Hollow cat - both of them

jbarkeynow · 09-21-2009, 06:42 PM

what will happen if I gut out both of mycats. I know it will increase exhaust flow, will that lead to better MPG ? More HP ?

I read somewhere the engine likes the back pressure b/c it helps with low end torque. Perhaps MPG will actually go down?

I don't care about the emissions part, there's no emissions testing where I live. I dont care about a CEL either, because I can disable those using O2 simulators and such.

Anyone here running a modified exhaust on their 5spd Insight ?

Fl_Fyr_Fytr · 09-21-2009, 08:45 PM

After you're done there, why don't you send Osama Bin Laden some airplanes, polar bears a space heater, bald eagles Rogaine, Chevron captains beer, and give me your first poluted stillborn fetus of a child for research, k?

jbarkeynow · 09-21-2009, 09:06 PM

what about this dude who modded his exhaust. I know he probably deleted the upper cat, but may have kept the lower one.
Turbo & Exhaust Mod Two

crxgator · 09-21-2009, 10:04 PM

dont worry about him. even catless i bet the car puts out less emissions than most of the cars that are on the road to begin with...

crxgator · 09-21-2009, 10:16 PM

and wow, what a ripoff that turbo kit is...guy is making a ton of lot on basically a turbo, an easy to make manifold, $50 worth of piping and a cheap intercooler...

for $3200 you can get a crazy turbo kit from many repitable companies...

joecvt · 09-21-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crxgator

and wow, what a ripoff that turbo kit is...guy is making a ton of lot on basically a turbo, an easy to make manifold, $50 worth of piping and a cheap intercooler...

for $3200 you can get a crazy turbo kit from many repitable companies...

Back then and perhpas still now, you could not buy a turbo kit from any company designed to fit the Gen 1 Insight. Anyone that offers this mod has got to charge a bit higher profit margin due to low demand on a low production car. There is background work and engineering time that doesn't seem to be considered. You don't expect this guy to sell only 4-5 units and only make $1,000 bucks total do you? It wouldn't be worth it to even start the project.

Back to the topic.....Emissions will be affected and even more on the MT model due to lean burn compared to many other cars on the road that are less than lets say 10 years old.

This topic may be deleted soon by the moderators due to discussing an illegal modification to the emssions.

As an alternate mod that usually is ok to do, the Insight muffler is really restrictive so chaging just the muffler to a less restrictive one while staying within local, state and federal laws should provide you even better results than doing the suggested mod.

Please leave the cats intact.....

Good mileage and good emissions is a good thing - not a quote from Martha Stewart

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

crxgator · 09-21-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecvt

Back then and perhpas still now, you could not buy a turbo kit from any company designed to fit the Gen 1 Insight. Anyone that offers this mod has got to charge a bit higher profit margin due to low demand on a low production car. There is background work and engineering time that doesn't seem to be considered. You don't expect this guy to sell only 4-5 units and only make $1,000 bucks total do you? It wouldn't be worth it to even start the project.

im suprised people on the board would be willing to pay $1000 over cost for a simple turbo kit, that you can make from "junkyard" parts. especially when a lot of you do a lot of DIY mods for that extra mpg.

a bit of FYI, there isn't anything more special about turbo'ing this car compared to the next honda/acura/nissan etc.

they use the stock exhaust manifold but with an adapter at the end. normally turbo manifolds go for $700 in an expensive $3000+ kit. this kit uses a small garrett turbo for $500 new. you can use other turbos like k04's from an audi.

the piping isnt hard to make, it's nothing special. the intercooler is cheap and small. the filter is $50 from k&n. it uses a garbage fmu setup. using an fmu for fuel management is something from the prehistoric ages when dealing with turbos and tuning. the autometer guages really arent that great. Defi is a great gauge to get.

all in all it's a ripoff.

Garrett GT15 Turbo - $500
adapter - $50 worth of metal
I/C - $100 at the most
I/C piping - $100-150
air filter - $50
FMU if you have to - $50
couplers/lines/bolts - $250

Total - $1150 - can easily be cheaper depending on what parts you use and where you get them...

joecvt · 09-22-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crxgator

a bit of FYI, there isn't anything more special about turbo'ing this car compared to the next honda/acura/nissan etc.

.......

all in all it's a ripoff.

I understand that the concept of turbo'ing this car is no different than other non-hybrids. The hybrid IMA portion doesn't really make it any more difficult. If a DIY is handy with pipe bending and making the manifold and such, obviously, you would pay much less.

My only point is when you offer a kit for a low production car and only get about 4-5 people interested, the cost per kit is going to be higher.

The person offering the kit is taking a risk that he may not sell enough to make it worthwhile.

Typically, kits sold in high volume will generally cost less per unit.

Every unit you sell a kit, a portion of the sale should also pay for the background work to make the kit available.

Hence, perhaps an opinion of rip-off for those who may build their own turbo kit from some junkyard parts and ability to make their own.

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

3-Wheeler · 09-22-2009, 01:58 PM

Sorry to change topic slightly...

Does anyone work with catalytic converters?

I would like to get some specifications on them, like:

What is their designed operating temperature?
What are the min/max operating limits?
What happens to them if they are too hot? Degrade the platinum?

Just want to make sure my under-side body panel does not cause an undesired 'issue' with the catcon.

Thanks, Jim.

crx_rogus · 09-23-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

Sorry to change topic slightly...

Does anyone work with catalytic converters?

I would like to get some specifications on them, like:

What is their designed operating temperature?
What are the min/max operating limits?
What happens to them if they are too hot? Degrade the platinum?

Just want to make sure my under-side body panel does not cause an undesired 'issue' with the catcon.

Thanks, Jim.

The previous owner of my 2000 5spd noticed the 2nd convertor glow red once, and you're not supposed to park on high grass to avoid a fire. Styrofoam, however artfully done, and nearby convertors would not mix well. There's a reason they always have an integral heat shield. Careful (styrofoam burns, does it not?)! What's entering the convertor has at least as much control over its temperature AFAIK than whatever breezes might or might not be flowing over it at whatever speeds.

That's a beautiful bit of work you've done there. I really, really hope it's strong enough so you don't end up with 100+ stryofoam and wood blocks tumbling down the road in your rear view mirror a couple/few years from now. That could prove... curious. Especially depending on traffic behind you.

Roger