Magnaflow Bolt On Catalytic Converter?

I put one in a few months back in my 97. Works fine, fit perfectly. As an FYI, it does not include gaskets or hardware, so make sure you order those at the same time you get the converter. The gaskets will crumble when you go to remove the converter and usually cannot be re- used.

Since I'm a cheap bastard I got new gaskets and just cut the studs out of the old converter and re-used them. Put a generous amount of anti- sieze compound on the threads so if you have to take it apart down the road you can.

Chris

Thanks Chris, that gives me confidence to go for it... and I love the idea about reusing the studs.

Chris (or anyone else that may happen to read this), I received the magnaflow cat. It appears to be the correct size but the flanges are not threaded, they are just holes. My local auto parts store only has exhaust bolts for threaded units (one short threaded side, one long threaded side, one nut). I guess I will try a regular hardware store for a bolt that can do the job. Can you tell me if you had to removed the cat-back section to get the old cat out? Or did you just cut the cat? With the bolts pointing out each end of the cat something has to move out of the way in order to remove it. Since I don't have a lift using a sawsall was not possible (can't fit the sawsall under the car). Thank you for any tips that you may have. Regards,

Hi Chris,

the exhaust system will have some give on the rubber hangers, enough to get it past the threaded bolts on the catalytic converter.

That said, I still had one bolt/nut completely freeze up on my '96M, and this was a number years ago. That one required cutting, which as you pointed out, was not easy to do without a lift. That one required some contortionist tricks.

I used some bolts that I picked up at the hardware store and they worked fine. The aftermarket cat was on there for a few years before the car was wrecked.

Good luck!

Pat

Thanks Pat! That is very helpful.

Just a follow up regarding the Managflow 23696 bolt on replacement cat for the NA. It passed New York State inspection! It was advertised as

That is excellent news! Did you have nay problems with the installation?

Pat

the only surprise with the product was that it did not come with bolts in the flanges like the oem cat that was removed had. but it wasn't a big deal to get a set of bolts for the job and it argulably makes it easier to install (no need to push things apart to position the new cat between the down pipe and the catback). it appears that even the oem replacement cats are like this given the picture of one on finishlineperformance.com. regards,