catalytic converter...location. pics..should i have 1?

[jasonroman]

hey guys, i know i keep asking these dumb questions, but guess dumb guy needs answers too.
so my question is should there be a cat on my 1985 gmc?
if yes, can someone post a pic of where it should be?
looks like my truck might be missing this...
i only see 2 pipes coming down from mani and then it goes into one pipe that runs to the back and out the side.

i think the pipe is heating up my bed and melting the paint...??
in the morning i start truck before leaving work....and when i get to the truck, theres always smoke.
i looked under that truck this morning to see where smoke was coming from...
one area was where the pipe bends up and then back down in the rear, by bed.....
for some reason i saw a little smoke on the passenger side??? no piping there, wondering why
aslo, the cab had a bit of smoke in it....

so the truck that i bought that i THOUGHT only needed a windshield, vent window and maybe tires....

now turns out needing

brakes all round. cost me 750 with oil change
.
winshield...cost 190 installed
.
vent window, found for 40 bucks, had body guy install, with cab corner repair.

tires, still needed. 5-600....<<<not spent yet since i keep finding other things that need repair

need carb... looking into ebrock carb and mani....450

exhaust... gonna try for a flowmaster set up. got 2 prices...450 and 300
300 sounded good... just hope its for what i want...
but the guy said if i dont have cat it would be 500 with cat....

id like to get some headers since i gotta do the exhaust....
would it be wiser to get headers now, or can it be added later..?

thanks again for any help here folks.

[jasonroman]

and as for headers....another question.
can i use headers for any chevy 350 engine or do i need to find headers specific to my truck???

clist find....was wondering if they would work
New...BBC Hooker Super Comp fenderwell headers for 62-67 Chevy II, the headers have never had exhaust ran through them but have been bolted on.....They are 2" tubes with 3 1/2" collector outlets....

[treetop_73]

I had the same question about the CAT with mine. I have the 2500 and the GVW was 8500 and it didn't come with a CAT and didn't need one. I have dual exhaust though. Don't know if it was stock or not as when I went to smog, the form says its single exhaust.

You can search for my name and find the link to the post.

[Slonaker]

If your truck is a half ton, you are supposed to have a converter. Do you need to have one added? Maybe. If it is required by smog laws in your state, you probably need one. Otherwise, not having it won't be a problem.

Slonaker

[jasonroman]

well, im gonna guess that yes my 1500 is half ton.
and im not sure about what i need in n.j.
i know that i need to go through the state for inspection.....unless i can get a sticker....
but right now the truck sounds like garbage.
not sure if its because theres no cat, or cuz theres no muffler,
or because when i give it gas i puts along till it gets there.

to be honest, i dont know what to buy/fix first.

tires dont look good

truck dont sound good and smokes if let high idle in the morning for too long

and theres this putting/hesitation/miss...thats really got me going crazy


my old truck had carb. intake, headers, dual exhaust out the rear. was slammed. 4 new tires.

and now....
i just dont have 3k to fix it all at once.

guess ill need a cat....

[motornut]

could the valve covers be leaking?

[jasonroman]

at this point, im not sure. they might as well be. since everything else has been going down hill...

well thanks for the pic and the red circles..

my truck has neither of those.

no cat, and def no muffler.

maybe thats why is sounds like a hunk of ish.

maybe i should have the exhaust done... have someone put the parts that should be in there, in.
and then fix carburator.

i wish i new exactly what i had on the old truck.

like i said, id just hate to pay a shop to do the exhaust and then have to pay for more exhaust work later.
and i definutely dont want a stockish quiet truck.

[RandyP]

Does your state actually do an emissions test, or just a visual inspection? If no real emission test, you can always get a junk cat, ream it out, and pass a pipe straight through it (do not let them just weld pipe to each end) so it looks like the required cat is in place. Then just toss on a good sounding muffler and be done.

[jake wells]

as per the New Jersey inspection & emissions

he inspection process
Make sure you have all necessary documentation (driver license, registration, proof of insurance) with you – you won't pass the inspection without them. Photocopy, fax, e-mail or online registration receipts are unacceptable.

* Vehicles may be inspected up to two months in advance of the due date
* Check your windshield sticker for inspection due date. Registrations and inspections do not necessarily match
* The inspector will determine your car's engine type and prep it for testing
* To pass a safety inspection, vehicles are expected to be maintained according to the original manufacturer’s specifications, including but not limited to: brakes, suspension, steering, wheel alignment, headlights, taillights, tires, horn, windshield wipers, window and hood operation, glazing, turn signals, mirrors, etc.
* The inspector will perform the appropriate emissions test based on the year, make and model of the vehicle
* The final stage of the test will assure that your gas cap is stable and limits the escape of fumes into the environment
* Upon completion, the inspector will place a new two-year sticker in your windshield


Advisory: New one-year inspection requirement
Beginning January 1, 2010, certain classes of New Jersey registered motor vehicles will be subject to inspection at an official inspection facility or a licensed private inspection facility on an annual (rather than biennial) basis: taxis, limousines, jitneys, buses (passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial), commercial gas or bi-fueled vehicles regardless of weight and commercial diesel vehicles less than 10,000 pounds.

Download the Motor Vehicle Advisory [pdf], dated December 10, 2009, for complete details.


