Hey all. My 1980 Volare wagon has a miniox converter and nothing else all the way to the muffler. I have no experience with these miniox converters and was curious to know more. Do these have a propensity to "fail" or is it a lifelong item? Should there be another converter under passenger floor?

Also, as for flow, I have another question. My hunch is that there was once another converter as I have a 1-3/4" section of pipe running into the muffler. From the miniox to halfway down the car is 2-1/4". There is then a ~2' piece of the small pipe to the muffler. Is it truly worth the money to replace the small pipe with 2-1/4" extension to the muffler (and the muffler since the inlet is 1-3/4") as it concerns efficiency and MPG?

It's a daily driver and I truly just want to make it the most efficient it can be. I mainly do city driving and cruise highways at about 60-65 MPH. I drive hundreds of miles a week and am trying to save fuel. I don't race or drive really aggressively. I just did the HEI swap and am not seeing much improvement in MPG overall.

Should I hit this exhaust issue with a new pipe section and muffler? Any muffler suggestions?

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That's because somebody has removed the main converter.
Eventually they do break down or clog up.
Yes, the small pipe is restrictive and will affect your mileage and driveability. Wrong muffler, too. Yours should have a 2¼" inlet. What do you need/want to do as regards emission control equipment where your car is registered? Do you have to pass any emission tests?
Yes, and depending on the emission situation, perhaps a new unitized catalyst replacing the restrictive mini-ox unit and missing underfloor item.
Walker #21110 or AP (Goerlich) #2087 main muffler (2¼" in, 2" out), and if you want it good and quiet without highway drone, AP (Goerlich) #2092 resonator and #24887 side-dump (wagon) tailspout.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks Dan. I have no emissions to pass where I am. Also, I'm not looking to remove any emission equipment that I know to be working, but also am not eager to add anything already missing. I'll take your suggestions for other exhaust info.

What would be the sign of a miniox converter that would be harming the flow of exhaust? Better to just leave the converter as is until it farts?

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Then go ahead and delete the mini-ox converter. All it's doing at this point is restricting your exhaust flow. You may run into difficulty getting an exhaust shop to remove it; you may have to remove it yourself so that the car shows up to the exhaust shop without any catalyst in place.
Its presence.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Nice.

Got it, thanks again!

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I'm having a lot of confusion shopping for mufflers. I'd also rather not spend $95 for one. I found one on RockAuto, AP Exhaust #700171 (found it under 1994 caprice classic single exhaust), is this the right size? It seems so.

This is an ebay link to the one in question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AP-Exhau ... 4aabd73f17

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The 2087 is the premium item with the lifetime warranty. The 700171 has a shorter warranty. Both are for the same application, and both should be very fine quality.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Good to know. Thanks again!

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My gut tells me this is a good deal, but wanted to make sure. I have a guy at a muffler shop who will do the job for $150-200. This includes making a pipe to bypass the miniox and running 2-1/4" all the way to muffler (which I provide) and 2" tailpipe.

Is that reasonable? I know it's hard to find people to do catalyst removal, so I'm guessing I should jump at it.

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Yup!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

So now I'm confused. I have the guy at the shop (who seems to know his trade) that the muffler I have will not go on the car. He said it's because of the offset outlet. He states he cannot make a tailpipe fit with the offset outlet. I suggested the side-dump tailpipe and he said that too was impossible because the muffler is orientated in the wrong positioning in relation to the back tire.

What gives? Is he being difficult or is it possible this muffler will not go on my wagon? Is he just full of it and being lazy?

BTW, I am referring to the muffler AP 700171

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Well, that sucks! I didn't remember there being such a tight situation under an F-body that this would be the case. Even if he flips the muffler over so the offset is on the other side from where it is now...?
Not safe and, in many states, illegal.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I think this is BS. The muffler might not mount at the factory moutning points or in the factory spot anymore, but there isn't a good reason why a muffler wouldn't fit under and F-body due to the placement of the outlet. Worst case scenario is the muffler would mount at an angle and the exhaust pipe would exit the muffler at an angle.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

But…but that could destroy the social fabric of America! It would be the end of society as we know it!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I think I might just remove the exhaust and have him fabricate the pieces for me to put on the car myself. You know how some people get harder and harder to work with once things start to get more complicated? That's where he is with me now.

I mean really, if the offset outlet is that big of a deal, wouldn't a simple 10 degree bend in the pipe about a foot before the muffler fix all of that?

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