Exhaust System Inspection
 

I have a 1989 Supra N/A and I was inspecting the exhaust system. I noticed that between the catalytic converter and the muffler at the rear there seems to be a second muffler. What is this and why is it there? Can it be removed? I would appreciate any info.

Thanks!

it is the resonator. if u take it out it will make your car louder. i took mine out and put a 2 1/2" catback exhaust of with a straight through muffler and it sounds awesome:D

Re: resonator
 

A resonator huh. OK, sounds useless. What exactly is a catback exhaust? thaks for the help

it is pretty useless...its there to keep the car quiet...though i think you might need to put it back during state inspection...because i think in jersey ur required to have them

a catback exhaust is when u get new exhaust piping from the catalytic converter on back and a new muffler

don't they only check your car for emissions once in a lifetime

Re: Emmisions
 

I think in Jersey they check emissions every 2 yrs. I get inspected this December, so after that I will do some exhaust upgrades and be ready for the summer, ha ha. should I replace the cat with a performance job? My A-hole friend said he could clean my engine, but after he did it needed to be dried so he revved the engine to a point where I saw the cat get red hot. I mean it turned red. Do you think that ruined it. (I will never let this person near my car again) I got everything back in order and it runs great again idling at about 800 and taching out at about 3500. Any suggestions on exhaust upgrades. If you install a header do you keep that heat shield on? Thanks in advance.

James (scruffboy)

yea jersey inspection is every 2 years...i just saw that u live in kearny.. i work in elizabeth and i go to skool in hoboken...and i live around morristown haha so im close by, as for the cat...they usually turn red...well orange when it gets hot since the exhaust gas that exits is also pretty hot, though i doubt that he ruined it since these things are designed to take a beating, if you have an aftermarket exhaust i recommend upgrading the cat to a free flow.. or leave it stock...its really up to you..as for the headers i ditched the heat shield and instead im using heat wrap...i think its better than the heat shield, i use the wrap from design engineering...stuff is pretty good

you can either go to a muffler shop and get a custom exhaust put on or you can get a hks or blitz exhaust

i think those are the main ones that they make

scrufboy...I did the 2 1/2" exhaust with the Magnaflow muffler. I went ahead and put a Magnaflow 'OEM' cat conv. in too. (sometimes a 'highflow' cat will not pass emmisions in certain states). Anyway....It was WAY too loud (cops here in Calif have the total say over noise now). Plus it was a very annoying 'drone' sound at cruising at 2000rpm. So I added a 24' long resonator (4" diameter glass pack). No more drone sound, a bit quieter, but still loud, deep 6 cyl sound.

Also, you should be able to rev (and hold) the motor to redline easily. If not, then you may have a restriction in the exhaust system, usually the muffler or cat. And...the cat converter should NOT get red hot. That tells me there is a restiction, and the back pressure is so high that it is cooking the cat.

My 15 year old cat was still good, as it passed emissions right before I changed it.

Back in the 80's while 5 years at the dealer, I had to replace about 100 cats and mufflers (most under warranty) because they were a 'BB' filled type. They came apart and plugged the muffler. I saw many many 'red hot' exhausts. That's how I could quickly test it. The vehicle would usually not rev past 3000rpm, and the header pipe would start to glow red.

Thank You
 

I would like to thank everyone for their input, it really helps. When my cat glowed red hot it was not under normal conditions. The engine was being revved for a long period without the car moving (thus no air circulation). I have been keeping an eye on it and even after a hard drive it does not glow red, so I am assuming its in working order. My engine runs really great, in fact people comment on how good it sounds. Question to SupraMan in Jersey. With the header, performance cat and 2 1/2 exhaust, can you pass the emissions test? I have been doing regular oil changes and just did a tune-up (plugs, wires, air-filter, gas-filter, distributor) so I shouldn't have a problem there, but these exhaust tests scare me, as the last time (previous car) they tried to fail me until I showed the supervisor a two week old receipt for a completely new exhast system from Meineke. Anyway, thanks guys (and gals).


James