Hey I need to know what size of a pipe to put in place of the cat i am planning on just cutting the cat out and clamping or cementing a pipe in place
i failed emissions test so i am good for three months then i have to go back so i will put a new cat in when i need to go back but to save money and have it sound better for the next little while i am gonna put a pipe in
thanks
is it 2 1-4" inlet and outlet for the replacement pipe if so is that od or id
i read that on a thread and it didnt say
thanks

Fiero Store sells a pipe that will work I believe, though I suspect you are looking for a cheaper alternative.

ya i just wanna buy a cheap pipe at a local store so i dont need to pay for shipping and what not
also i need to know what the length i need is
thanks

just the cat off and measure.. not much we can really help with, that isn't super easy do to yourself. The stock exhaust is 2.25" i believe. I went to an exhaust shop and had a piece cut to size and flared to fit around. Then i used seal clamps to attach it (they are the strap style and form to the shape of the exhaust, not the U-bolt style that you need an impact wrench to use), i put a crapload of 'muffler cement' on the seals before i bolted them down, then slopped more on around the seals. That muffler cement turns rock hard, and hasn't given me any trouble. Gives the 2.8 a great sound IMO.


seal clamp:

[This message has been edited by kawana (edited 11-21-2008).]

or how would it sound with a cherry bomb glasspack and the stock muffler in aswell
or maybe replace the stock on for a cherry bomb with no cat
or do you think just stock with no cat

ive never heard a cherry bomb glasspack muffler before so i dont know, but i like how it sounds with the stock muffler and no cat. Resonating tips would sound good though, but i never bothered getting them for mine

i was planning on buying the parts so when i take the parts off i can just put it in
instead of taking it out then waiting till the next day to go down to the store and get the part and install
cause i dont go a way down there only early morning when i wont have it off yet

BTW, id recommend putting some grease or something on the new pipe before you put it on, its kind of a tight fit, and mine was a PITA to get on. Sand down any surface rust as best you can, or the muffler cement cant get a perfect seal.

oh i see, ok well what i did was get up under the car, and figure out how close you can cut to the cat.converter. Then get a peice cut to that size, but add on about 3in per side to account for the flare. Then, once you get the peice from the shop, hold it up next to where the cat, converter is, and mark off where you will cut, so that it will fit inside the flares. Your going to want to get a 2.25in pipe, and ask them to flare the ends to 2.5in I.D (inside diameter) so that the 2.25in exhaust will fit inside. And your going to want to go to napa and ask for a 2x 2.5" seal clamp. They didn't have them in stock when i went there, but they usually DO carry them. If they dont have them, check out that automotive store on south fraser, just past lordco, near 'the mad butcher', they also carry the muffler cement i used, its actual name is 'Muffler Cement' btw...

[This message has been edited by kawana (edited 11-22-2008).]

what about just a canadiantire exhaust pipe cause the exhaust shop wont be home by the time i get back from work tomorrow

I love the sound of the cherry bomb or the thrush they come in different sizes and different inlet and out let angle ,, 22 inch is about right cherry bomb is about $5 cheaper the cost is $25 to $35 for the muffler the sound at idle is not to loud but a satisfying sound thru the gears the mount is easy but a lot of work cut pipes as close as possible to leave maximum length to work with,,file welds down retain springs by drilling holes in clamps..you can buy adapters at auto parts store you may have to remount stock muffler to pass some state or province test find friendly inspection personel ..
the glass packs are quiet enough to run on the street ,,but sound neato jet when you get it on ,,of course fiero law abbiding enthusiast never exceed the speed limit or make extra noise,or play radio loud

quote Originally posted by Byron: Hey I need to know what size of a pipe to put in place of the cat i am planning on just cutting the cat out and clamping or cementing a pipe in place i failed emissions test so i am good for three months then i have to go back so i will put a new cat in when i need to go back but to save money and have it sound better for the next little while i am gonna put a pipe in

Why not do what I did with my plugged cat? I just gutted it and put it back on. Problem solved, no pipe needed.

