test pipe

[steve8462]

Does anybody know where i could get my hands on a "test pipe" wink, wink for my 1979 fiat spider? i am not subjected to emissions testing in my state.

[TX82FIAT]

I have seen them around. Cant imagine it would be too difficult to give the local muffler shop the length and diameter of the pipe and have them cut you one real quick. As an alternative you could consider a little bullet resonator. Last week I took it in to the Express Lube to get the state inspection done. They do not test for emmissions in my state but they do look to see if a car has a CAT on it. Given these kids do not know what the cat should look like on a spider they have not questioned the resonator in the same spot undert the heat shield.

[gudtimer41]

OK my man, here's the deal (wink wink). I learned that sometimes you just have to know how to ask for what you want. Recently I had to replace the pipes from the header to the rear muffler. Because the local shop that I went to works on all kinds of cars I asked him if he could just run the pipe straight back without the cat on. He said "Nope, that's against the law". Then I asked, "OK. Can you just make me a test pipe to replace the cat separately"? He said "Sure". Cost me 50 bucks. I got back home, popped the cat off, plugged the pipe in and now it snaps, crackles and pops with the best of 'em.

[steve8462]

i used to have access to a pipe bending machine thanks to a friend at Meineke muffler. a trick i developed was to hollow out the straight converters, then cut a length of pipe the next diameter down from the opening in cat but the same length. i would slide the pipe inside the cat, expand the pipe a little to make it snug at both ends (there is a nice attachment on the pipe bending machine that does this) then mig a bead all the way around both ends to make the pipe one with the hollow cat. grind the welds flat so a gasket will seal nicely, then re-install it back on the car. to stand under it and look at it, it looks like factory, and the flo-thru pipe inside gave it a nice little rumble. i really miss having access to the big dog tools!

[TX82FIAT]

I did a similar project as Steve at one point. The biggest pain was banking out the existing brick and wire out of the CAT. Used a crow bar and some long pliers to pull pieces out one at a time. I'm sure there is an easier way!

[81SPIDERMATT]

OK my man, here's the deal (wink wink). I learned that sometimes you just have to know how to ask for what you want. Recently I had to replace the pipes from the header to the rear muffler. Because the local shop that I went to works on all kinds of cars I asked him if he could just run the pipe straight back without the cat on. He said "Nope, that's against the law". Then I asked, "OK. Can you just make me a test pipe to replace the cat separately"? He said "Sure". Cost me 50 bucks. I got back home, popped the cat off, plugged the pipe in and now it snaps, crackles and pops with the best of 'em.

SAME HERE SORTA..... took mine in to a mom and pop shop to have them patch a hole in the exhaust pipe they said i needed new and i said deal if you loose that cat... no problem just cant give you a receipt... done and done.....

but now it looks like i will be moving into a area with emissions.... dang it.... i like the resonator idea also

[steve8462]

i just called my buddy back home and gave him the specs and he said "de nada" he will fire up the pipe machine and pop me out one easy peasy. with the correct flanges on each end. today has been a good day in "fiat meets world"!

[htchevyii]

Difatta bros have them on eBay with a resonator. $38 plus shipping seems reasonable.

[steve8462]

that's well worth looking into!