I believe I am screwed...

[jcaligood]

i had a friend who had a clogged cat. which wouldn't allow exhaust valves to open correctly. it caused all kinds of other issues, like misfires at first.

glad you found the issue. gut those cats now

[mikeman]

Glad you found the trouble. Stinkin' cat converter. I hate those things.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by jcaligood

i had a friend who had a clogged cat. which wouldn't allow exhaust valves to open correctly. it caused all kinds of other issues, like misfires at first.

glad you found the issue. gut those cats now

It's crazy really... The ONLY issue I had was the sound like gravel rolling around at the engine. I thought for sure I had a lifter dead or something internal. Of course I parked it AS SOON as I heard it... So that may be why I didn't have any other issues.

I crawled under the car with it running & noticed the sound was louder at my exhaust than at the engine... Which was the glimmer of hope. Of course it could still have been a lifter as they resonate through the exhaust some times... And I am still not out of the woods yet IMO. I gutted the cats a few minutes ago. I will put them back on tomorrow & make sure.

Fingers crossed this kills the noise.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by mikeman

Glad you found the trouble. Stinkin' cat converter. I hate those things.

Yea, I HATE them & am about a week out from a dyno appointment to get headers, & some other work done... Deleting the cats then totally.

I gutted them tonight. Too wore out to finish it tonight. So I will let you guys know tomorrow if that was 100% the issue.

It was weird though. Catalyst was not melted as others I have seen. It was just busted into a bunch of small pieces rattling around in there. Anyway, there is nothing but space in there now.

At least now I will KNOW if I put it back together & still have noise... It is the flywheel or internal engine failure. Flywheel I can live with... Internal failure would SUCK. Especially since I've only had it about 4 months...

Thank you guys for the interest & ideas!! Great to have a place to bounce ideas around & get feedback. Enjoying being a member!!

[InFiD3ViL]

Oh man, what a relief, eh?

Glad it was something simple and easy to fix. I know the stuff you were worried about and that would have sucked. I would make sure none of it got into the lower cat while you have it apart.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by InFiD3ViL

Oh man, what a relief, eh?

Glad it was something simple and easy to fix. I know the stuff you were worried about and that would have sucked. I would make sure none of it got into the lower cat while you have it apart.

Yea, I gutted both of them. I got the car back together earlier today & she sounds smooth!!!

THRILLED it was not something internal!!!!!!!

[2011SS2SS]

I got the car back together earlier today. She is running & sounding smooth!!!

Crazy to think some broken up catalyst sounded SO BAD & had me thinking about internal engine damage. I will try to post a video of the original sound some time this week so others can hear it & know what to look for... If it wasn't for me being so OCD about the noise being so close to the driver's door; it likely would've been at a shop for tear down. I had 2 different local LS guys from Performance Shops tell me they were SURE it was a lifter. As much as I like those guys I was not going to let it get tore apart until I took that Cat off... Good thing I followed my instincts or I would have a costly bill for an issue that was not fixed by the work...

Thanks to everyone who offered advice, input, encouragement, & legit ideas.

I'm one happy dude. Now, that $$$ can go towards HP mods instead of repairs!!

[xstuntman]

Forgive my ignorance but I thought it would throw codes if you gutted them?
Tuned out?

I've done my share of gutting cats on pre-computer cars and I find it extremely exhilarating.

[joekono]

Glad to hear this turned out well. We love our C5s so much I think we all have a few(or many in my case) OCD moments. Loved the video, You're a great Maraca player

[lemontwist]

so you got the car that way huh
Removing a catalytic converter without replacing it is illegal under the federal law (42 USC 7522, 3 pp, 156K, About PDF)
If your car came with a catalytic converter you're looking at fines of up to $10,000 for removing it. Sort of. Removing the catalytic converter is illegal, but getting caught without one isn't

[mlee]

Warranty on the cats is 80,000 miles.

But if you're going headers then just ditch them and enjoy.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by xstuntman

Forgive my ignorance but I thought it would throw codes if you gutted them?
Tuned out?

I've done my share of gutting cats on pre-computer cars and I find it extremely exhilarating.

Yes, it will throw a code... However, I have an appointment later this week at the dyno-tuner to get headers w/o cats & a tune... So no biggie.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by joekono

Glad to hear this turned out well. We love our C5s so much I think we all have a few(or many in my case) OCD moments. Loved the video, You're a great Maraca player

Yea, I cannot lie... I was so thrilled it knocked/rattled I was on the verge of playing the Star Spangled Banner with the thing!!! LOL.

[2011SS2SS]

Originally Posted by lemontwist

so you got the car that way huh
Removing a catalytic converter without replacing it is illegal under the federal law (42 USC 7522, 3 pp, 156K, About PDF)
If your car came with a catalytic converter you're looking at fines of up to $10,000 for removing it. Sort of. Removing the catalytic converter is illegal, but getting caught without one isn't

Yea, came that way... LOL.

I am in Central KY tho... We don't even have smog testing here... THANKFULLY.