I will need to get a new exhaust for the 89 barnfind pickup and not sure if I need to run a catalytic converter or not? Midas wants another $200 for it and won't put a exhaust system on without it. I will probably just go with a stock style quiet exhaust but if if not having a cat will not hurt anything then I would probably not get one. Opinions from those that have them and those that got rid of them would be great.

 

Its federal law. You could just go pipe to a muffler. Youl get a constant check engine light since the rear 02 sensor is picking unclean exhaust. go with 2" inside diameter pipe.

 

California models have the rear O2 sensor on a 91 and newer truck. I am not sure on the 89 model. Is yours Cali Emiss or Fed Emiss? It will say on the white tag under the hood on the passenger side of the truck, if it is still there.

If it does not have the rear O2 Sensor on it, the truck will run fine. I have removed one of mine and was not going to buy a factory catalytic converter. The after market ones to me really arent worth the money and are cheap built. I scrapped a brand new Edelbrock ( I think was the brand) that came with a truck I bought and it wasnt worth much in scrap value. If it was a factory brand it would of been worth more.

It is required by some states if not all of them, but some dont really mess with it. I personally dont believe in the green house effect so dont have a problem in removing them. On a well tuned truck that is running right, that converter should last several years. That is where you just have to let your conscience be your guide.

 

I've actually been curious about this myself. Bought my 89 about 2 months ago. The PO removed the cat but there aren't any codes being thrown. I wasn't sure if he had to do something to make it work or if it was doing just fine without a cat.

And this just hit me. The reason why my CO detector goes off in the garage when I run my truck for more than 3 seconds.

 

89s only have an upstream 02

 

89s only have an upstream 02

 

I've had 22re's without cats, with gutted cats and with high flow cats. Never A/B tested any trucks just for the cat to see if there are differences with or without, but all these setups ran great. Best setup is what I have now but there's too much going on to say the spun cat helps anything.

I've also passed emissions in CO with a gutted cat so as long as your engine is tuned right you won't be killing the environment, with a 22re at least.