Looking for some catalytic converter info

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jiho

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Jul 26, 2013
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I take it the car has a single-bed converter as it sits? If so and that's what your motor is set up for (including computer if it has one), then yes, you can just plug that tube and forget about it. That's done all the time, a dual-bed converter works fine in a single-bed car just by plugging the tube. That's what my car has right now, and it has done really well at smog when properly tuned (which is a whole different story).

Note however that the reverse is not true -- a single-bed converter will not work well with a motor set up for a dual-bed converter.

Of course if you have a built 350 in it, any converter is pretty much a waste, since the motor won't be doing anything but burn it out fairly quickly.

Some of these guys -- "What state are you in?" Ha! Do you have smog inspection up there? I know most places up there don't. GM was still selling G-bodies without computers up there, years after everything had them everywhere down here.
 
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clean8485

Comic Book Super Hero
Dec 18, 2005
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Once again, thanks to everyone for your responses.
Mr Sony, as I stated in my earlier posts, the 1 catalytic converter that I would like to use to install this system came from a low mileage car, and its in good condition. Its not so-so, its good.
SoFloG, As I just explained to Mr Sony, and in my earlier post, the cat that I have here is in good shape. Why would I sell it to a recycling center, then go out and buy another one? Its an OEM style cat, and this type does flow well. Also, as I explained earlier, the exhaust system that I want to put on the car will probably only be on it for one season, maybe 2, before it comes off and something different goes on the car, so I don't want to waste money to buy parts that I already have.
What I wanted to know, is whether or not using this converter with the A.I.R. pipe plugged would cause any problems with the converter.
Jiho, thanks for your help. That's what I was looking to find out. The car has a stock 305 with a bit of a cam in it right now (that's the way it was when I got it), and no computer. I'm just looking for something less restrictive, without spending too much money, because it probably won't be on the car for very long.
You are correct, in that GM sold new vehicles here in Canada without computers for a number of years after they were required in the States. In Ontario, we have kind of a 2 pronged system. In southern Ontario, if you own a vehicle which is 1988 or newer, you are required to take it for mandatory emission testing every 2 years, basically forever, as the laws stand right now anyway. If your vehicle is 1987 or older, its exempt from emission testing, but you still have to maintain the original style emission controls for either the vehicle or the engine, whichever is newer (its a bit more complicated than that, but that is basically it, in a nutshell). You can get pulled over for a roadside inspection by an enforcement officer from the Ministry of the Environment, and you can be fined for every piece of smog equipment that isn't there, that should be there. As I said, its a bit more complicated than that, but basically, that covers it.
Part of the reason for this thread, is that I'd like to enjoy my car legally here.
Thanks again.
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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I used the cat and exhaust from a Grand National on my GP years ago. The cat had no A.I.R connection and I think it was shaped the same as the Monte SS cat
 
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565bbchevy

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Aug 8, 2011
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its exempt from emission testing, but you still have to maintain the original style emission controls and you can be fined for every piece of smog equipment that isn't there,
If this is strictly for a visual inspection maybe just gut the cat by cutting a flap on top and air chisel the honeycomb out and reweld it, this is what I did for my 307 Regal when I added a stock 442 exhaust system and I also welded a cap on the air tube.
 
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pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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If this is strictly for a visual inspection maybe just gut the cat by cutting a flap on top and air chisel the honeycomb out and reweld it, this is what I did for my 307 Regal when I added a stock 442 exhaust system and I also welded a cap on the air tube.

It's just visible and there is no inspection unless you get pulled over by environmental enforcement. I have 2 cats and my EGR is glued to the intake with JB weld and the A.I.R. system is removed. The enforcement officers don't know if my car ever has an A.I.R system so all they did was ask and I said the car came from Florida and it didn't have the air pump on it. They aslso didn't say anything about the modified exhaust as long as I had cats installed. I'm using the spun magniflow cats and they had to ask if they were real cats..:)
 
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jiho

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Jul 26, 2013
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You can get pulled over for a roadside inspection by an enforcement officer from the Ministry of the Environment, and you can be fined for every piece of smog equipment that isn't there, that should be there. As I said, its a bit more complicated than that, but basically, that covers it.
Part of the reason for this thread, is that I'd like to enjoy my car legally here.

Boy, do I ever understand all of this. I'm in California, with smog inspection every two years forever. And hooboy, is it a *bit* more complicated here than anything you could possibly cram into a forum post.

It's amazing that you actually have special "enforcement officers" who are out on the roadways pulling people over. Not that I dispute efforts to control pollution, I just haven't seen that anything is very effective, beyond the manufacturing requirements for the car makers (which have been effective .... aside from the VW scandal, that is).
 

jiho

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Jul 26, 2013
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It's just visible and there is no inspection unless you get pulled over by environmental enforcement. I have 2 cats and my EGR is glued to the intake with JB weld and the A.I.R. system is removed. The enforcement officers don't know if my car ever has an A.I.R system so all they did was ask and I said the car came from Florida and it didn't have the air pump on it. They aslso didn't say anything about the modified exhaust as long as I had cats installed. I'm using the spun magniflow cats and they had to ask if they were real cats..:)

Don't you have a totally alien motor, like a 350 or a Big Block in your GP? If they don't catch you, what do they catch? :D
 
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ed1948

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Aug 6, 2016
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It's just visible and there is no inspection unless you get pulled over by environmental enforcement. I have 2 cats and my EGR is glued to the intake with JB weld and the A.I.R. system is removed.:)

You mean that the enforcement officers never noticed all those empty JB Weld tubes all over your trunk or the 'Sponsored by JB Weld' stickers on your fenders?
 
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