in my quest to get this car to pass VA emissions i've now been told i need a new catalytic converter. The ones in the local parts stores that are direct fit go for 150-200 bucks. i can seemingly find a direct fit part on ebay for around 50 bucks. Anything i need to know before getting the ebay part and callin it a day?

Another thing i've been asked by the auto parts stores is whether i need a 6" or a 13" catalytic converter. I have a 95 Accord EX 2 door. Which part would i need? I've honestly never seen a 6" cat that was the only cat on the car and upon lookin under the car (which is quite a struggle seeing how low it is) It sure doesnt appear to be only 6" in length... but i just wanna make sure i'm gettin the right part.

 

The $50 ebay catalytic converters aren't really cats, they are resonated test pipes. With one of these installed you will definetey fail emissions. As far as which size cat you do need, I'm not sure, but I would think it is the 13".

 

well i ended up gettin an OEM replacement 13" cat from ebay for $100 bucks shipped. The brand was eastern catalytic. Wish me luck on gettin those 12 year old bolts off!

 

You won't get them off most likely. I got a dremel tool after struggling with one for a week. If you have to resort to a dremel cut them off from the sides opposite the cat cuz on mine the heads or nuts of the bolts were seized to the pipe material. I tried a punch to get them loose and regretted it for weeks after. Good luck.

 

well i got the cat off without a problem.. the bolts were suprisingly easy to get off. Thought that was odd but who am i to complain right. Of course the "direct fit" replacement couldnt use the same spring loaded bolts as the old cat.. and after 2 trips to home depot which resulted in not QUITE the right bolt/nut i just used one spring loaded bolt and a C-clamp lol. One particular ODD thing i found was that the cat which i'm assuming was OEM had NOTHING in the middle to restrict airflow. It was old... color matched the rest of the old exhaust system.. but the inside looked like nothing more than a test pipe. With that said ... i'm guessing the last owner must have wanted to get his ricer on and hollowed it out. It would explain why the bolts were so easy to get off right! I'm goin back to take my emissions today.. wish me luck.

 

the ones on ebay work for about a year....