Jose, the stuff I handle on a daily basis in my work would probably make you crazy if you knew, and make all my babies born naked.

It's only ceramic impregnated with platinum, iridium, unobtainium and a few organic and inorganic compounds.

If it makes you feel better I wash my hands frequently and never lick my fingers unless I have a sticky bun.

Besides. How would you know it was me if I photographed that with gloves??
(';')

 

Elinor:


Just nit picking. The precious metal clad ceramics departed the cat to live elsewhere could not be doing much to cleanse the exhaust.


So, NIX runs so clean, she passes SMOG sans operative cats???
Or in the awful original one cat.


Never did get the logic or lack thereof that one cat is better than two for the purpose of clean air?


Carl

 

That's Right! As I mentioned previously, the old cat was HOLLOW! Jay said he suspected as much given the emission readings. It had lost All its guts! That might very well have been part of the rattle in the old mufflers.

YES!! Isn't that just Too Cool!

It's all about ARB's nit picking, Carl,
BAR says 1986 Chevy 350 came with Y-pipe and ONE cat. Therefore, Nix's engine is allowed to have ONLY ONE cat.

Since the car has been recorded with that engine number, with ONE cat, unless I change the engine and run it past the Ref (which I DO NOT want to do) it will forever have a single cat.

That's OK though, because she runs Just Fine this way!!
(';')

 

This evening I had occasion to test Nix's performance and response with her New exhaust system. I have a one word description:

AWESOME!!

The nice police man thought so too. But as the speed limit wasn't posted on that stretch of road he let me off with a warning; while closely inspecting Nix all around and inside.

Nix doesn't fit the profile of a drug runner, but I did take a side road rather abruptly to avoid the construction (he followed that BLACK Jag instantly!) so I guess I should have expected we might get someone's attention.

No, I didn't try to outrun him but it was DARK so I didn't know who/what was following me, I just stayed well ahead until he lit me up.

I immediately turned on the interior lights so he could easily see I'm just a lead-footed Red Head and nothing to fear (too many cops getting killed lately just doing their job).

Then after noting my license and registration were in order (didn't even ask for insurance!) he told me there was a speed limit on that stretch which I sort of fractured a bit, and how to get to the main road (yes, I was avoiding that because of the construction!).

Nix did Such a good job, I patted her dashboard affectionately.
(';')

 

Oh dear, there's flying low and then there's flying a little too low!

Lucky outcome though, methinks a guy wouldn't get off so lightly

 

years ago I asked a jag tech what would happen if I removed the cats. He said "nothing".

so I asked again: "will it pass emission inspections?". He said "yes".

so I asked again: "so why bother with cats at all?". He said "ask the EPA".

so I ordered the "Euro" Y pipe, the one without the cat;

the original front cat had started to separate at the bottom cap where it meets the Y pipe.

so I removed it and finished opening it up to remove the "honeycomb" junk inside. Toxic stuff I was told.

After completely cleaning the inside, I took it back to jag tech who re-welded the bottom cap and pipe, pressure tested it, and polished it real nice.

reinstalled it, with new Y pipe, new mufflers and new original rear resonators. Yes I reused the old O2 sensor.

took it to inspection after driving it for about 1 hour, and it passed! YEEHAW!

Best car I ever owned.

 

I've heard of guys doing that, Jose, to give the car better flow, and I can see how that would be.

However, as I had to have the other exhaust work done anyway (this job has been on the To Do list since I got the car!) and Jay is the SMOG tech, and his neck is on the line, I sort of had to let him put in a real one.

However, as you can tell by the pictures the one he installed has about twice the diameter(~4X the area) of the old one, and as Jay hasn't steered me wrong yet, and Nix is Very happy with this one, I'm quite satisfied.
(';')

 

Elinor:


1. We who are not good looking red head females would not do as well with a male cop. It is just the way it is.


2. Good protocol. Way back when, a kid I knew became a cop. Later, we worked together. He told me of his "issues" as a traffic cop. Putting both hands on the wheel, up at 11 and 1 or so, in plain view relieves a lot of tension. Benefits, cop and motorist.


3. Yup, Jay has to stay on point, or risk his livelihood. Respected, absolutely.


4. Circa 2006, I was trying to get a referee OK. he wanted me to go Camaro style pipes. Two into a cat and then into two. Cat back systems known then. But, he was a reasonable guy. He admired my install. My factory manual for the donor car was convincing. A true dual system.


5. But, two into one cat and the into two would've saved me a couple of hundred. I now see the point.


6. Before the Jaguar, I had a very nice 85 Ford 4x4 F150. glossy black with interesting graphics. But, as a 302 powered unit, it came with a single pipe.


My son gave me a Walker cat back dual system. I was much more supple then than now. A Recip saw and the old out. Clamped in the new. Oh, oh, messed up a bit. A wrong cut. Small matter. Oxy acetylene torch fixed that and more.


Carl

 

here's another cop story;

I'm driving home from Philadelphia, a 22-hour trip, non-stop, unless you count pit stops.

Crossing Virginia I'm driving in the left (fast) Lane on Cruise at 65 mph. Yes I had been warned many times about Virginia.

I see this car approaching behind until he gets close and flashes his high beams. "another Jaguar freak" I thought. And I waved as if saying "hey, how ya doing!!". He flashes again.

Then he turns ON the Christmas lights! "F*#^%& Sh#* it's a trooper damm it!"

so I coast to the emergency lane gently with the cop on my tail following every move, I brake the car slowly and I park it on the grass to leave enough space for the cop to preach his Sunday Sermon, and like Elinor does, I turned on all the lights inside to relax the guy.

"Sir, good morning, why didn't you move to the right lane when I flashed you?"

"I have it on cruise at 65 mph, the speed limit, I didn't think I had to".

"No you were not, you were doing 62 mph",

"62 ? must be the lower tires, 235 / 60 / 15, sorry, I thought I was doing 65, so now I know I have a 3 mile per hour error in my favor"

"where are you headed sir?

"Nashville, am I in Tennessee already?"

"no sir, you are in Virginia".

"sure looks like Tennessee"

"yes, I'm from Tennessee myself, please stay on the right lane, left lane is for passing only".

"yes sir, I will".

"drive carefully, that's a nice car".

"thank you officer!"

 

OPPOSITE.


I was on business, looking for a construction site in either Daly City or S. San Francisco. No GPS then. I was using a paper map. I thought I had it. Needed to make a left off a main street. Stopped at a light. Oh, oh, am I in a left turn lane or gotta go straight. Motor cycle cop across the street facing me!!! Gotta get it "correct'. The SOB was just itching for me to go left. I went straight. He wheeled around and lit me up. I got a ticket!!!! Why??? I reviewed the CVC section cited that I violated??? I "failed to go on green". Not so, I did hesitate.


I should have gone to court. But, just too inconvenient and I was busy. Business was good. Cost me a few bucks and a session in driver training !!!!


Durn, sure would have loved to cross examine the cop in court...


The bike cops are known to be "testy".


Carl.

 

But, OTH, I surely have gotten away with more than my share!!!

 

Catalytic converter dangers....

My (clearly non-expert) understanding is the danger comes from breathing the *dust* from the materials, not skin contact.

Yes? No?

Cheers
DD

 

I've Never heard any such warnings, Doug, and here I am, still fit and healthy, so I'm not gonna worry about it.

The clinker in question lives in the plastic bag Jay gave it to me in, sitting on my desk as a conversation piece.
(';')