Removing the CATS

[blacknight]

Yesterday, I heard a rattling sound coming from under the car and had it checked out. It sounded like rocks in a can. turned out to be the CATS (both of them) ceramic interior had broken up to bits and were rattling inside. The exhaust flange near the CATS were also cracked. A replacemnt from the agent will cost about B$1200 each with labour costs included.
Where I live there are no emission laws, as long as I dont turn the car's stock exhaust into a potato cannon and sound like thunder on wheels.
The benefits would be more power (?), mileage (?) and most probably a different exhaust note from the engine.

What is everyone's opinion on this? If its cheaper to import a brand new Pacemaker extractor and single tuned sports exhaust system from them, then this will be my next project.

[blky]

1200$ per cat? cmon thats pretty steep dont you think? i paid 550 for 2 cats installed from sureflo exhausts and thereare the ballistic 100cpsi ones

[blacknight]

Yea, I was thinking that one too. Looking for better alternatives. So far I've checked out the pacemaker website

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I do the magna flow 200cpsi cats at $198 each.

[blacknight]

cpsi (?) what is that? The higher number is it better? magna flow website?

[old mate]

you live in the bahamas?

[blacknight]

Brunei Darusslam, bout 2.5 hrs fligh to Australia. There's a Holden agent dealing with Holden vehicles here, but generally they use Holden cars as escorts for the royal family due to its ability to run at prolonged periods. Plus the power...
There less than a dozen VX V6 s/charged owners here

[PRAVX II S]

That’s to expensive! Get 2 high flow cats and get them welded on. I bought my redback high flow cat for my vx for 150 trade price. 200 CELL made in Oz.

[Tree cutter]

You should be able to break up all the ceramic insides of the cats with a steel bar and then shake the bits out. The cracked flange should be able to be welded up again. You shouldn't have to pay more than $100 for the job to be done.

[shifty6]

nice to know that other countries care as much about global warming and emissions as our own....

[Rusty]

If you do replace them, go with stainless high flow. I had the exact same issue in the VZ Clubby after uprgrading exhaust and extractors. The mechanic "claimed" the clubby cats will do the trick. Drove it a couple K down the road, gave it some juice and the caramics shattered and shot out the back end.

$1200 must be a mistake mate

[blacknight]

nice to know that other countries care as much about global warming and emissions as our own....

Sidetrack...I thought that 'global warming' was already proven to be a hoax and AL Gore is now hounded to be a fraud?

Anyway, there are a lot more diesel vehicles that emit a lotta black smoke and soot on these streets, but no one seems to be compounded and for our yearly car inspection, the CATs are not an issue. As long as it is not modified and still OEM exhaust

[blacknight]

If you do replace them, go with stainless high flow. I had the exact same issue in the VZ Clubby after uprgrading exhaust and extractors. The mechanic "claimed" the clubby cats will do the trick. Drove it a couple K down the road, gave it some juice and the caramics shattered and shot out the back end.

$1200 must be a mistake mate

Yeah, for the money I can import a brand new set of headers. I have found some CATs at B$280, stainless steel ones but i think i'll hold off till i upgrade the entire exhaust system with new extractors and exhaust.