1987 Catalytic Converter

[kphx87blazer]

Hello,
I have a 1987 K5 5.7. I hear rattling in the cat. So Im being told I can get a piece of metal (rebar pipe etc) in there and break loose the ****e inside or i can just replace it.

I just passed emissions in AZ so im good for another 2 years.

I am hesitant to take off the cat and break loose the ****e inside as i dont want this thing to sound louder than it already is.

Second, and most importantly does anyone know if i can just unbolt the catalitic converter on the 87 blazer or do i need to cut it off and weld the new one on?
Is this a simple repair?
many thanks

 

[sawzall]

I live in AZ as well and i just passed with hollowed out cats in my 93 z28 (with flying colors might i add). it will be a little louder but not too much.

 

[Cornfield creations]

If it's a monolithe converter yeah you can bust it out, if it's the original bead type then no. If it's rattling it's probably the monolithe type (honeycomb).

 

[Snoozer]

I personally HATE cats. I've had the honeycomb break loose on TWO different trucks and then get lodged inside my flowmaster mufflers. First time was on my '86 K10. Second time was on my '98 Z71. On the '86, I'd be cruising down the road, and all of a sudden my exhaust would get backed up with chunks of it, then it would backfire out of the tailpipe, blowing red-hot peices of catalyst all over the road. That is caused by the engine burning oil. The oil heats the catalyst up waaay too hot, and degrades the catalyst. Eventually, it begins to break apart.

I HIGHLY recommend that you bust all of the catalyst material out and run a pipe straight through the shell and weld it onto the shell at the ends. That way, at emissions time, they will "see" a cat during inspection. But it will just be the shell. They won't know the difference.

If your cat is broken apart (and it sounds like it is), it isn't doing much for your emissions anyway