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00:35:54 - 12/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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Drew
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2002
14:51:53
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 Subject: Cut and gut a converter???
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Message:
My question is what does cut and gut a converter mean??? And what is the process of it? Can any shop do it like Midas Shop?
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A Blank
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2002
21:11:14
|  RE: Cut and gut a converter???
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Yes Midas will do it for a nominal fee. Make sure they let it hang overnight so the blood drains out.
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Dan Blodgett
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2002
21:29:03
| RE: Cut and gut a converter???
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This is how I have done it in the past…
First, cut the converter off your truck. Most likely, a muffler shop will tell you that they cannot cut the converter off because it is against federal law (if any of that still applies), so just do it yourself with a pipe cutter, or if you have the room, a hacksaw. Stand the converter up on its end so you can see down inside. You should be able to see the ceramic honeycomb “catalyst” that fills the casing.
With a hammer and a long punch (or a long, thin section of pipe), slowly knock a passageway through the honeycomb, turning the converter upside-down occasionally to clear out any loose debris. Do NOT remove the entire honeycomb.
The finished hole should be a hexagonal-shaped tunnel, about three inches across, passing end-to-end straight through the converter casing. (By leaving a sleeve of the ceramic honeycomb to serve as the walls of the tunnel, the converter will still be able to light off any unburned hydrocarbons, though a little less effectively. Your exhaust will still have that “sweet” smell associated with pollution-controlled vehicles, and should still pass any smog tests, if any of that still applies. Also, you won’t get that annoying “hollow” sound from your exhaust). Have a muffler shop re-attach the converter into the exhaust system. This time they won’t have any problem.
You MAY notice a SLIGHT increase in performance, but for the most part, modern converters are soo well designed they are generally not much of a bottleneck.
Have fun!
Dan.
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Drew
Dodge Dakota
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1/05/2003
21:00:54
| RE: Cut and gut a converter???
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Message:
Ahh, i see, and what are the advantages and disadvantages to doing this. And how much will like any muffler shop do it for?
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Dan Blodgett
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2003
07:24:28
| RE: Cut and gut a converter???
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Generally, a muffler shop has a minimum charge for quick jobs (like removing or re-installing a section of pipe or a muffler), around $15 - $25. But, like I mentioned and others have posted, most converters designed after 1990 are not much of a bottleneck, and not worth the effort to alter - unless you have a super-modded motor.
But hey, its cheap and easy to do, and messing around with our trucks is what this website is all about, so have at it!
Dan.
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