4 year inspection extended to used vehicles
Beginning January 1, 2010, used vehicles purchased in or out of New Jersey will no longer require an inspection until they are at least four years old:

* Vehicles purchased without a New Jersey inspection sticker will receive a decal valid until the last day of the month of registration, four years from the vehicle model year
* Vehicle owners will receive Form SS-19 at the time of registration
* Visit a state-operated inspection station with a valid registration card, NJ insurance ID card, driver license and Form SS-19
* Go directly to the re-inspection area for the decal
* Vehicles presented with obvious defects - such as worn tires, cracked windshields and broken lights - will be required to submit to full inspection to ensure safety
* Used vehicles with a valid sticker are not required to be inspected until the month and year of the noted expiration date

[jasonroman]

thus = failed!!

not sure if i can buy a sticker with the truck the way it is.
so i guess im going to have to rush into an exhaust job.
hope at the end of the day i end up with a decent sounding exhaust.

still not sure why some kits have 2 mufflers and others one.
will that effect the sound?
i dont have a monster motor, just a basic 350
plan to get the carb, mani, headers...just not all right now.
need to figure this exhaust thing out.
would like to go with a kit i saw for 400.
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/me...ode=73-87UHood

but here id have to wait.
and still need to buy headers.

if i get a cat, some pipe, flowmaster muffler from shop....will it compare to that set up?

[RandyP]

Man, I am so glad Oklahoma did away with the safety inspection BS. It is a double edged sword though, I see cars all the time going down the highway dusting for 'skeeters.

[motornut]

Just to mention if the crossover is still in you can get mufflers with 1 in and two out.
If the truck had a cat then the heat shield may still be there,or the tabs to hold it to the floor.Be sure to put one there before installing a cat
Gee up here the first test is the gas cap after the visual,fail the cap test yer done,best to bring one,can be expensive when if/u "need "one.
And we don't have "window stickers"
No DOT test to pass
You don't get a new plate sticker without passing the etest
And the "guys" inspecting are looking for the pipes threw the cat trick.....
When on the test machine, i was told it would read if there was no catalist present.....??
could be different test here too
But here 1985(mine) is exempt now from the testing, i think 86 was the last year exempted

[jasonroman]

well i looked again a little while ago when i got home from work
theres nothing down there. looks like 2 pipes coming down, join and turn into 1 that runs out ther rear. well theres a cherry bomb looking thing in the bed area of truck. ill post a couple pics tomorrow.

[CaliDude76]

Here's my 84 C-10.. In Cali, we need a CAT... depending on ur State, and emmisions rules.... but here's where it should go.. if u needed it. Hope this helps

[CaliDude76]

Wow.. in N.J.. I can't believe that inspection test.. sheesh.. my horn doesn't work..... wonder if that means I'd fail?? LOL all we have to do here is pass the smog check.. pay yearly reg. fee's for plate tags, and adios.... If whole vehicle inspections were the case.. a lot of Californian's would be in BAAAAAD shape... LOL

[jasonroman]

Originally Posted by CaliDude76

Here's my 84 C-10.. In Cali, we need a CAT... depending on ur State, and emmisions rules.... but here's where it should go.. if u needed it. Hope this helps

Thanks for pics. Like I said I have nothing but pipe.

Any complete exhaust pics around?

[jasonroman]

might be getting work done tomorrow.

last question before i get it to shop, is, should i get 2 mufflers?
will one do the job?
is there more power or performance with a 2 muffler set up?

should i spend the extra on a tru dual system???
would tru duals mean id need 2 cats??

thanks again for the help
hopefully after exhaust is done i can find out if my prob is def carb or something else.
??

[jasonroman]

well i posted my horrible experience in engine forum....
wondering if you folks might have any input....


took truck to shop to have exhaust done.
after it was done truck would not start.
so after messing around a bit, guy says its the ignition module.....
which i replaced less than 1 week ago.
prior to going to shop, the truck was starting fine.
i had an issue with the truck bogging, but i think its the carb.
im no mechanic so i dont know....this guys telling me the distributor was real loose and probly when i give it gas the distributor moves, and that causes bogging....i dont think so...
so anyway, guy tells me i need ingition module...i say get it and get truck running. then he tells me theres the one i picked up for under 30 bucks and another one thats 80 bucks

so i say get a distributor. how much...he said 130 or so for an accel distributor.
i said fine, get it.....130 for new parts beats 80 for one part in old dizz
so they get it to shop, and attempt to install., then i hear, this dont work

something about there being a 3 prong piece that powers dizz and that the accel one had a 2 prong thing.

now i dont know much, but the 2 prong thing that was in the accel, was plugged in already.
guy was saying something about having to splice, and sodder, and use parts of wires from old diz....

does this make any sense?????

i thought the average joe with a little mechanic knowledge could go to autozone and buy a performance or upgraded distributor and install..
plug and play kinda thing.

why would you need to splice wires or sodder or use old parts on fresh new distributor.

i saw the thing he was talking about that had 3 prongs, was a big clip that had a couple wires on one side....if im right, it clipped into the module end.

any help or advice here.
need this truck fixed and dont want some garbage done to get truck running to only have more problems later.

thanks for any help here folks.

seems like every couple days im looking for new help or advice. sorry guys

[jasonroman]

oh yea. so i call the guy today around 12 to see whats going on...
and im told nothing.
cant get it started
that he supposably put in an old distributor that he had laying around...( i dought it and if so, why not try that yesterday...)
needless to say, that didnt work either...
now he thinks it might be the ingition????

lots of thinking and no fixing!!!

thing that drive me nuts is that im left with no truck. still need to fix carb to get the bogging fixed.
but the truck that was starting up fine, especially after I CHANGED the ignition module. now wont start
makes no sense to me. i could see if truck was giving me problems starting...which a couple times it did...
but a member here told me check and change ignition mod and see if it helps.
it did.

i bring a running truck that started fine to shop to get exhaust done....
which im not too happy about the quality of work done on exhaust, but thats another story...