Hollow out cat?

[95Compact]

Anyone know if I can remove the innards of the '88 cat without destroying the shell?

Any reason not to?

[Zanzer]

I used to do it to Mustangs all the time

Any reason not to? Depends on who you ask I guess It worked VERY well on 96-98 4.6 Mustangs since they had 6 cats from the factory. Definitely put a smile on my face :mrgreen:



I've been thinking of doing it to my 93 after I install the B6 SOHC.

[95Compact]

Is there an elegant way open the cat and remove the innards or do i just bash it out with my jackhammer chisel?

I don't want to have to replace that section with a flex joint and tubing couplers - thats a PITA...

[Zanzer]

It should be pretty easy on the Festy. I would remove the down pipe section at the cat and just bust up the platinum honeycomb with a rod. On the Mustang I ground off the heat shield tabs on one side, bent the shield over, cut a 2" hole with the plasma cutter, hollowed it out with a rod, then welded the 2" section back in place a tacked the shield back in place. Looks totally stock, but the only reason I had to cut the holes is because I couldn't access the cat easily like on the Festy. Should be a quick and easy job on them

[TominMO]

Is there an elegant way open the cat and remove the innards or do i just bash it out with my jackhammer chisel?

I don't want to have to replace that section with a flex joint and tubing couplers - thats a PITA...

From the rear of the cat, you can use a portable electric drill with a drill bit extension, and a hole saw.

[95Compact]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions guys!

I think the last time I did it was 1992, on my '81 RX-7 hehe =)

[bhazard]

You're throwing away good money...

[Zanzer]

Many yards around here won't buy cats anymore due to the high theft rate.

[Kbaker2012]

I burnt mine out with a torch and it is completely empty now

[Spike]

You're throwing away good money...

My thoughts exactly. Festy cats around here are worth about $120.

[nonamekid]

Or unbolt it and sell it for $80 and put in a piece of straight pipe. Make money and improve airflow, win win. A gutted out cat flows horribly when analyzed with fluid dynamics. The expansion and contraction of the exhaust gases actually works against what you are trying to accomplish. A legal high flow cat will provide you the sound and power you are looking and still be within the law.

[95Compact]

Where would I sell it?

For $80 I'd spend the time to fab a 'test pipe'...

[Zanzer]

Call around the yards and recyclers and see if they'll buy it first. As I said, most yards around this area won't touch them now due to the high theft rate. They figure it's easier to just take a pass rather than buy stolen property. Or, you may have to get a recyclers license. Some yards in NC require that now for selling copper, cats, AC condensers and other scrap that tends to be stolen regularly. Call around and see if they'll take it first or you may get lucky and find a yard that's willing to turn their head.

[sketchman]

^And some places rip you off too. I only get $10 each here, so I don't bother with them.