Pontiac Repair: catalytic converter, judgement call, rust belt

Question
QUESTION: how do you replace the catalytic converter on a 1996 pontiac grand am 4-dr. 2.4L

ANSWER: Hi Mike:

the converter is part of the front exhaust pipe on that car. it attaches to the exhaust manifold and to the rear pipe that runs back to the muffler. there is one sensor in that pipe as well that has to me disconnected and transfered to the new converter. DO NOT buy an aftermarket part only by original equipment parts. This is an expensive part but aftermarket ones may make the car run bad or make it fail you state emission test. It's pretty eastto do toy just basically unbolt the old converter and intattl the new one. Good luck. the only glitch would be if you live in the rust belt like I do and you have a hard time removing the bolts that attach the pipes together and attach it to the engine. Good luck :)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ok but are there any gaskets that i need to change or replace an when i put the new catalytic converter in whats the best way to weld the pipes back on to the converter an about where do i cut the pipes off on the old converter so that it will be easy to put them on the new converter

Answer
You need gaskets for at the exhaust manifold and at the connverter to rear pipe. I atke it you have an aftermarket converter then hu? the factory one requires no welding. Your just going to have to cut the old converter out of the pipe and use a judgement call as to where to place the new converter in the old pipes and what ever adaptors you will need to get the pipe size up or down to mate the converter to the pipes. Good luck :)