Gutting Catalytic converters

[MidnightFLAT4]

Does anyone know what tools ill need, and how to do gut the third cat. I am also interested in gutting the stock up-pipe, but the removal and install looks a bit tedious for someone with no garage... Should i just purchase aftermarket midpipes, or should i quit bein a puss and just gut em???
Thanks for your input, now back to watching the Cubs win
-Jason

[pityr]

stop bein a puss and gut em. Easiest way to gut the mid-pipe is with a 1" extra long drill bit and a long screw driver.

[JohnZim63]

Yeah, I did the 3rd cat ream job, and it wasn't too bad. I've heard the uppipe is a bee-atch, though. You can get a decent uppipe for like $175, I think.

[Speedstars]

Originally posted by JohnZim63
Yeah, I did the 3rd cat ream job, and it wasn't too bad. I've heard the uppipe is a bee-atch, though. You can get a decent uppipe for like $175, I think.

I tried to take it off, but I couldn't. How did you take off the 3rd cat without taking off the downpipe? The 3rd cat has a permanent bolt and holding hook on it. The pipe could only move forward, but the downpipe was in the way.

[BadWagMan]

I bought a stock UP pipe and gutted it with a few drill bits. start with a small (1/4" dia) drill. this will help locate the drilling with a larger drill bit, but you need to get a drill bit at least 8-9" long to go all the way through. Then chunck it out with a big screw driver and a hammer. Make sure you get all the material out. mine had one layer stuck to the inside wall. I used a chisel, but a sharpened screw driver would work too. then for yucks and grinns, i used a dremel or die grinder to smooth out the openings on both ends. And for the "what the heck", I took it to work and sandblased out the insides and mounting surfaces. I haven't installed it yet, but now I am ready.

[YBNormal07]

For security's sake, I would just buy the part needed without the cat. I'd be too scared that something was missed in the gutting and would end up in my engine (UP wise that is).

[ride5000]

For security's sake, I would just buy the part needed without the cat. I'd be too scared that something was missed in the gutting and would end up in my engine (UP wise that is).

you do realize that something left in the up pipe would end up in the turbo, and not the engine, right?

it's not hard to gut an up pipe--buy a spare, take your time, do it right.

[mittermiers]

you are talking about the catalisator that is located after the exhaust manifold and before the turbocharger?
I ve gutted it but you will not be able to do that with a large screwdiriver or a dril. I couldn't even hammer cat out. I had to cut pipe in half and gut it with a hydraulic press
so prepare for some welding

[mike3026]

Hold up. How many cats are there? There should be one inline from the turbo to the tailpipe. Where are the other two cats?

[tsignr]

3. 1 in the uppipe and an aftermarket downpipe replaces 2.

[mike3026]

Factory service manual says there are two cats. And that is all I've seen so far since I took off my exhaust system from turbo-back.

[302@12psi]

Factory service manual says there are two cats. And that is all I've seen so far since I took off my exhaust system from turbo-back.

I guess you missed the cat in the up-pipe prior to the turbo...but if you were looking from the turbo back you obviously wont see the one before the turbo.

06+'s and all STI's only have 2 cats in the DP.

[mike3026]

Oh okay there's a hidden cat the factory manual doesn't tell you about on that pipe from the header to the turbo.

[302@12psi]

Oh okay there's a hidden cat the factory manual doesn't tell you about on that pipe from the header to the turbo.

If you are looking at a STI service manual it wont be in there. If you are looking at a manual for a 06+ WRX it wont be in there.

From 02-05 wrx's it's there.

[tsignr]

That's the one. It is also, probably, the most important one to remove.