Mongo

There's a lot of people still running around here with OE cats and probably some running around with X-pipes here. My recent cat failure has led me to search for a replacement but the findings are very sparse. Unfortunately aftermarket cat installs can only be replaced by a Pre-OBDII CARB approved catalytic converter now in People's Republic of California.

With that being said, there are OE Replacements available from different venders comparable to the original Porsche one. I'm not exactly sure what the factory size piping is on our cars (metric or SAE?), but today's replacements are only 2" dual in. Many complete ones include the down pipes attached to them but with no crossover (X or H). An image is provided below of today's replacement. These new cats (non-OE Porsche) are licensed by Magnaflow (the only large-scale manufacturer allowed to create cats CARB legal).



It doesn't look like we people in CA have much options when it comes to replacements for smog days. How restrictive are these? I can't even imagine. They can't be good that's for sure. With no crossover though, I take it all scavenging is done inside this large catalytic converter?


Anywho, just an FYI to those out there in CA.

blown 87

I am a outsider, but at times it seems to me you folks in CA need to do a bit of political tree trimming, with a 30-06 maybe.

Mongo

Tell me about it. Here is a link to the law:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...ftermktcat.htm

If it gets any worse, they will probably force us to replace LH with Crossfire Injection *laughs*

V2Rocket

StrekStrekStrekStrek it, straight pipes and a nice tune

danglerb

Looking just now in the Magnaflow Calif catalog I show this as the replacement cat for an 87 928,

http://www.car-sound.com/02product/d...niversal=36014

What you are showing is the "direct fit" replacement for the whole cat and headpipe assembly.

IcemanG17

Mganaflow DOES make a CARD approved CAT for the 928...its dual in and dual out....I got an estimate from a local muffler shop to install the CAT at around $400

Mongo

Yes I know they do but note the piping diameter of 2" in/out. I did some searching and found out factory may be 2.25"

blown 87

That is not a issue, any muffler shop can can make adjustments close to 1/2 inch one way or the other in size with a expander.

Nicole

There is a company in Germany that opens up the old converters, guts them and replaces the innards with metal mesh cat material, and closes it up again.

In combination with dyno tuning, this modification provides 30 more horse power, and a better emissions class - which reduces vehicle registration tax over there.

danglerb

Here I think it includes free housing and meals, for 2 to 6 years.

cali4sun

I've been lucky still have original cats no x-pipe just rmb, haven't even come close to failing smog.... Good luck.......

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black

GregBBRD

And the old cat is worth more to the re-cyclers than the new one costs, because of the precious metal. Figure out how long the "replacement" is going to last...

I'd suggest calling around and finding a good low mileage used Porsche cat.

Mongo

Today's cats don't last anywhere near as long as the ones installed in the 1980s on these cars. It's like the quality of the build went south over about 20 years.

neilh

FWIW - I had the CARB approved magnaflow installed on the 84 euro i refreshed, and the before and after smog test readings were almost exactly the same - and it failed ! I solved my probelm another way - shipped the car out of state to my daughter in South Carolina - no testing there!

blown 87

You can still get good cats, you are just not going to get them for 200 bucks.
I do not have a listing on a factory cat for a 928, but I bet it is over 2 grand.