the outlet if they make such a beast. But you should be able to get a pipe that will go from 2.5 to 3", to make a 3" inlet cat work.
CK5
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1989 K5 - Gradual Learning
- Thread starter shima
- Start date
First 4x4 - learning basic maintenance / upkeep and maybe some small mods.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=133959&cc=1061536&pt=10038&jsn=477 walker is showing the cat at the y pipe and list the y pipe as 3". So 3" inlet outlet cat should be good. Double check thou, never know whats been changed
Let's go for Saturday if that will work for you. They are at my work near 52nd and Sheridan.
Went out and measured the cat that's on the Blazer right now. Had to sorta eyeball it with the tape measure... but it is convincingly 3" diameter on both inlet and outlet.
Gonna shop for the cheapest 3" in/out cat that I can find and get it sent over to @HankScorpio (thanks again).
Gonna shop for the cheapest 3" in/out cat that I can find and get it sent over to @HankScorpio (thanks again).
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flo-2230130 $160 and ships today.
I’d go with the flow.
Wow, the jungle website actually shipped it to my house. That's convenient. @HankScorpio you're the man for offering help. I really appreciate it. I'll have to find an excuse to get up to Laramie sometime soon so that I can meet you anyhow.
EDIT: I guess I should be careful not to jynx it because I haven't gotten a shipping confirmation e-mail... but the order went through.
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I got shipping confirmation this morning. Somehow, it will be here on Sunday.
The guy that I normally go to for welding work says he's extremely busy right now and can't take on my order. He said he would ask around to see if anyone else can do the work and that he would get back to me.
If I can't find anyone to do the welding, then I think I could probably just cobble it together using exhaust clamps, exhaust tape, whatever. It just needs to legally be "installed". Then I can drive it over to Lakewood Muffler and they can do their work.
The guy that I normally go to for welding work says he's extremely busy right now and can't take on my order. He said he would ask around to see if anyone else can do the work and that he would get back to me.
If I can't find anyone to do the welding, then I think I could probably just cobble it together using exhaust clamps, exhaust tape, whatever. It just needs to legally be "installed". Then I can drive it over to Lakewood Muffler and they can do their work.
Flex pipe and clamps. Works like a charm.
New cat came in on Sunday... this thing is so small! Disregard the dirty keyboard.
I called Lakewood Muffler to confirm whether flex pipe and clamps legally counts as "installed". The lady that I worked with prior was in a meeting, but she's going to give me a call back. I'm hoping that I don't have to get this thing welded up before bringing it to them.
I called Lakewood Muffler to confirm whether flex pipe and clamps legally counts as "installed". The lady that I worked with prior was in a meeting, but she's going to give me a call back. I'm hoping that I don't have to get this thing welded up before bringing it to them.
On big rigs every piece is clamped, no welding
If you wanted to drive all the way up here again, I'm sure we could get it welded in.
I got a call back around 4:30 yesterday. Lakewood Muffler just told me that if it comes to them with clamps then it has to leave with clamps. If it comes in welded then it can leave welded. They just can't legally weld it in if it came to them with clamps.
Thanks so much Scott, I'd love that. I don't mind driving up there at all. Getting to watch while it gets welded in is a bonus because I've been interested in welding for a long time. I will say that this cat is much shorter than what is on there right now. Any chance you have some 3" pipe laying around? If not I can try to purchase some beforehand.
EDIT: Dumb question, but what material would I use for the 3" pipe? The cat is made of stainless steel, I'm guessing I should get that?
Thanks so much Scott, I'd love that. I don't mind driving up there at all. Getting to watch while it gets welded in is a bonus because I've been interested in welding for a long time. I will say that this cat is much shorter than what is on there right now. Any chance you have some 3" pipe laying around? If not I can try to purchase some beforehand.
EDIT: Dumb question, but what material would I use for the 3" pipe? The cat is made of stainless steel, I'm guessing I should get that?
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I think I have some 3" in the shed. You can also get short lengths of 3" at the parts stores. It's not the best, but it will work for a while on a non-daily driver.
Typical exhaust pipe is aluminized steel that is supposed to reduce rust. You can weld it to stainless fine, you just don't have the stainless properties of the weld meaning it will rust. I do actually have some stainless steel welding wire, but I wouldn't worry about it. You're going to end up with regular exhaust pipe meeting stainless steel somewhere along the line.
Okay, I'll pick up some 3" exhaust pipe and then I'm ready to go. I'm excited for this.
Update numero uno:
Armed with the new cat and 45" of exhaust pipe, I'm headed to @mrk5's shop on Saturday to get the new stuff welded in. Thanks again Scott, I owe you some beers (or drink of your choice).
Update numero dos:
My blower motor stopped blowing. I did some research by taking a look at past threads.
Thanks for any input, I am godawful with electrical. Really should spend the time watching some "101" videos on YouTube.
Armed with the new cat and 45" of exhaust pipe, I'm headed to @mrk5's shop on Saturday to get the new stuff welded in. Thanks again Scott, I owe you some beers (or drink of your choice).
