THSCC Forums

a buddy of mine took his car to a mechanic and asked how much the labor would be to install a used cat, and the guy said it was illegal...any truth to this?

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05 MCS

I'm not sure about having a place install a used cat, but selling used cats for anything other than scrap metal (platinum lovers), is illegal. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

My local shop won't install a new cat unless the old one is FUBARED. Some legal issue I was told.

I took the cat off and problem was solved.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

As an FYI, for those looking for cheaper alternatives to OEM cats there are "recertified" cats available for many cars. In many cases those will work great for a LONG time and are less than half what an OEM one would cost.

I don't know about the legality issue of buying and selling used, but I do know for sure that a shop can't install used ones legally. Recertified ones are good, and new ones are fine, and I'm pretty sure you can have a new one put in LEGALLY even if your old one is fine since there are legal "hi-flow" cats out there and such. Plenty of autocross competitors have done that in classes that allow it...


--Donnie

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf

All you ever wanted to know about the US Gubment and Catalytic converters.


Let me add this: If you ever have the need to have an old cat cut out or replaced for any reason- make sure that you either keep it or get some $$$$ compensation from the shop that did the work if you allow them to keep it. I know that Platinum and Rhodium are at record high prices on the precious metals markets, and even thought there's not much in the typical converter, it doesnt' take much at ~$2k per ounce to be worth some good money.



PM or email me if you have some old converters you want to get rid of, I have a couple of good places that pay good $$$$ for them.


Bret.