back the old car exemptions for us. My my 72 & 73 rigs are exempt since they were over 25 years and had passed smog previous to them achieving exempt status. I believe the prop. has similar in it. Better yet let's get the IL rules...no smog test. I need to read up on what those smart politi'crats are thinking.
Jon
Adding your price is good, mine cost 50 more

[MPDano]

Neil,

Here is the one i got for my OB. It's a Magnaflow that I believe got for around $120 with $60 install. It's 2 IN then 1 OUT since mine is a single pipe back. The Bung needs to be Pre-Cat.



You could probably put a Y after the cat to join your Dual Out Pipes.

My Thread whcih also shows the Letters and numbers on the Bottom of the Cat, which makes this Cal Legal

Porsche 928 Forums dot com - View topic - Pics of my First 928 and Current Project

[MPDano]

I'm pretty sure I paid under $200 for my work with extra piping needed. I think a good Y would cost around $30, so the remainder must be for his weekend BEER Fund! Support the Local Economy!

[JhwShark]

I checked the records and in '05 adding the cat was $250, the remaining $ for the other work. Irvine (OC) prices, but a smart shop. Since they knew I do most of my own car work, they told me about 928Intl...

Nice price Leo; in '05 when I got the car I hadn't figured much out about who what and where for shark stuff.

[Danglerb]

The new smog laws require selecting your smog parts from a special Calif catalog.

California OBDll and Pre-OBDll MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

It shows this one for a US 1984 928
Product Search Results - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

But your car should be checked on the basis of the BAR tag on the door jam, and it was VERY common for the federalized cars to use two cats. This is something I would suggest double checking prior to welding.

[MPDano]

That is the same one I pictured Mike. A quick copy paste of that Magnaflow Part Number in eBay will yield a 1/4 price. I also had one that said "Make Offer" so I did and got it for less. Also, the Smog Guy doesn't punch in Numbers off the Cat, he just verifies it's there. I do remember seeing that Neil had a BAR Decal on his 928, IMHO I wouldn't dig too deep into it as the Richardheads at Smog love to put Tags (Records) on your Car. This will "never" leave the System. If it has a single Cat on it now, then put a single Cat back on it. Neil is doing his part to clean up the environment by putting a functioning Cat in. That 928 is going to his daughter in a State that doesn't even require Smog.

Remember his Smog guy is already good to go with what he is doing.

[Danglerb]

When the smog test starts the first step is the tech will scan the bar code on the door jam sticker, and all his tests will be based on how that is set up in the DMV. I'm just saying, use caution, and I don't think you are correct on them reading the numbers off the cats. There is a reason they are required to be as large and specifically located as they are, CARB EO and date.

[Danglerb]

It could easily be a pair of these,
Product Search Results - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

Since it was common to use the factory exhaust of a model current at the time of federalizing.

[MPDano]

Heres the rub - in CA it is not legal to replace a cat on an emission controlled vehicle with a non CA approved unit, and my 84 Euro has been modified to be a 2 in, 2 out system all the way, and it should be failed for that anyway, but the tech would let it go if it passed the emissions.

...like i said

Not doubting you Mike, and yes it does look like all the info you stated is on the bottom of the Cat. Just saying that I noticed that he didn't write all those 17 Characters written on there and start typing them into his Smog Machine.

[bwmac]

Man am I glad I don't have to go through all that BS.
I just pulled my cats and pipes off, went down to the local shop and asked them to make me up a set of straight pipes for the track. He He as if I'm going to put the old rattly cats back on.
ILL post a pic of the new one later today when its done.
heres what I took off

[Danglerb]

Don't toss the old cats, people needs them.

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by MPDano

...like i said

Not doubting you Mike, and yes it does look like all the info you stated is on the bottom of the Cat. Just saying that I noticed that he didn't write all those 17 Characters written on there and start typing them into his Smog Machine.

I suspect its YMMV, I put my Y pipe on my Mustang in 2007, passed without issue in 2008, and failed last week (and its not unfailed or figured out yet).

[neil30076]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

The new smog laws require selecting your smog parts from a special Calif catalog.

California OBDll and Pre-OBDll MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

It shows this one for a US 1984 928
Product Search Results - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

But your car should be checked on the basis of the BAR tag on the door jam, and it was VERY common for the federalized cars to use two cats. This is something I would suggest double checking prior to welding.

Thats the one I installed - now to check the AFR and tweak the MAF if needed, drive for a week and retest - and hope :-)
BTW, when we pulled the old cat I could see completely through it - no honeycomb! Exhaust even sounds better now!

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by neil30076

Thats the one I installed - now to check the AFR and tweak the MAF if needed, drive for a week and retest - and hope :-)
BTW, when we pulled the old cat I could see completely through it - no honeycomb! Exhaust even sounds better now!

Yeah, PO punched it then.