Catalytic Converter Q:

[theboogins]

Eyeing an 81 6er with fresh paint and seat covers-seems like a fair price. Turns out it has catalytic converter and since I live in GA, it will have to pass emissions at least for a few more years.

About what will it cost to put a catalyst on and is that in anyway a DIY project?

Thanks.

J. Boggs

[jcsomerset]

Since I didn't answer this question in your PM -

depends on what was put in place of the cat. - if someone bolted in a "test pipe" using the factory exhaust flanges, then it's a bolt in job W/ car on Jackstands. But if someone had someone else butcher the exhaust manifolds, then it's either new exhaust manifolds or get someone to fix (i.e. weld) them.

Cheapest I've seen cat's for our cars is about 3-400. installation would probably run 100-150. depending on who you got to do it.

Good Luck Hunting-

[theboogins]

Guy said it has "glasspacks" on it-I assume it has high flow mufflers with no catalyst. I had to replace the catalyst on my Mercedes and was able to find a repro for $600 (factory quoted $3600 and 2 months delivery), easy to replace it turns out, the Benz catalyst just bolts on/off. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't buying a $3-4000 problem.

We're still aways off on the price anyway, so probably won't happen.

I saw something about the Scottsboro show-would that be good hunting grounds?

Thanks.

J. Boggs

[jcsomerset]

Haha - I've never heard Glasspacks on a 6er I bet they sound neat. (and loud)

AS Long as Cat wasn't cut out by a butcher, there should be bolt flanges to work off of when replacing the cat.

I"m not sure sharkfest is a place to look to BUY a 6er - as its more of a show and shine, get together and drive and talk about our cantankerous old cars type of thing than it is a sellers meet, howeve,r that doesn't mean someone wouldn't bring one they are trying to sell or couldn't be talked out of for the right price.

Probably the most prolific listing of 6ers for sale is onthe www.roadfly.org classified boards. lots of 6ers there.

[jhfutch]

Any good muffler shop can fabricate a cat and muffler system for you. You will probably want to buy a set of down pipes from Stevehaygood.com they'll cost about $160.00 and will be a good place for a muffler shop to start.

This is what I have done. I bought my six from a man in Decatur, and got a deal on it because it wouldn't pass emission. S. Ga doesn't require emissions testing yet. I bought a set of stock downpipes and for now am putting in an "track pipe" instead of a cat, and finishing it off with a stebro resonator and muffler. If I ever need to pass emissions again I can simply replace the track pipe with a cat.

To replace the system with all OE would cost about $1500 for parts. The muffler shop would be around half that I would guess.

[Leif E. Bronn]

If you get the OEM cat it will be very expensive so I would go to an independent muffler shop and have them make one. I have been very happy wih Mairietta Muffler (right next to the Big Chicken. I had them, make an exhaust system for my 2002 racecar for $400 including installation). Ask around in the regional forum for some other ideas. There might be a good place in Alpharetta and there a few people from there who might be able to help you out.