Well after vigorously tuning my car and rerouting hoses I still couldn't get it to pass emissions (amost!). So I buckled down and ordered a bonez cat.
I got 'er sittin' on stands right now, figure I'd let the exhaust cool down a bit before I start work. Any tips or best ways to remove the existing cats? The Haynes manual seems pretty worthless on this topic but I have a workshop manual for an 82 (mine's an 85 GSL).
It seems pretty straightforward; remove the covers, disconnect the valves, pull the main then the other two.
Could I get away without removing the covers? Am I liable to run into any strange problems that require more than basic hand tools? Any tips would be great.
Thanks guys.

P.S. Anybody know how long it would take for a brand new cat to clog due to a non-working ACV?

 

DJCHunter had a cat on his '87 with no ACV or air pump, it clogged in approximately five miles. Which was OK since it was a one mile trip to the emissions testing station, where it passed.

 

Holy crap man.
I have an airpump but I'm pretty sure my ACV is toast. I could always bypass the ACV and route air straight from the pump to the cat.
So regardless of my bonez cat being a single (and without a cover?) and my hoses all rerouted; fortunately I don't think the emissions places here have any clue what the parts are supposed to look like.
5 Miles... yeesh! 300$ for a part that lasts 5 miles might be a bit steep for me!

 

Routing straight air is better than nothing at all.

Oh he didn't use a $300 cat, he used a $49 special.

 

****, turns out I have to cut the metal pipe from the check valve to the cat. I don't even think I have a saw... any ideas?

 

just don't pull on their tails, they scratch and bite... HAR HAR HAR