Manning

Oh yeah, your supposed to replace your catalytic converter every X number of miles. I think it is something like every 60K miles.

Also, as I e-mailed to David earlier. If the torque tube tunnel/shifter feel really hot, like unusually hot, that is a pretty good sign the cat is acting up.

And yet another thing, I started to noticed a little more bottom end torque a few months before I discovered my converter was getting blocked up/blowing out. Pretty weird huh?

triscadek

If you're that curious you could always unbolt the exhaust just behind the header,wire it off to the side a bit and take it for a noisy test drive and see if any thing different happens.

Melchior

I think that Manning has a good point. The Torque Tube on my car has been getting a loud noise from it due to the bearing closest to the clutch failing. This also, coincidently, is right next to the catalytic converter. I have been getting a lot of vibration in the gear shift lever (which is new) due to this bad bearing. I wonder if the cat has been getting hot for a long time now and, as a result, cooked my torque tube bearing. Then, as a 'payback', the bad bearing shakes the torque tube thus causing the cat to get vibrated to death and fall into pieces that clog the cat, exhaust pipe, and muffler. With a new cooling system (yes everything), head gasket, and rebuilt head, I have run out of ideas and things to replace.

Melchior

Where is Skip?

Melchior

Please help <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

951and944S

Manning is right, and a restricted cat can cause higher than normal engine temperature.

Take the car to an exhaust shop and have it tested.

What they will (should) do is drill a small hole before and after the cat, apply a pressure gauge to both apertures and compare the readings.

If they are virtually the same-no restriction, and they weld the small hole up and you are on your way.

If the pressure is noticeably higher before the cat as opposed to behind the cat, they will (should) recommend replacement......

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Melchior

Thanks for all the responses. I will get the cat tested and also troubleshoot to see if a might have a leaking fuel injector.