OME CAT re-core by FABSPEED

I read through the whole pdf John. Thank you. One can get a better understanding of what the ecu needs in order to quantify the parameters in order for it to throw a code. The veracity of what qualifies as a "trip" firstly.

The whole thing of sensors , ecus, connections and feedback to the ecu make the "proper" running of these cars and real crap shoot with the potential for expensive and maybe damaging results on the equipment (headers, cats, valves). Can you ever really know if you have it right?

 

But Evan, not all the OEM Ferrari cats have the heat shields to cover the re-coring welds. Neither can from my 95 has a heat shield and there are no indications that they ever did. Perhaps the shields were added later to help protect the CV boots???

 

I can not agree with that. If you remember where this thread started, with Peter needing to get to NV for emissions and having a CEL, there was a bunch of do this and do that recommended. The first thing I recommended was to drop the cats and see if they were hollow or breaking up because the codes were saying bad cats. Peter initially chose not to do so but ultimately did and found the cats were bad. +1 for OBD II. OBD II is noting more than a computer code and the ECU a computer. All those check and balances, trips, warm ups, conflicts, etc that you read about are just how the ECU is programed. No different that a smart phone app. It does its job and reports errors if it find them, including checking itself. Heck, I would have bought an OBD II car if I could have found one in the right color and condition for the right price if it had not been for that dam immobilizer system.

 

Good points! We should be able to put the cat into our rotary TIG welder to get a uniform bead on the new cat section that will look as close to OE as possible. I will need to speak to the fabricators about this when it comes up!

 

Troy at Hyperflow told me that I need to reuse that clamp on the back when I install mine. it is part #28 in this Ricambi pic

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=1458

I see it isn't on Peter's cats and I dont get what exactly that thing does. It isn't part of the clamp to the muffler and there isn't a split in it that the two tightening bolts would tighten it. When you loosen the two bolts on it it doesn't effect its fit on the outlet tube.

Can someone explain what that thing does?

 

I believe that is the coupler so that the V-band clamp has a ridge to clamp onto. I am not sure why Ferrari didn't put the flair on the cats themselves..

 

I have a question Evan.

Are you guys gonna remove the "deflector" plate that is sitting right at the entry of the cat? It is my opinion that it is a big hindrance to the flow. I understand that it it an attempt to spread the exhaust gas through out the matrix, but being right smack in front of the entry to the matrix chamber cannot be good for flow.

Have you guys test flowed the cats with/without that deflector plate? If so what was the difference in flow, how is the catalyst matrix effectiveness with/without it, and will you be removing it?

If you need another pair of factory cats, I have a factory set, for a 348, I can send over for testing.

 

Its just a flange so the two pipes match up. I took mine off before sending to Fabspeed (they slide off) and will put them back on for the install.

For those waiting for the results, I want to give the car a good run before doing the smog check. I'm driving out to Palm Desert over the 29-30th which is about a 300 mile round trip. Provided there are no issues, ill have the car checked during the first week of April sometime.

 

Your right Ecan. I didnt ask my question correctly. What do those bolts on that #28 ring do? The ring does not have a slit in it, it is a solid ring.

 

For any of the California guys who want to check out the cats, I'm going to the Desert Concorso and the Mothers event at the Grand Prix in April. '98 red spider.

 

You need to reuse the clamp (31) and the flange (28), and associated nut and bolts. The flange is sort of a press fit but can be tapped (hammered) off and then hammered on to the new cats. I don't know about the hyper flow cats, but I had to cut the exit pipe to length on my Nouvalari cats before putting the flanges on. The flanges fit very tight on the Nouvalari cats. The flange is partly split and the bolts allow you to tighten the flange onto the cat exit pipe so it doesn't slip.

The pipe coming out of the cats is just a straight pipe. The flanges provide the male component that fits into the V clamp. There is a similar end on the muffler. The V clamp fits over the two male parts and pulls them together.

 

Right. But I dont get what the two bolts do on it. The flange itself is a solid ring, so what do what appears like tightening bolts do if the ring is solid?

 

The flange is partly split and the bolts allow you to tighten the flange onto the cat exit pipe so it doesn't slip.

 

I don't see any split in it is what I am saying. Maybe I just don't see it

 

Here are shots of the pre and post sides of the recored cats.
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If your engine temps appear normal, then most likely your thermostat and coolant temp sensors are functioning correctly. If the car was warmed up and during the course of driving you see the temp float down to the first chevron on the gauge, I would be suspicious of a faulty t-stat.

 

ECU will throw a code from P0115 through P0118 if there is a problem with the coolant temp sensor on an OBD II car.

 

Nice and straight through.

 

Bob, having just put my cats back on today, it can see the reason for having the flange separate at the end of the cat rather than fabricated as part of it. With the flanges separate, it allows you to move them back an forth to get the proper fit. Push them slightly forward to put the cats in and past the muffler pipe. Slide them back once you have the cat in place and adjust to fit and clamp into place.

Cats are on. Taking a drive tomorrow.

 

Cats back on the car and drove for a few miles around town. Everything seems fine. The real test is the drive out to the desert this weekend.

I'm surprised that I don't really notice any difference in the sound. That may be due to the fact that my right cat had been basically a straight pipe before I had it re-cored.

 

No CEL I presume?
How about the power (butt dyno) & the snappiness on and off throttle(as some have suggested)?

 

Ill find out this weekend. Only driven about 5 miles since I put them on. 300 miles planned for this weekend.

 

Had a good 350 mile drive this weekend and no CEL's being thrown. So far this re-core of the original cats by Fabspeed looks like a winner. I have a tight schedule for the next two weeks but will try to get a smog test sometime right after that.

 

That's great Peter. I hope it all works out well for you.

 

Hey Trojanfan, howzit?
Just wondering if you got a smog check done yet now that your Fabspeed stuff has been on awhile.
My headers are on, but the engine just went back in today...waiting to do cats until I've gotten the good word from you.