24 replies to this topic

[mikesitalianjob]

I was thinking of replacing my Catalytic convertor with a "de-cat" pipe. on my car i know this would be an MOT failure but i will change it back for the MOT man. If any what benefits will it give?

mike

[Jordie]

cat's normally loose 1-2bhp, so u would gain 1-2bhp back. Cant see any other benefts myself....

[mikesitalianjob]

nothing worth screaming about then :sad: . but i suppose in the words of a certain supermarket 'every little helps'

[P91MER]

it is MEANT to be about 1-2hp on a standard, up to 4-5hp on a highly tuned engine..

I am de-catting mine when i finally get the de-cat pipe gaskets, bought the de-cat pipe early last year, (£18 from maniflow) but no gaskets - DOH!!

Its cheap bolt on performance tho!! £18 for 3 horses maybe!

If you go to Bingley hall, then maniflow might be there, i emailed them yesterday, but they cannot give me a definate answer until next week, as i am after a LCB for my MPI!!!

Rich

[mikesitalianjob]

Won't be able to go to that :sad: . Bit too far for my car. I am gonna get the de-cat pipe as it cheap and easy don't really have the funds to buy a new exhaust system plus mine is about two months old apart from the cat which is as old as the car i believe.

[P91MER]

Get on the dog n bone to maniflow... i think most mini specialists stock similar ones to the maniflow one, (just no name) when i was in mega modz the other day i seen one for £20 i think.

The only problem is fitting them, it is right in the centre of the car, so if you jack the back up you are too far away from the front bolts, if you jack the front up you are too far away from the rear bolts as you have to hold it aswel, else the whole pipe just turns!!
Best bet is to get it on a 'pit, or up on pro ramps to give you all round access, and somebody else can get down there to hold the pipe for ya!!

Will give you some feedback when i fit mine, which won't be till February now along with all the other mods.

Rich

[mikesitalianjob]

cheers, where are you getting the gaskets from or do maniflow supply them with their de-cat pipes? i will attempt to fit mine when i get it. it might be possible to use a set of ramps and some axle stands to get the car in the air enough to make it a driveway job.

[P91MER]

Maniflow sell them on top for £3 each, and you need 2... I dont know if it is crucial to use them, but i am just in case, my zuarst has got enough leaks!!

If you email them they should be able to give you a price, they usually reply within an hour or so aswel! (in the daytime)

[mikesitalianjob]

i have had problems around my cat gaskets before, because they can only be crushed down once.
When the new exhaust was put on all was good for a week then the gaskets started to blow so a small amount of gum gum sealant and retightening the bolts sorted that out.
so i was going to use this technique again when the de-cat pipe goes on with gaskets

[Guess-Works.com]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong,

The legislation is, the car had to be manufactured with a catalytic convertor in 1993 or somewhere around there...

It is not illigal to remove the cat once delivered.

If the car passes the emmisions levels for the age of vehicle then it is OK.

Here's an extract from an MOT testers Q&A paper....

7. Your vehicle has had its catalytic converter removed and replaced by a normal exhaust silencer but passes the emissions Test. Does it fail the MOT because it hasn't got a catalytic converter when it should have one?

A. No, if it passes the emissions part of the MOT that is acceptable.

B. Yes, the absence of the catalytic converter when the vehicle was originally fitted with one will result in an MOT failure.

C. Yes, because all vehicles must now be fitted with a catalytic converter.


Answer A

I think all Caterhams are supplied fitted with cats and the pipe to replace it when you get home !

[jeffriesmullet]

the gaskets for the decat are just normal crush down cat to exhaust gasket can be picked up from any motor spares and duno who it was now that said they used exhaust gum on the cat gaskets never use this stuff in the exhaust system b4 the cat but fine after the cat also any car k plate and newer (k 92) must have a cat fitted to be legal

[mikesitalianjob]

The exhaust gum idea was given to me by a local mini 'specialist' the same specialist that can't get rear wheel cooper studs or cooper nuts, the same specialist that i have just found out from about four five local garages and mini owners that said they would never use this place again because of the lash ups they do. some even said that my local halfrauds would be better the same halfrauds that sold my brother in-law a dump-valve for his nissan 200sx s13 and suppled him with the wrong fittings instructions that ended up with one very broken engine and a car off the road for 2 months until they got hold of the part that needed replacing and don't get me started on ...................


thats my rant over. i wont be using the gum gum idea at all now as it won't be a catalytic convertor, i just hope the gaskets will do the job

[The Roadie]

Cars after 92 dont have to have a cat to be legal as long as they pass emissions, thats why Toyotas have no cat but are legal. There's some pub ammo for ya.
Was looking at getting an LCBN for the spi sprite as there is one made, but it has no hole for the lambda sensor, so the car would run too rich without it. Does anyone know of a more freeer flowing manifold and front pipe for an spi with a lambda hole?

[clubman katie B.F]

beware of random emmisions testing at the side of the road fellas....it is done and you will get slapped wrists if you are caught, as you will be driving a car with an invalid MOT....is it worth it for 2-hp... i think i would rather get the car set up on a rolling road properly

[The Roadie]

That's what's always been in the back of my mind, they generally target older stuff too.
Near me I've never heard of anyone of the scene getting stopped for "randomn" checks, but I don't think its worth the hassle either.