Cat/Exhaust questions

My understanding from past threads, is that these are mostly Ferrari only parts. Not to worry, I installed bypass pipes on my 78 308 GTS, and while the parts where rusty, they came apart fine (after a light soaking of liquid wrench). And were reused with no problem. Same when I installed a Tubi on my 328 GTS, did not remove the cat, but did have to remove the hardware at the distal end of the cat to install the Tubi...and like previously, the hardare was very rusty, but came apart and went back together no problem. I think you can get the parts from Ferrari UK, but our sponsor Norwood, offers replacement hardware on an "exchange" basis.
http://www.norwoodperformance.com/exhaust.htm click on the picture on the bottom right of the page, to get a close up view of the hardware...this looks very similar to what I remember on my 308 and 328. You might call them for specifics. From reading their description, it sounds like the hardware is standard metric fare, it is the spring and washer that may be Ferrari specific.

 

Make that spring and "spacer" that are Ferrari specific.

 

I just replaced all the exhaust fasteners on my car. I reused the springs which were fine, but I bought "off-the-shelf" metric fasteners from a local exhaust fabricator specialist. You must use high tensile bolts. I looked into stainless steel, but these are no good because the thread root weakens and strips as the system expands and gets hot.

The washers/spacers were matched by the hardware supplier for diameter and thickness. I used stainless steel, the originals are mild steel.

Inside the springs are tubular collars which prevent the springs from rattling and keep the springs "square" onto the bolt shaft. I got some stainless steel tube with the correct OD/ID and cut this to the correct length (slightly shorter than the free spring length).

I am away from home now until Friday, when I get home I'll post some pics & dimensions of the inner-tubes if you are interested.

You mention gaskets in your question, do you mean the sealing rings in the exhaust itself ? If you do, then I'd personally only source those from Ferrari.

 

I note so many people posting on this public forum about how they are removing the cats on their Ferrari. Not very smart IMHO. Removing OEM emission equipment from a car in the USA is a felony and subjects you to a possible $50k fine and/or imprisonment. That applies even if your car is no longer subject to emissions testing or even if your state doesn't have emissions testing. And giving advice about how to do it is not to swift either. I hope you wouldn't post about how you are running a meth lab or give advise about how to set up one would you? If you want to do it...do it. But, I sure wouldn't advertise on the internet that I am committing a felony . Do you not know that the EPA and other federal agengies have computers with internet access? A jealous EPA employee could cause havoc in your life with the touch of a keyboard . Do a google search of "test pipes and ferrari" and see what comes up, "ferrraichat" is there. If I were Rob, I would establish a rule that posts about criminal activity and how to commit same not be allowed on FC.

 

Frank is absolutely right. I wouldn't even PM people about those types of activities. A better bet though would be not to remove the cat, but replace it with a high performance CAT which is legal, and would provide the same performance increase.

Art

 

I'm glad I live (somewhere) in Europe...

 

I damaged (means BROKE) some of the bolts on my 308 while disassembling the exhaust; sure those things were pretty funky, but a 10mm stainless bolt will go in place of the funny 8mm thread with 10mm shank bolts in all but two or so spots (they're a little tight getting in there, must be why the factory made those special bolts). Die springs can be ordered from McMaster Carr (mcmaster.com) to provide constant tension on the fastener. As for the exhaust donuts, on my 78 I was able to find a replacement at Pep Boys; look for a thread on Don's 308 notes or something like that where I posted the part number.
All that being said, I'm Not sure if your QV uses the same stuff as my '78, though!

 

Franklin,
There are many legitimate reason for removing catalytic converters, for track/racing, for engine exhaust analysis, etc. Why are you immediately jumping to the conclusion that some sort of nefarious or illegal activity is taking place? The question is related to the "exhaust hardware"...the removal of the cats to install a "bypass or test pipe" is his business, and you have no idea what legal purposes he may have for this.

I see many "questionable" activities being discussed on this list, to include: Excessive and under age drinking, speeding, lewd conduct, racing (on the street), and other "exhibitions of speed"...are you going to be the "F-chat police officer?"

 

Oh, and the exhaust donuts for the 328 are supposedly an odd ball size. There have been a couple previous posts from folks trying to match them up at a Midas shop and a NAPA store...no luck.

 

I think the referenced warning was just a friendly suggestion, a word of advice concerning discussing potentiailly illegal activity, in a public forum, FREE OF CHARGE from a lawyer! Or will we all be getting bills in the mail next week, just in time for Christmas?
Look at it this way, if you're doing it for a track-only car, then it won't be a problem and you can post away. But if you're going to operate the vehicle on public highways, then it'll only matter AFTER they decide to come for you. Then it's too late to say "there are valid excuses for doing this!", because they've already found you on the road with a removed emission control system...