Cat Location Question
 

Recently found out my cat failed. When I took the bolts I realize the cat is actually towards the back of the car and not up front where the o2 sensor bolts onto. This seemed very weird to me, seeing how the cat was pretty close to the gas tank. When I removed my original cat a few years back, I remember the cat was up front closer to the manifold and not towards the muffler end. Does it not matter what position the cat is in? This latest cat is from walker, very odd looking inside too, straight tube through it totally open with holes around the side but only half way on one side. I thought cats were essentially giant exhaust filters with screens and tunnels to pass through to convert gases into c02 and water. I just wonder because to me the cat position and the way it is made, does not seem right to me common sense wise.

do you have an oem cat? the stock location is bolted to the mani

No, I have an aftermarket walker brand one. Its a direct fit one. But the thing that confuses me is a long time ago when I bought this one, I looked at the oem one that i removed and the cat was at the mani, this walker one is opposite and on the muffler end....Right by the gas tank..... It just does not seem correct in my mind using common sense with the heat in mind and the gas tank so close to it. Is that the way walker makes them? or was this some red headed step child on the assembly line? Because I thought the rear o2 sensor bolts into the cat. Mine is bolted into the resonator which is next to the mani and its a bigger piece of pipe about a foot long but completely empty inside, the rear part of this one is where i see all the holes and stuff for the cat and it is not as long as the resonator. Because I also keep getting a system running too lean code and a catalyst system below efficiency threshold code. I already know I have a vacuum leak somewhere so instead of going ape**** over finding it, i just ordered all new silicone hoses for all the size hoses and i'm just going to replace them all. But the cat thing is aggravating. I dont want to end up fixing the initial problem that cause the cat to fail, then get a new cat, the parts be in the wrong position again and end up with a failing cat a year later again. BTW, the car in your post looks just like mine, only i have the dark chrome oem wheels. Very nice :)

the pictures i looked at of the walker system show the cat in the OEM position, so try looking in the other end.. perhaps it just desintegrated from use, which is why it is hollow now.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/s...WI5RQ&usqp=CAE