Catalytic Converter

[smallfry]

Got a bad kittie on my 4runner and I'm looking at my options. If you had to get a new catalytic converter would you

A.) go to a salvage yard and see if you can pickup a used one and hope it's still good.

B.) buy an aftermarket one, if so what brand would you go with.

C.) cough up the $$$ and get a new OEM catalytic Converter.

I don't want to go the OEM route because of the money but at the same time I know that the aftermarket ones typical don't last as long. So here I sit scratching my wondering would would be the best option.

 

[Clownmeat]

Uninstal, put it in a vise, beat the fried guts out with a prybar and hammer, reinstal. If you have to pass emissions you can get a aftermarket universal for about $120.

 

[runnyrunnerton]

FYI I always thought an empty cat would produce less resistance. then some geeks proved me wrong. However they did not test running a long ass drill through the cat to reduce turbulence.

Hollowed-Out Catalysts - Power Increase - Import Tuner Magazine

 

[fish0281]

i bought a walker replacement & it was crap so i'm guessing all the affordable ones are too. used ones are a complete roll of the dice, but definitely only a band aid.

i say, either buy oem (possibly just the front if it's a dual system ) or, if you can clear emissions, buy the o2 sensor simulator. i've also heard of people using spark plug non-foulers to trick the o2 sensor... it would be super cheap!

the cc thing is a real batch; i basically gave up trying to fix it.

 

[smallfry]

The simulator and gutting the cat are both out of the question.

I'm leaning more towards getting an aftermarket one to get by until I can get enough $$ saved back up to get the OEM.

 

[fish0281]

I understand why you wouldn't gut the cat, but why not a sim? Have you had your emissions measured to know it's bad or is it just a CEL?

 

[smallfry]

I just said screw it and ordered the oem cats. :toilet3:

 

[PatchTrash]

I bought a magnaflow hiflo 2.5" cat off amazon for $47 free shipping, and bought the URD Simulator for $109 +tax I believe. My 4runner has California emission set-up I have 2 cats basically and your ECU is programmed for that as well. So I want to run only 1 cat (my new magnaflow), So the simulator was a must, it would get old clearing o2 CELs all day even with the scanguage help...

 

[fastolds]

Ok, first things first- a legitamate junkyard will not be able to legally sell you a converter. Also, they will be able to make more selling it for scrap than you would be willing to pay for it from them. And I've found that most junkyards are lazy and the amount of time to get a converter off of a vehicle in their yard isn't worth their time.

All that being said, do you know if you have federal or california emissions? If you have federal, you should be able to get a direct fit aftermarket converter. They do not last as long as OEM, but they last alot longer than the universal ones do.

If you have CA emissions, a direct fit one (at least for my 3rvz 4 cylinder) are not available. And a universal fit one, without using a simulator, will just make you have less money, be unhappy and have a check engine light on again. Federal emission ones are a little more forgiving, but I would still invest in at least a direct fit one, rather than a universal one.

My 98 with 2.7 has CA emissions and my only legitimate option, without using a simulator, was to go with an OEM one. Thankfully, my in-laws like me and chipped in $1k to help defer costs. And that still left me with about $500 to spend and I still had to install it. But I do like fixing it right and hopefully only once. Check the underhood label to see if you have CA or federal emissions, and then go check out Rockauto.com to start.

Good luck

 

[smallfry]

Ya, cali emissionss