nex catalytic converter

[Xavier T]

One of my friend has broken pieces rattling around in the converter ( he owns an Elan M100 S2). He wants to buy a new one. The lotus part comes from BOSAL. Is there another brand (cheaper, better...) and can he order it by internet ? Thanks

[Gary]

Looks like SJ Sportcars have them for £289 - don't know if that is cheap or not ?

http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/partsandaccessories/srchRes.asp?Car_ID=9&Type1_ID=16&srch=&Submit=search

[nickb]

Try sticking the details into google, I did this a while back and found a place that sold them closer to £200, if I remember correctly they even sold two different types.

sorry cant remember there name.

Nick

[nickb]

Found it, try this:

http://www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk/lotus ... verter.php



Nick

[Xavier T]

Ok, thanks a lot. Do you think it's necassary to change the lambda sensor? on the bosal's site they say it's necessary to change it every time you get a new converter...

[mac70]

Hi,

I am picking up this thread again since I have the cats-direct-shop cat installed now. Here is my very negative experience:
- Part seems to be a standard part that has been hammered to fit in. Does not look very nice.
- My garage spent more than one extra hour to adjust the shape to get the cat fitted.
- It turned out that the cat is too short. My garage had to install an extention.
- Now that the cat is fitted the boost is not as high as it was before and needs more time to develop.
I strongly recommend not to order this cat. If someone has different experience please let me know.

Stefan

[GeoffSmith]

Stefan,

Part seems to be a standard part that has been hammered to fit in. Does not look very nice.

If you are talking about the pipe in front of the cat, then this is how it is meant to be! It is the "squish" that is refered to a lot on this site.

Now that the cat is fitted the boost is not as high as it was before and needs more time to develop.

This is to be expected as the cat restricts the exhaust flow and this affects the turbo. A common method of increasing performance of the Elan is to remove the main cat - it should meet UK requirements if the pre-cat is still operational.

Geoff

[mac70]

Hi Geoff,

I understand that the "squish" has to be there. The statement of the way it is done came from my mechanic. It is just the build quality.
I just replaced the existing cat so I did not put another resistance into the air flow, I just exchanged the old one with the new one. But the result is the different behaviour of the boost.

Thanks for your reply,

Stefan

[GeoffSmith]

I understand that the "squish" has to be there. The statement of the way it is done came from my mechanic. It is just the build quality.

It is quite atrocious and I agree with your mechanic's description. The original Lotus cat is like this as well.

I just replaced the existing cat so I did not put another resistance into the air flow, I just exchanged the old one with the new one. But the result is the different behaviour of the boost.

Sorry, I think I got you mixed up with Xavier who had a half empty cat by the sounds of it. Out of interest, why did you replace the cat and did you check your old cat to see if it was empty?

Geoff

[Dave M]

I understand that the "squish" has to be there.

From a stock standpoint, yes...that's the way it was made. It may be there to fit easier by the crossmember and/or it may be to add backpressure to prevent turbo creep. However it doesn't "have" to be there as a 2.5" exhaust can fit in that space if done right. The boost creep can also be handled if the restriction is gone. It definitely frees up more power without it there.

[Doug]

just get a cat from HERE in whatever size you want

[mac70]

Hi Geoff,

I have not seen the original part after it had been taken out. But my garage told me that the new cat had to be adjusted not to produce ratteling noises which took some time.
The original car had a cat which got loose inside because the last owner of the car did not drive much the last few years. I guess it rusted inside which finally produced noise through a certain rev range. So it definately was not empty. I think in Germany no Elans were sold without cat since the Euro 1 Norm was introduced at that time.
Doug, thanks for the link but I am in Germany. Regarding Lotus several times I have wished to be in GB or US.

Stefan

[Doug]

Stefan,

Hi, the main cat in my car went out like you describe at 30K miles in 1996! Others have gone the same way.

My point is just that there are many cat manufacturers nowadays so you can find one that fits the pipe size and just put it in place of the old one. Any new cat is going to 'catalyze' better than a 15 year old rusted one anyways!

-D

[donsladek]

Must be that time!

My cat started rattling recently at 41,000 miles , and now occasionally causes reduced power on acceleration.

Don Sladek

[Dave M]

My point is just that there are many cat manufacturers nowadays so you can find one that fits the pipe size and just put it in place of the old one. Any new cat is going to 'catalyze' better than a 15 year old rusted one anyways!

Along with the site Doug listed, I would also check the following:
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/02converters.asp
This is where I got my high-flow cat and think I spent ~$100. For that price, even if you have to have some custom work done to make it fit (it most likely won't be exactly the same length as the stock unit), it may be cheaper than the stock piece AND will flow better.

[mac70]

Hi again,

After one year with the new cat I am not very happy with the power development. I was thinking about exchanging the complete exhaust (since it is now 16 years old and does not look too good any more).
Since I am located in Germany I need a cat installed (maybe a metall cat would do). Is there an option to get an stainless steal exhaust including a cat (producing the same power or even a little more) as one unit or do I have to order the pieces separately and get it put together.
Geoff, I have seen in another tread that you have ordered an complete exhaust including a cat for an S2. Is that right?

Greetings from Germany

Stefan

[Lydia]

Hi,
FWIW, I just had to replace the cat. conv. on my Federal '91 Turbo Elan (hey, ~22 years and >120k miles isn't too bad for the lifetime of a catalytic converter).

The official Lotus part would have been around $2200 (including tax). I got the "Magnaflow 36104 Universal Catalytic Converter" from Amazon for $135.59 all-up. Sure, it needed a little welding ("Universal" is never quite as universal as you'd like), but I just sailed through my smog check, so I'm a happy camper. NO emissions went down from > 900 (failing grade here in sunny California) to 212 @ 15MPG and 24 @ 25MPG, both of which are easy passes.


Lydia.

[tigerdog]

Hi Lydia! Welcome to the forum. Glad you found the Magnaflow. I use the same thing here on my car. What part of California are you in? If you get a chance, please introduce yourself and your Elan in the "New Members" section (pictures are especially welcome!). If you are in SoCal, beware! There's getting to be enough of us that we may need to start a monthy meeting or something.

[bratboy_y2k]

Hi,
FWIW, I just had to replace the cat. conv. on my Federal '91 Turbo Elan (hey, ~22 years and >120k miles isn't too bad for the lifetime of a catalytic converter).

The official Lotus part would have been around $2200 (including tax). I got the "Magnaflow 36104 Universal Catalytic Converter" from Amazon for $135.59 all-up. Sure, it needed a little welding ("Universal" is never quite as universal as you'd like), but I just sailed through my smog check, so I'm a happy camper. NO emissions went down from > 900 (failing grade here in sunny California) to 212 @ 15MPG and 24 @ 25MPG, both of which are easy passes.


Lydia.

I keep hearing a tuned Elan with no cat still passes. Its not an issue for me as we are allowed to cut em out here. Anybody had experiences with this?

[Mel_Boss]

It is MY TURN now for a catalytic converter, as the death rattle has begun. As noted, the OEM part is crazy-expensive at $1400! I found the Magnaflow 36104 at about $135. I've read some debate about the restriction at the inlet which I've visually noted on inspection. I feared that the back pressure might be part of the engine mapping, but my Lotus-man (superb mechanic and former Lotus employee) said not to worry that the restriction aka "squish" was unnecessary and won't affect performance adversely. Before I continue, are there any experiences of comments on this topic - please???