I should mention that my cat was an aftermarket one which was held in place with clamps. If you still have the original factory cat, it'll be welded in place and you'll have to cut it off.

quote Originally posted by Byron: what about just a canadiantire exhaust pipe cause the exhaust shop wont be home by the time i get back from work tomorrow

well i suppose you could, just get one that is 2.5" all the way through instead of flaring the ends of a 2.25" > 2.5" but the reason i went to an exhaust shop (the one next to wendy's, they had it done in about 3min, $20), is that they cut it to the exact size i needed, but if C.T. has the right lenght/Diameter piece, go for it.

ya its factory one its welded on
and i dont got a welder at my house
so cant do that

quote Originally posted by Byron: and i dont got a welder at my house so cant do that

Can't do what?

You cut off the cat. You gut the cat with a long screw driver or a pry bar. You clamp it back on with the clamps that Kawana mentioned along with copious amounts of muffler cement. Piece of cake. It's just temporary, right?

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-22-2008).]

erm.. i dont remember off hand sorry. I cant really tell you how big of a pipe to cut, because you may have an after market cat. which might be smaller than mine, and im not sure if mine was stock or not, so it could be bigger.

well if i cut the cat of there will be no excess to go over the ends or inside of the ends it will just sit flush with the cut offs
right,
but i guess i could center the clamp in the middle of the two ends that have been cut
but i dont think its a law here to have a cat on anything 87 and older
i might just keep it like this and not have it as a temp thing if it can still pass aircare like this
k well i will just buy like 24" of pipe and cut it to size or the closest length they have to that

[This message has been edited by Byron (edited 11-22-2008).]

The other option which is probably the easiest by far is to just go to a muffler shop and simply have them put a pipe in place of the cat. Will cost you $50. Quick and clean.

There's nothing worse than lying under a car trying to cut exhaust pipes with a hack saw.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-22-2008).]

here is an example, made using my awesome paint skills!:




19" is just an example, the length needed will be different.

then add 3" per side so the exhaust has something to slip into.


edit: I agree with patrick, if you dont feel comfortable doing this, it would save you alot of hassle to have a shop do it. It is legal to cut your cat. off on an 87 or older vehicle, but i think some shops still have a problem with doing it. You may have to ask a few shops if they will do it.

quote There's nothing worse than lying under a car trying to cut exhaust pipes with a hack saw.

tell me about it! I used a sawzall, and i had to hold it as such an uncomfortable angle lol.. Its times like that, you with you had a lift like they do at the exhaust shop.

[This message has been edited by kawana (edited 11-22-2008).]

that picure made everything even more perfectly clear now
i will just measure the size of the cat and then i can get the right size
thanks guy for the help

Once again, MS Paint saves the day!

I realize you're out in the sticks , but Nigel from WCF of BC recently wrote about having his cat replaced in Burnaby with a straight pipe Here.

edit: After thinking about it, id almost recommend having that shop do it. Heres what it cost me:

Pipe: $20
Muffler Cement: $7
Seal clamps $9/each (I think it was a little more actually.. pretty pricy)
blade for sawzall: $6

Total: $51+tax..

i could be off a little on the price, but not much.. Not to mention the time it took, all the cussing and finger banging trying to get the exhaust to fit into the new pipe (NOTE: use grease.. i didn't, and wish i had). It would be worth any extra cost just for the time/energy you'd save..

[This message has been edited by kawana (edited 11-22-2008).]

do NOT gut a factory cat.

post me a pic of it sometime when you get it off. Most of the ones I've sold off the older GM cars I worked on and parted over the years stacking the cats in the corner were worth $185ea to the metal recycler!!!!

quote Originally posted by ckfiero: Most of the ones I've sold off the older GM cars I worked on and parted over the years stacking the cats in the corner were worth $185ea to the metal recycler!!!!

Are you saying then that the muffler shop should pay Byron to put a straight pipe on his Fiero in exchange for his factory cat? Hmmm.... my '84 SE parts car still has the factory cat on it.

I suspect this aftermarket cat was worth nothing before I gutted it.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-22-2008).]