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Author Topic: CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan  (Read 1133 times)

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Offline mklarose

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CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan
« on: June 18, 2019, 05:55:02 AM »
I have a 71 sedan that did not come factory with a CAT exhaust. The original owner replaced the muffler with a factory type and there are no exhaust leaks, but it is a lot louder than it should be. What I would like to do is add a factory style CAT from a later model but do not know where it would be mounted in the exhaust system with relation to the floor pan. There does not seem to be any depressions in the floor pan where it could be mounted and not hang low.
Does anyone know;
Are the floor pans different in 74 - 80 to allow for a CAT mounting?
Does anyone have pictures of a stock 4 cyl exhaust system complete with CAT to show how it was mounted/routed?
Recommendation s at to which CAT to buy for a good low profile mount?

Just looking to make the car quiet without experimenting on mufflers. I'm sure adding a CAT will meet my expectations for noise reduction.

Offline pinto_one

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Re: CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2019, 07:44:20 AM »
putting a cat on a 71 would be a waste of time and money , plus there is no roon for it , later pintos had the floor notched out to make room , only a few inchs , a after market cats are a tad larger than the stock cats for a pinto , you have a muffler problem , a cat on your car may cause problems , the carb for the 2.0 runs richer and may clog the cat over time , you may have a cheep stock looking muffler , not the best , I know that the fatory muffler on all the pintos I had over the years were very quiet , the 2.0 should be easy to find a good muffler for , your best bet is to find a old muffler shop that still run by the owner that knows muffers , you can,t beat experience . good luck
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Offline dga57

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Re: CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2019, 11:08:11 AM »
I very seldom ever chime in on anything mechanical but, in this case, I just want to say I agree that your sound problem is with the muffler.  Adding a catalytic converter to a car that is not designed for one is simply asking for trouble and probably wouldn't help your sound issue anyway.  A proper new muffler should do the trick!

Dwayne :)
Pinto Car Club of America - Serving the Ford Pinto enthusiast since 1999.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2019, 05:21:31 PM »
The purpose of a CAT is to reduce emissions, not sound. They are designed to "pass through" the exhaust over precious metals to complete the combustion process or convert harmful emissions. As stated a pre-CAT era car will likely only damage it as it needs exacting control over the fuel air ratio to keep it at a proper temperature to function properly.

On my Pinto wagon the muffler was near the rear, along side the gas tank. I assume on other Pinto's it is there as well.  I was able to fit a smallish Dynomax muffler under the rear seat and just forgo the muffler next to the tank. I say that to say a muffler shop might be able to put a resonator there AND then a quieter muffler in the stock location if quietness is the primary goal.

BTW, if you were to buy a CAT here in Calif., they start at about $400 for a state certified version (which is the only kind you can buy here)! A decent muffler is going to be well under $100.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: CAT Exhaust on 71 Sedan
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2019, 08:19:19 PM »
Cat converters do affect sound in a noticeable way, but I wouldn't use one for that purpose. An additional glasspack muffler would be cheaper and smaller and would likely attenuate sound better.

We also don't know what "louder than it should be" is. My car has 3" pipe with a straight-through perforated muffler dumping under the passenger door and it's hardly loud to my sensitive ears. It was obnoxious with a straight 2.25" pipe.
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