Gross Polluter

Well today we brought the car to get a smog check and it passed all test except for the most important emmisions test. Our mechanic said that the catayltic converter must be completely empty to have the numbers we were getting so off to the muffler shop I go to get it taken care of, of course stopping by at home to get my SCCA Rule book to make sure we did it right.

Pics from the Smog Test Place




Here is what the 2006 Rule book had to say:

13.10 ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN

E. Any part of the exhaust system beyond (downstream from) the
header/manifold or catalytic converter, if so equipped, may be
substituted provided the system meets the requirements of 3.5.
Stainless steel heat exchangers are permitted only if the physical
dimensions and configuration remain unchanged. Modifications
of any type, including additions to or removal of, the catalytic
converters, thermal reactors, or any other pollution control
devices in the exhaust system are not allowed and the system
must be operable. Replacement catalytic converters must be OE
if the vehicle has not exceeded the five-year/50,000 mile war-ranty
period as mandated by the EPA. Converters must be of the
same type and size and used in the same location as the original
equipment converter(s). This does not allow for a high perfor-mance
unit. If the vehicle has exceeded the five-year/50,000 mile
warranty period, replacement catalytic converters must be OE-type
as per Section 13.

So with that in mind I proliferatively reminded our Muffler shop to give us the exact size as stock and put it in the exact position as stock. They did quite a good job and the car smells so much better. So we are back off to the Smog check place next week to get tested again.

(sorry for the low resolution pics, I was using my sidekick phone)

The car on the lift at ADVANCE MUFFLER


The old CAT and it NEW replacement


Cutting away the old CAT


The Old Oil FILLED CAT



Welding in the new CAT