TeamSwift

91 Turbo Firefly, stock. Can the catalyst just down stream from the turbo be removed without affecting engine performance? I am not referring to the catalytic converter midway along the exhaust system. The catalyst appears to be completely blocked. This is a Canadian car. Thank you.

That is called the pre-cat. I'm quite sure that there is a performance gain to be had from gutting it or removing it. I've never specifically done this, but certain it was in a list of upgrades people were doing to these in a really old thread somewhere. If nothing else, there won't be a decrease in performance, although may be an increase in pollution, but there's a good chance that little cat isn't doing much at the age it's at now!

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1995 Swift w/16V 4.39s, 3tech cam, Esteem t-body, Header, needs more.
1995 Gt Mustang "Boss Shinoda" package.
1999 F150 4x4 Supercharged
1967 Mustang 428 auto, never ending expensive project
1993 Civic si h22a, fell in my lap, couldn't resist!

You will see an instant increase in performance and boost my also increase slightly at the same time.

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Contact 3tech: [email protected]

I have removed every one on any car that has had one. on the t3 cars it drops underhood temps, as well as the turbo spools quicker. it could be removed on the car, but I have had better luck splitting the manifold from the turbo,(2 bolts) then the rest of the manifold from the car (2 bolts at the lower flange/exhaust donut, one or two from the brace) then put the convertor chunk in a vise and remove the four bolts, pop it apart and smash it out with a hammer/screwdriver. you may need heat to break the four bolts loose. does not turn on'' check engine'' light on when removed.

I did a kia sportage a few weeks ago,my boss noticed more power and better fuel mileage, but it set the ''check engine'' light.
I told him to ignore it.
that one I removed from under the car, I didn't want to remove the entire manifold.it was a straight shot once the exhaust pipe was removed, (the turbo has a curve in the pipe) but messy, having chunks of convertor and dust falling everywhere. no fun.

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89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

Thanks for your responses. Pre-cat is gone. Was easy with the parts on the workbench and lots of heat on the 4 bolt flange.