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Need your opinion on removing catalytic converters on 1985 4.3l el camino

10K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  steelybill  
#1 ·
Hello there! Recently i got my el camino registered as a historic vehicle so i can take the converter out. I want to ask if i would see significant improvements. The car is basically stock and I believe that 85 was the first year chevy made the LB4 throttle body injected engine so its hp was in the low 130s.

I have alse researched that there may be a sensor monitoring emissions and thus would require me to do reprogramming.

Has anyone done this on one of their el caminos? 4.3L TBI that is.

Thanks
 
#5 ·
Unless you're dynoing on the regular, no one is really gonna be able to affirm that one way or the other, realistically speaking, if your exhaust is being obstructed by the catalytic converter, then removing that obstruction will help noticeably, if not, then while there may be an improvement, it may not be noticeable outside of the dyno. :florida:
 
#6 ·
Careful!
If I recall correctly, my 85 4.3L catalytic converter had a port where the O2 sensor was placed. If you continue to use the TBI with the ECM you may run into some problems by removing the converter.
I'm not sure if ALL 85s were the same, I'm just sayin be aware before you leap.
One option would be leave the converter but knock out all the honeycomb inside if you think it may be restricting your exhaust.
 
#7 ·
As far as o2 sensors are concerned, you can always put 'em in somewhere else. Not sure how it may affect your emissions controls with the computer.
 
#9 ·
If you remove it yourself (I don't think most exhaust shops will remove it unless they replace it,due to legal issues ) you can take it to a metals recycler and sell it to them for a few bucks.Beer money.The PO rodded mine out (5.7L V8),it's just an empty shell.Doesn't seem to make any difference to the running of it.
 
#12 ·
Isn't the O2 sensor located near the engine (near the exhaust manifold)? If so, removing the Catalytic Converter will have NO effect on the computer or its operation of the engine.
Option 1. Put on any new exhaust system you want, with or without a Catalytic Converter;
Option 2. Replace your Catalytic Converter with a high-flow cat (Random Technology).

My opinion? It's a V6, but it's still got to breathe. Scrap the factory exhaust and put duals on it without cats. Have the muffler shop weld a bung on for the sensor. You will be able to add to your engine (turbos, etc.) in the future, if you want. (Buick Grand National was the fastest American production car and it had a turbocharged V6. They still run in the 12's all day.:hail:) That would probably be the easiest and cheapest choice.


Mike
:tree:
Merry Christmas
 
#13 ·
Not on an El Camino, but I removed the bad converter on my old Caddy FWD Fleetwood. A bit more exhaust note, but hardly noticeable . Only thing is, the engine may run lean on some cars. My Caddy does sometimes, and the engine light comes on. When it does, I tap the gas pedal, and the light goes out ! It must be right on the edge of lean.....

The engine does seem to have a bit more power though...