Catalytic Converter Legalaties (ADR?)

[wilbo666]

Having a bit of a look into sorting out the cat for the new exhaust (3.5")

I had a search and couldn't find anything in regards to ADRs and Catalytic converter requirements...

Am I right in assuming that as long as the car still meets the required emissions outputs then the 'cat' is OK? It doesn't have to adhere to any other standards? Or am I incorrect!

i.e.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa.../emission.aspx

Any help/input appreciated

Also found this, but have not had time to read in a fashion that is detailed enough to glean an useful information.
ADR 79 00 Appendix A F2005L04079.pdf

Cheers
Wilbo

[Officer Doofy]

i dont understand the question you are asking. Is your car going to have to go through an emission test?

[MR22ZZ]

it may be under EPA regulations rather than ADR

[wilbo666]

I'm trying to establish what the requirements for a cat are?

Can you simply put on 'any' cat on a car that requires one?

If you can't just put on 'any' cat, then I'm trying to find out what determines which cats are suitable!

This will help me make sure that I buy a cat that is suitable (as opposed to a non-suitable one). If there is a difference I'd like to make sure I get a decent one the first time around

Does that help / make sense?

Cheers
Wilbo

[MR22ZZ]

here's a doco I found quickly from Vic EPA

http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/publications.nsf/2f1c2625731746aa4a256ce90001cbb5/c90ec843f3bbbe8fca256d9f00181c59/$FILE/1031.pdf

[MR22ZZ]

Also found this... http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmen...g_for_our_air/

Motor Vehicle Standards: National initiatives to reduce the harmful environmental effects of motor vehicles are coordinated by the Motor Vehicle Environment Committee (MVEC), which oversees research on motor vehicle emissions and prepares strategies that can be adopted by the government.

Emission standards for new vehicles are set by Australian Design Rules (ADR) under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act. The standards require that motor vehicles manufactured after 1986 must operate on unleaded fuel and have anti-pollution devices (catalytic converters) fitted. These initiatives have contributed to a reduction in lead levels and other pollutants in our air.

In July 1996, new rules were introduced to diesel vehicles sold in Australia to significantly reduce the quantity of emissions. Further emission reductions for petrol vehicles are required for all models manufactured since January 1997. New ADRs introduced in 1999 set out a program of emission requirements up to 2007, and complement the introduction of cleaner fuels.

[MR22ZZ]

As far as I can tell, you need to have 'a' cat converter.

All you need to worry about is how well it flows and how it works with the rest of the exhaust system. I can't find any size specifics anywhere, but I can imagine that a small cat on a 3.5 inch exhaust would provide quite a restriction.

[Officer Doofy]

From what i know your engine needs to pass emission outputs for the age of the car that it is in. If you have to get it passed then it might take some thought, if not who cares get whatever as long as it has a cat.

[Officer Doofy]

Catco make some nice flowing units in 3.5 inch
http://www.catco.com.au/mainFrameset.htm

[wilbo666]

Many people make 3.5" cats

Metalcat, xforce, catco, sureflo, etc

I also have the option of making a 3.5" cat from a 3" cat.

I'm trying to determine my best option currently

Cheers
Wilbo

[Officer Doofy]

true many make them, look at amount of cells and size of core on the high flow jobbies but. Making a 3.5 inch out of a 3 inch is pointless if the core is 3inch. Core bigger than the in and out is best for teh turbozz. Catco have 5in core with 3 3.5 or 4in ins outs.

[PlacentaJuan]

yes any cat as long as it passed emissions.

if you are talking about second hand cats then mi pretty sure their effectiveness will be reduced with age, so it might be a waste of time/monies.

the emissions tests are a measure of the cats performance so as long as it is performing to satifactions you will be fine.

...however i did read somewhere (maybe in sa regs) that you must have the same cat that was manufactured with the car/engine or something but i doubt that rule will be enforced since you cant buy factory cats that are out of productions and/or donig a conversion the factory cat may not fit, PLUS doing a conversion do you use the cat from the engine or the cat from the car?

but thats SA laws so dont listen to them coz sa is retarded

[wilbo666]

I'm more than happy to run a cat, and have done so on all my other conversions

And I'm looking at buying a new one, not a second hand one.

However this is my first conversion where my target power level might actually cause the cat to be a restriction in my thoughts...

Sure I'll measure the pressure drop across it at a later date... but initially I'd like to do some research now to see if Aus required / had a marking similar to CARB/EPA/Euro that I needed to be aware of (The other cat's I've bought have been generic brands where this hasn't concerned me, i.e. HM Headers, magnaflow. Also the car being pre 1986 also helped with relaxed emissions...)...

Trying to get core sizes, flows, dims etc isn't that easy... there seems to be a lot of 'hype', 'spin' and misinformation regarding 'metal core' catalytic converters in my opinion!

And then one looks up the problems reported with aftermarket cats and it makes choosing one even harder...!

Cheers
Wilbo

[The Real Roadrunner]

true many make them, look at amount of cells and size of core on the high flow jobbies but. Making a 3.5 inch out of a 3 inch is pointless if the core is 3inch. Core bigger than the in and out is best for teh turbozz. Catco have 5in core with 3 3.5 or 4in ins outs.

I lold when you said catco make a 3, 3.5 and 4" cat, its the same cat with different reducers. So how is it pointless if Wilbo gets a cat (that flows well) with 3" ends and changes them over to 3.5" ?

what wilbo is trying to find out is "who makes the best high flow core on the market?"
so it needs to do several things:
A, flow well (CFM rating)
B, have a reasonable depth to work efficiently (no point getting a cat if it doesn't do the job its suposed to)
C how long will it last? (surely you don't want to pay for something that will be fubared in 6 months

Cheers
Linden

[wilbo666]

what wilbo is trying to find out is "who makes the best high flow core on the market?"
so it needs to do several things:
A, flow well (CFM rating)
B, have a reasonable depth to work efficiently (no point getting a cat if it doesn't do the job its suposed to)
C how long will it last? (surely you don't want to pay for something that will be fubared in 6 months

Cheers
Linden

Nail + head = bam

Cheers
Wilbo