Alright, heres the deal. Im running a 75 wet shot on my 99 max with no fuel upgrades. Running a Ypipe and recently installed flowmaster dual exhaust setup. I was racing my buddies SRT-4 (18lbs, intake) from a 40-110mph roll. Well, when we took off in second, everything was fine. Once i hit third gear, i can remember when, but sometime during 3rd gear i hear something like rocks from under my car. Now, to get an understanding of what i mean, imagine you driving at a higher rate of speed and you run into some bigger size pebbles, you know that sound it makes when it hits your wheel wells?!? Well thats the noise.


Now, we had about 10 people following on the empty interstate (but not able to keep up ) on the highway and some stated that they saw what i felt, and they said it was coming outta my exhaust system. Said they say metal fly out, because it sparked when it hit the ground.


My main question is, what could this possibly be?! Im not exactly motor savvy, so i have no idea. But if ANY kind of metal shaving (if any) came out from my motor, wouldnt i notice right away? I mean the car drives beautifully, with NO problems. Just the fact that someone said it was metal caught my attention. Now, could it be my newly installed flowmasters?! Or my cat?? Is their anything i can do to my motor test wise to see if anythings wrong (compression test, drain oil-see if any metal is in it?!?)


Need some help guys...






Eric

 

Oh boy Eric, what in the world you doing there buddy? I'm not sure what that could be. Did you feel any minut difference or stumble will spraying? I would check the spark plugs for starters. Hopefully someone will weigh in with a good idea, but i wouldn't want to speculate. I have the code puller if you want to borrow it. Also, you might want to think about upgrading your pump for piece of mind, eh. Still got the TT pump.

 

No, stumbling that i can recall, just felt like i ran over a pebble or something, but people are saying otherwise. Ill start with the plugs, hopefully someone can chime in with some other help.

I'll hit you up on PM about the pump if needed...





Eric

 

When you check the spark plugs, look for little metal speakles around the electrode, also since your pulling the plugs anyway, it would be wise to do a compression check to make sure you didn't toast your rings. I highly doubt it's a problem with your engine. because if you were shooting metel piece out of the exhaust they would have had to be big enough to punch through the material inside of your cat, unless you have a high flow straight through design. But even so, your car wouldn't be running so beautifully. Next time try to lay off the happy gas in your higher tranny gears???

 

By the way who won the battle of highway demons???

 

Yeah, ill check on all that tomorrow. Thanks!


Nothing wrong with the happy gas in 3rd gear. Remember, im trapping right around 102mph, we only raced till 110mph, so its nothing more severe than running at the track


oh, and the SRT-4 pulled me sliiightly less than one car (nose at its rear wheel). Good race overall. SRT-4 had the stage 1 kit, intake and pushing 18lbs! Easily a mid 13sec car. Not to shabby for the ole max.




Eric

 

Were you racing a blue one owners name James i think?


Someone had an idea that might be feasible. When you had the exhaust work done on your car did you keep the CAT intact? If so, take a rubber hammer or something of the kind and tap on the CAT a few times after the car has run a few minutes to see if there may be loose pieces. If that's the case just use a screwdriver to punch the pieces out and bolt it back up.

 

No, not James, hes in Daytona now, but hes also pushing 18lbs, took a ride, its a beast. I raced a girl (yes a girl) who frequents tamparacing.com (SRT4gurl or something). Her names jessica i believe. Nice girl. Had to race from a roll because she cant launch .


But if i check my cat (which i think could be at fault if anything) and things are loose. If i start banging **** outta there, wont my o2 sensors detect more toxins coming out and throw an o2 code?!?




Eric

 

If there's metal bits flying out of your exhaust and the engine still runs then yeah it's most likely bits and pieces of the cat. The ECU will be looking at the differential between the upstream O2 and downstream O2 from the cat and eventually start to notice that the cat isn't operating as effiiciently as it used to. When it reaches the threshold, you'll get a CEL for catalyst efficiency or something like that.

 

Remember, from the CAT back you have nothing to fear. The rear o2 sensor is there for emissions if i remember correctly. Well, whatever the reason its there for it makes no difference in the performance of the engine.







P.S. is the chick hot?

 

Yeah, figured it coulda been my cat, but wasnt sure. Wanted to rule out ANY possibility of the engine. Also, does nitrous normally do this to a cat? Granted mine has around 100K miles


john She aint bad looking, ill tell you that much



Eric

 

pics?






of the cat of course

 

a busted cat is alot better than...

 

it has to be your cat, nothing can pass the cat except for air, since u have that much of a shot, y dont u just get a straight pipe, it should help alot also?? dont wait and risk having those pieces maybe build up in your muffler 2...

 

Yeah, before i go spraying again i will be getting a straight pipe installed. I'll just have to put a picture of my girl over that damn CEL i will be getting. I might also go ahead with an UDP perhaps and see if the outcome of the race differs. No much else i can do...




Eric

 

Yeah, just by racing your exhaust will be hotter. I actually ate some gaskets around the cat (aftermarket) while at the drag strip. Made a beautiful sound while driving but you could tell that most of the sound was coming right from underneath the front of the car.

 

Eric no need to buy a straight/race pipe. If need be i'll help you clear out the cat, but most shops will do it for a very minimal fee. Just as long as they are comfortable with the fact that you are not with EPA or OSHA. If you want help let me know.

 

I just want to keep my stock cat since its so expensive to replace and i also like to keep as many stock parts as possible. The shop that made my exhaust should be able to make me one for around 40bucks i think.




Eric

 

i have my straight pipe on for 2 years now, i do not have a CEL...