Update numero dos:
My blower motor stopped blowing. I did some research by taking a look at past threads.
- Check the fuse...
- It's still good, did not pop.
- Tap the blower motor with a hammer (lightly)...
- It did not come on. All I managed to do was put a hole in the casing. Oops.
- Send power directly to the motor by jumping it from the battery.
- DUMB QUESTION: How do I do this? In the picture below, I see the lavender-colored wire going from the blower motor to a connector that has "C4" written on it in white text. Do I unplug the lavender-colored wire from the blower motor and replace it with a "live wire" connected to the battery?
Thanks for any input, I am godawful with electrical. Really should spend the time watching some "101" videos on YouTube.
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yes remove purple wire (lavender ? Man Card in jeopardy) jumper spade at blower motor to battery. Connect to battery 1st and the spade 2nd. Might be a spark, when connection made.
Tapping the blower motor is the metal part near the purple wire. Not something I recommend to people, have I done it, um on rare occasion. That broken case might interfere with the squirrel cage. You should remove the fan motor assemble push the broken pieces up and epoxy it back together. then bench test the blower motor. It has good torque so secure, before you power it. If motor is bad inspect the cage for brittleness, crumbly plastic. If brittle by a new cage with motor.
Check the heavy red wire for battery voltage, at the High Blower Relay top right of your picture. My bet is that relay is bad if the motor works.
Tapping the blower motor is the metal part near the purple wire. Not something I recommend to people, have I done it, um on rare occasion. That broken case might interfere with the squirrel cage. You should remove the fan motor assemble push the broken pieces up and epoxy it back together. then bench test the blower motor. It has good torque so secure, before you power it. If motor is bad inspect the cage for brittleness, crumbly plastic. If brittle by a new cage with motor.
Check the heavy red wire for battery voltage, at the High Blower Relay top right of your picture. My bet is that relay is bad if the motor works.
Man, do I have an update...
I rolled north Saturday morning and met @mrk5 at his shop in Evans. I brought the new cat and some exhaust pipe from Summit. The plan was that we would get the new cat welded in so that Lakewood Muffler could "finish the job" and redo the rest of the exhaust.
We cut the old cat out and I managed to get a side-by-side photo. Damn what a difference, it was comical to see them side-by-side.
After cutting out the old cat, we dropped the y-pipe and welded the new cat into place. We welded some exhaust pipe to the end so that the cat and muffler were both going to remain in the right place beneath the heat shields.
I caught a video of Scott cutting some of the tubing. The tools in his shop were so incredibly useful. I kept thinking how difficult this job would have been for me to try solo. I would have been trying to cut exhaust pipe with a hacksaw. No way man!
View attachment PXL_20231202_193509872.mp4
When we were about to weld everything back together, Scott surprised me with a muffler that he had sitting out back of the shop! So next thing I know, we ended up just finishing up the entire exhaust. Now everything from the y-pipe back is new and I don't have to go to Lakewood Muffler at all. He saved me an insane amount of money.
All-in-all it took us about 7 hours. I am damn thankful.
The Blazer sounds amazing, and I feel good knowing that it is "breathing well". It definitely feels peppier. I couldn't stop myself from passing people on the highway when I was heading home because of the sound. It rips.
Here is a video of how the exhaust sounds now:
View attachment PXL_20231203_000013522.mp4
Endless thanks to Scott for spending 7 hours of his time on a Saturday just to help me out. It was hard work too - we had to chip away at it piece by piece to get the fitment right. This community is wild to me and I really appreciate you all.
I rolled north Saturday morning and met @mrk5 at his shop in Evans. I brought the new cat and some exhaust pipe from Summit. The plan was that we would get the new cat welded in so that Lakewood Muffler could "finish the job" and redo the rest of the exhaust.
We cut the old cat out and I managed to get a side-by-side photo. Damn what a difference, it was comical to see them side-by-side.
After cutting out the old cat, we dropped the y-pipe and welded the new cat into place. We welded some exhaust pipe to the end so that the cat and muffler were both going to remain in the right place beneath the heat shields.
I caught a video of Scott cutting some of the tubing. The tools in his shop were so incredibly useful. I kept thinking how difficult this job would have been for me to try solo. I would have been trying to cut exhaust pipe with a hacksaw. No way man!
View attachment PXL_20231202_193509872.mp4
When we were about to weld everything back together, Scott surprised me with a muffler that he had sitting out back of the shop! So next thing I know, we ended up just finishing up the entire exhaust. Now everything from the y-pipe back is new and I don't have to go to Lakewood Muffler at all. He saved me an insane amount of money.
All-in-all it took us about 7 hours. I am damn thankful.
The Blazer sounds amazing, and I feel good knowing that it is "breathing well". It definitely feels peppier. I couldn't stop myself from passing people on the highway when I was heading home because of the sound. It rips.
Here is a video of how the exhaust sounds now:
View attachment PXL_20231203_000013522.mp4
Endless thanks to Scott for spending 7 hours of his time on a Saturday just to help me out. It was hard work too - we had to chip away at it piece by piece to get the fitment right. This community is wild to me and I really appreciate you all.
