Topic: Install of High-flow CAT

[roxer]

Finished. Took more time than I wanted.  Had to go get a 22mm wrench to deal with the lower sensor.  Other than that, went really smooth. Love the low throaty sound it gives. I will get it out on the road later today to get the ecm to recalculate.   

I don't know how you guys fit under there with a creeper. I'm 6'1"with a 46" chest and 32" waist. Needless to say it was a tight fit, but totally worth it. Thanks to all you guys for you instructions and info on the install. Billable and Dave - big kudos!


PS - didn't have to unplug anything or jack up the engine. Very happy about that.   

[roxer]

So drove the car for a while twice today and have the following observations.  First, I get a strong gas smell now when I first crank the car and have the a/c fan going pulling outside air (just the fan- a/c is off).  It goes away after driving it for a while.  Is that normal?

Second, I get a lite smell of exhaust when sitting idle or also when the fan is on. Does any of this go away?  I did pull the battery cable when I started the work, so the ECM should have started relearning. The car does seem to have more power to it, especially during takeoff. Sounds great too.

Anyone else experience these issues after changing out thier CAT?

[Billablehours]

You are going to get a smell for a little while as the oils from machining the cat burn off.  My smell went away after just a few minutes of driving. It shouldn't really be an exhaust smell though.  Hopefully you did get the gasket on and tighten the top bolts evenly.  I bet it is just the smell of oil burning off. I don't know about the fuel smell.  Maybe the ECU is really richening up the fuel to deal with the increased air flow.  As long as you didn't damage any fuel lines or rails I bet it will go away. 

[roxer]

I'll admitt I didn't use a torque wrench to snug the upper nuts. I'll go back and do that today just take sure. But just from the "elbow meter", I'd say I was close.

[Billablehours]

Good idea. I was actually surprised at the effort necessary to get the right torque. I think the odd angles you have to hold the wrench make it seem like you are putting more torque on the bolt than you actually are. 

[roxer]

Well, between my Mk1 Eye Ball and calibrated elbow, I was extremely close if not over torqued on the nuts. Retorqued them anyway. Still smelling the exhaust smelll though. Gas smell is there, but only for a few seconds (30 or so). Not sure where to look now. No soot that I can see except the tail pipes are more evenly sooted up.

[roxer]

Threw a CEL this morning. Great.

[Sol Asylum]

I wonder if it's that EPA solenoid, when it goes bad you get a fuel smell and CEL.

[roxer]

I'm guessing the leak is in the front pipe to CAT. Not sure, but the second O2 sensor is after that connection.  Is that possible? Could a leak there cause a CEL code? Did anyone use something not in the kit to help seal that better?

[Billablehours]

Did you put the O2 sensor extension in the bung on the lower part of the CAT?   The extension is necessary to keep the sensor out of the main flow and not throw a CEL.

[roxer]

Yep, did that.  Car took a while to throw the CEL, so it must be a slow leak. I talked to Jeff at Solo and he suggested to losen everything and retighten starting with the lower left nut first - and crank it as tight as I can get it. Then do the others.  We'll see. I came home to get this fixed, so I'll wait until it cools off some before working on it.

[roxer]

So unloosened everything and tightened it back. No smell and no CEL!  Found the culprit to be the drivers side lower nut so I cranked it down. Had some soot on the exhaust manifold. Thanks for the help.  Now on to the next mod for my Crackstice.

[Billablehours]

Good news.  good job!