fake the heat difference check

Well, I'm not sure, as depending on how you read the bulletin, it MAY strike out the exceptions (unintentionally, I assume, if it does).

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2010 09:29AM by fiasco.

OK, the bulletin says

1. Replace Article 10.1.F with the following:
F. For all vehicles in all classes for all Performance Rally events, a
functional catalytic converter shall be installed. Functionality shall
be determined by the following: 1) a visible and complete grid within
the catalytic converter, or 2) a heat gain of 5% or greater from the
inlet to the outlet of the cat with the outlet being hotter.
Rationale:
It is too easy to fake the heat difference check, so it is being eliminated.

Hmmm, the strikeout didn't come through, just look at the link: http://rally-america.com/RuleBulletin/Rule_Bulletin_2010_002.pdf


This is 10.1.F from the 2010 rule book (I found the closed window, still getting used to my iMac):

F. For all vehicles in all classes for all Performance Rally events, a
functional catalytic converter shall be installed. Functionality shall be
determined by the following: 1) A visible and complete grid within the
catalytic converter, or 2) a heat gain of 5% or greater from the inlet to the
outlet of the cat with the outlet being hotter.
The only exceptions that may be granted to the above rule, and then only
if documentary evidence is kept with the vehicle logbook, are:
1. For vehicles running the event powered by diesel fuel.
2. For vehicles that were imported into the USA prior to 1980, and that
did not have a similar model by that manufacturer that was sold in the USA with a catalytic converter.
3. For U.S. vehicles sold prior to an EPA catalytic converter
requirement.
G. Restrictors

If it is indeed REPLACING 10.1.F, I interpret that as eliminating the exceptions, even if it was unintentional. But then again, I'm a Negative Nellie and a Debbie Downer most of the time.

I'm not a licensed competitor and likely won't be unless I hit a lottery ticket, so I don't have any recourse with RA. Maybe Gene can pipe in?

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2010 09:38AM by fiasco.

Well first off JV will likely never get the old Saab onstage at a RA event...

But IF he did he would not need a cat. Alan screwed the pooch when he wrote the bulletin on cats (snicker).

The exceptions to 10.1.F still stand. The rule modification applies to the first paragraph only.

heymagic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The exceptions to 10.1.F still stand. The rule
> modification applies to the first paragraph only.

Yeah, Alan just posted this on SS:

"Be aware that there is an error in Bulletin 2010-002. In the cat check rule change, the new text was intended to replace only the first paragraph, however, the Bulletin says that it replaces the entire article.

An update to the Bulletin is ready and should be posted soon.

... and I will be paying a lot closer attention to the Bulletins for the remainder of the year.

alan "

So I have a cat in the stock location,(need it to get registered in Ca.) So I have to put a coupling behind it so a inspector can play proctologist and peek in there? Do folks really move the cat to the rear so it can be checked easily? What a PITA.

Just put a V in your exhaust right before the cat that's open to the atmosphere. That way they can look and see the grid. Sure that cat's not 100% functional, but I'm sure some of the exhaust will still pass through it as long as the bypass V is small diameter and thus, it's still 'functional'.

---

Grant Hughes

NoCoast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just put a V in your exhaust right before the cat
> that's open to the atmosphere. That way they can
> look and see the grid. Sure that cat's not 100%
> functional, but I'm sure some of the exhaust will
> still pass through it as long as the bypass V is
> small diameter and thus, it's still 'functional'.
>
> Grant Hughes
> www.nocoastmotorsports.net
> Denver, CO


Brilliant! It will be only slightly louder than the current "Tuned by Taylor" exhaust,

alkun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I have a cat in the stock location,(need it to
> get registered in Ca.) So I have to put a coupling
> behind it so a inspector can play proctologist and
> peek in there? Do folks really move the cat to the
> rear so it can be checked easily? What a PITA.

People move the cat to the rear because:

1. It removes a buch of heat from under the floor.
2. They tend to last longer because they are a bit cooler further back.
3. You can knock the insides out if it starts to plug.
4. It is easier to change when needed.

And somewhere way down the list someone actually put one at the rear so we could check it easier...

And yes it would be best to make it possible for a tech to check the grid easily.

Yeah, seriously if you are gonna buy one, and put it on a subarat, put it where the muffler used to be, with a straight tail pipe. It will be easy to easy that you have a "substrate", it will improve front to rear weight bias, there is already a space there, it will see less heat and sit higher up from the road. No brainer. i didn't think of it. The smart guys told me to do it. Worked great. I bought a spare. Never used it. But, rules are made to be broken.

2 kinds a rallyists, cheatahs and loosahs. Which one are you? ;-)

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

Hrmph. thanks Gene.

And some people DON'T move the cat to the rear because:

1) On a FWD or AWD car, your wheels throw a lot of gravel thataway

2) weight distribution



BTW, when considering ways bypass this rule for your toy, consider the political ramifications: when an organizer goes to a landowner to ask for permissions to use a road, one of the first questions that gets asked is "what is the environmental impact?".

There're a lot of subissues there, but it helps a lot if the checkbox for "all cars meet EPA requirements" can get filled in.

---

Self-righteous douche canoe

will cats moved to the end of the exhaust stream even get hot enough to function properly?

I would like to be able to just take my emissions test results to tech. This would be good for those of us that do pass emissions in whatever state.

Also, if i leave my cat in the stock location am I responsible for bringing a jack and stand to tech so someone can crawl under the car?

---

-KTurner
Stomp down on the exhilarator and hold on to the wheel.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2010 08:25AM by KTurner.

At tech they check your sound level.
In post-event scrutineering is where they'd check a cat. Just make sure you have a sawzall if needed to get to the cat.

---

Grant Hughes

KTurner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> will cats moved to the end of the exhaust stream
> even get hot enough to function properly?


Practically speaking....WHY DO YOU CARE??


To be 100% honest, cats do not work very well, when a car is run at Wide open throttle for long periods of time.

The Cats do not really have the capacity to keep up with everything when it's running full bore.

Have you ever been to a Dyno, and the operator will stick the wideband sniffer in the tailpipe?? i've personally asked the question, and been proven the results. Their response is that at WOT, the cat does nothing, actual readings were off like 0.1. We had a wideband sensor before any cats, and the dyno sniffer a the tail pipe...as i said results were like 0.1 difference.


Cats are really meant to function on a street car, where they putter around town, stuck in traffic etc.




Also i have personally seen the Zedrils n/a lancer, After driving a stage, then transiting 10 minutes down the road. Their Cat which was 2 inches from the tailpipe was glowing cherry red.



in my opinion, the #1 reason to put the cat at the rear of the car is heat. The cat will get super hot....no go stuff the car into the ditch with some dry grass etc.... pretty large risk of a fire.

---

Chris

Do It Sidewayz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> in my opinion, the #1 reason to put the cat at the
> rear of the car is heat. The cat will get super
> hot....no go stuff the car into the ditch with
> some dry grass etc.... pretty large risk of a
> fire.

We've had that happen at our test track. Thankfully it was under control before it took off and could have easily become a grasslands fire.

---

Grant Hughes