how do you clean out the cat converter?

[BNewman]

May modify my exhaust and while I'm there, just wondering about cleaning out the innards of the converter. Unless the TDR congergation advises me thats it's gains arent worth the effort. never even looked in one before :-laf

 

[JMingledorff]

From looking into mine and trying to cut a hole in the side... don't think its worth it. Just go to a big rig place and buy a piece of 4" pipe.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

you talkin' about hollowing it out? a crow bar or some re-bar and a bfh will break it up, then stir it up real good and fire up the engine to blow it out.



Forrest

 

[PJ]

After my last trip to Northern Calif, I was wondering the same thing. I happened to walk behind my Cummins while it was running and the smell wasnt anything like any other diesel Ive ever owned. I figure that the cat converter is really playing games with my engine. I think that may have something to do with the 3 to 4 less MPG Im getting with the 600 over the 555 i owned last year. Anyone know if the warranty will be affected by the loss of the converter?

 

[TSpecht]

How would the catalytic converter possibly mess with the engine? The only possible thing is slightly more backpressure in the exhaust, but I sort of doubt that's even the case for the most part. I think the different smell might be due in part to the 3rd injection event I read about someplace that they use to help emissions control (sounds goofy doesn't it, burn more fuel to make emissions cleaner) as well as some of the other changes (most of which I probably don't remember accurately enough to mention)...



That having been said one of these days I'd like to pull my cat and add a better muffler myself.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

a cat will absolutely change the smell... it changes the chemical makeup of the exhaust!



Forrest

 

[BNewman]

Would a dealership know if you've been messing around and knocked out the innards of the cat? Can they do a diagnostic test to discover it? And how about state inspection, can they catch this kind of thing? Don't want to get giged by state inspection or blow my warrenty.

 

[HOBrian]

you talkin' about hollowing it out? a crow bar or some re-bar and a bfh will break it up, then stir it up real good and fire up the engine to blow it out.



Forrest

I have done a couple (on gassers) if you are going to blow it out just make sure you give it time to let it cool off! Those pieces are very hot

 

[DarkRAM]

I'll knock the innards out of mine if it will make it smell like my 2ND GEN!

 

[JMingledorff]

Taking mine out made it smell like a real diesel. That other smell was too wierd. Seemed to have less lag afterwards for what that's worth.

 

[Mark Craig]

BNewman,



PLEASE do NOT gut your cat till you call Dodge and price a new one, you'll get a BIG surprise!!



We have cat test pipes in T-409 stainless so you don't get electrolosysis (SP) by using an aluminized one and it bolts directly in just like a stock part.

Pretty reasonable prices too as compared to ruining your stock cat etc.



Mark @ DPPI

 

[OHale]

BNewman,



PLEASE do NOT gut your cat till you call Dodge and price a new one, you'll get a BIG surprise!!



We have cat test pipes in T-409 stainless so you don't get electrolosysis (SP) by using an aluminized one and it bolts directly in just like a stock part.

Pretty reasonable prices too as compared to ruining your stock cat etc.



Mark @ DPPI

I have the DPPI pipe and it is a very well made item, a nice piece of stainless with the correct bend/offset.

 

[Tim]

So the factory exhaust is stainless, or only the downpipe?

 

[barbwire]

I do not mean to run away with your thread, but. For all you guys that are gutting your cat converters, I would pay for the shipping for you to send the contents to me, for recycling purposes. That is if you intend to just throw it in the trash anyway. I collect old catalytic converters to sell to a recycler. Also if you are in N. D. or anywhere in eastern half of Montana( from Shelby and Great Falls and east), and want to get rid of your old converter, let me know and I will stop by and pick it up. I travel extensively through these areas. Thanx

 

[gsbrockman]

Can they do a diagnostic test to discover it? And how about state inspection, can they catch this kind of thing? Don't want to get giged by state inspection or blow my warrenty.

I know of an exhaust shop that has a laser exhaust temperature gauge. They point it at the pipe before the converter and after the converter and evaluate the differences in temperatures..... they then know if they need to condemn the converter or not.

As far as state inpections, I'm sure they would have some type of electronic devices or sniffers that can detect if the cat has been gutted.

If in doubt, you could always try to round up an '03 or '04 complete exhaust and hang on the truck, or just leave it alone altogether.

Greg

 

[PJ]

Oh yes... A good cat is a DEAD cat! :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[JKaltenheuser]

I just gutted my cat last night and it makes the truck sound alot better than it did before. If i would of known it sounded this good i would of done it as soon as i bought the pickup. The turbo spools up quicker and my exhaust temp. dropped 50 degrees. I used a big crowbar and a sledge hammer to gut my cat but i hear a long spade bit on a drill works really good too.





'98 12 valve 2500 4x4 club cab short box, Isspro transmission temp, boost, and exhaust temp gauges on the pillar, AFe Pro Guard 7 filter, Mag-Hytec 727-D transmission pan, 4" straight pipe from the turbo back, PDR HX-35 quick spool turbo, PDR #10 fuel plate, 3000 GSK spring kit, Alpine alarm, Pioneer DVD player, and 285 BFG all terrains on series 145 Eagle alloys

 

[KHogan]

The dealer and/or staties/feds won't need a laser temp probe or a EG sniffer to find out if you gutted the cat. They'll use something more high-tech: Their noses. Just like you can smell that something is amiss with the cat in place, the lack of that weirdo smell will most certainly give you away. If it smells like a real diesel, it aint got no cat!

 

[TAllen]

I want to gut my cat, but have 20k on my truck. How hard will it be to get it off, do I have to take the whole muffler system off?



Tim

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you tap on the shell with a hammer, you will hear a "ringggg" if it is empty, and a "thud" if the core is still in place.