New Catalytic Converter

[xintersecty]

Got a new Catalytic Converter. The old came out easy. Got me a new Harbor Freight Electrical Impact Driver. So I was ready to put the new one back into the car...except I don't have the seals.

Here is the picture:


I see an inset that goes around a channel on the converter. Should I have gotten that in the box? I did order seals they have not arrived (damn you post office) and they were drop shipped from someplace other than my converter.

Also here is a picture of the working end of my old converter.

Can people clean up the gunk on the converter and extend the life of them?

I found the gasket, should I have ordered these:
More Information for FEL-PRO 61473

[Thud Slamrod]

No, you can't clean em up and reuse them, but they're worth a fair bit of money at your local scrapper.

[xintersecty]

I just used the gaskets I bought. I could not find the ring gasket locally. I will let you guys know if they are any good.

[petrified.rabbit]

that looks like a crush ring, i honestly find it odd it would have that and a gasket together. But I guess nothing should surprise us now.. redundancy.

I would think it would be ok, usually new crush ring type gasket helps with imperfect surfaces for reattachment, but since you used a new cat. You are probably fine with just a gasket.

I dont understand why you bought a new one though? Your old one looks fine.. when they are shot, they typically look like mud. Your honeycomb still even looks intact. Can you shine a light through it?

(edit, i see you say working end.. what did the other side look like?)

[xintersecty]

I don't understand why you bought a new one though? Your old one looks fine.. when they are shot, they typically look like mud. Your honeycomb still even looks intact. Can you shine a light through it?

(edit, i see you say working end.. what did the other side look like?)

I could shine a light through my old one. The working end was the engine side and the aft end was still white. I replaced due to a P0430 code. Once after all this work I might find a I have a bad sensor....arrgh. I went ahead and ordered since I had the front completely apart.

[xintersecty]

Maybe I need to clean the O2 sensor. Does this trick work by using a torch?

[06T200]

I know when I got mine it came with new metal crush ring seals. Maybe they forgot them in the box?? I had to do mine due to the big hole in it, and code P0420. I would think a gasket would work just fine if the rings are not reusable from the old cat.

[06T200]

Never tried the torch trick, I always just replace them in the hopes of getting better MPG to offset the cost a bit. Not to sound like a salesman LOL.

[xintersecty]

I might have found the issue with the catalytic convertor today. While I was working tonight, I noticed a discolorations and I think I have a crack.



Close up the crack.


I most have been smoking something. So would a crack like this cause a engine code?

[06T200]

Since it is not super black, assuming you did not clean it, it might just be a surface crack and is not letting gasses escape? I know the manifold on my LS was pretty putrefied looking in the center like that, but it was not leaking any gasses that I could tell. Looks just like grey iron around the area, and no carbon, unless it is just burned off. Do you recall hearing an exhaust leak? It would be pretty noticeable if it does leak.