putting a catalytic converter on a 250? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NavyChief · 11-21-2013, 04:06 PM

Okay so do not shoot me but I have a question. I may be accepting a job in Germany and want to take my truck with me. It is a 1969 long bed step side. Mostly original with power steering added and the tank moved to the bed and I have added Langston headers and a dual exhaust. According to the TUV website I may be able to get historic plates and would not have to deal with emissions issues.

Funny thing though in Germany if you cannot get a historical plate then you have certain stickers that only let you drive within certain areas. If you pass emissions then you can drive anywhere.

Okay so has anyone heard or now if it is possible to put a catalytic converter on a 1969 250 to get the emissions lowered? I may end up doing this first as I think it would be the cheapest way to go.

I know, this may be the excuse I needed to drop in a LS3!

**steelhorse** · 11-21-2013, 04:36 PM

Just put one in near the front of the exhaust. It will lower your emissions and tuning should do the rest depending upon the standards you have to meet.

NavyChief · 11-21-2013, 04:50 PM

Thanks I figured that is the case but thought I would ask the experts!

lha1992 · 11-21-2013, 05:20 PM

In Germany they're gonna want a '69 GMC to pass emissions??? I highly doubt Germany would require a 40+yr old truck to pass any emissions. I mean even at that time German cars themselves had no cats.

I would suggest just tune the truck make sure its running top notch and don't worry about putting any cats on it.

NavyChief · 11-24-2013, 09:14 PM

The issue is that in Germany you have to have certain emissions to drive in large cities so yes they expect the car to pass emission standards that were set for newer cars. I can try to get a historical plate but they are hard to come by. I will probably just leave it here and take a different vehicle. Would be easier I think or just by a beeter to drive in the city and use the truck for weekend driving.

**kwmech** · 11-24-2013, 09:38 PM

Putting a convertor on won't hurt a thing. I would buy a monolithic cat (honeycombed), and have it flanged so you can bolt it in and remove it later down the road to replace with a pipe. If you buy a generic on, it will already have heat shields on it. The biggest demise of a convertor is putting too much fuel at once through them, that is when you get that rotten egg smell letting you know that you are destroying the internals.

11-21-2013, 04:06 PM	#1
NavyChief Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Clarksville TN Posts: 79	putting a catalytic converter on a 250? Okay so do not shoot me but I have a question. I may be accepting a job in Germany and want to take my truck with me. It is a 1969 long bed step side. Mostly original with power steering added and the tank moved to the bed and I have added Langston headers and a dual exhaust. According to the TUV website I may be able to get historic plates and would not have to deal with emissions issues. Funny thing though in Germany if you cannot get a historical plate then you have certain stickers that only let you drive within certain areas. If you pass emissions then you can drive anywhere. Okay so has anyone heard or now if it is possible to put a catalytic converter on a 1969 250 to get the emissions lowered? I may end up doing this first as I think it would be the cheapest way to go. I know, this may be the excuse I needed to drop in a LS3! __________________ 1969 C10 Long Bed Step Side (My Texas Heirloom!) It is a work in progress!!!!!

11-21-2013, 04:36 PM	#2
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Franklinton NC Posts: 1,309	Re: putting a catalytic converter on a 250? Just put one in near the front of the exhaust. It will lower your emissions and tuning should do the rest depending upon the standards you have to meet.

11-21-2013, 04:50 PM	#3
NavyChief Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Clarksville TN Posts: 79	Re: putting a catalytic converter on a 250? Thanks I figured that is the case but thought I would ask the experts! __________________ 1969 C10 Long Bed Step Side (My Texas Heirloom!) It is a work in progress!!!!!

11-21-2013, 05:20 PM	#4
lha1992 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 504	Re: putting a catalytic converter on a 250? In Germany they're gonna want a '69 GMC to pass emissions??? I highly doubt Germany would require a 40+yr old truck to pass any emissions. I mean even at that time German cars themselves had no cats. I would suggest just tune the truck make sure its running top notch and don't worry about putting any cats on it.

11-24-2013, 09:14 PM	#5
NavyChief Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Clarksville TN Posts: 79	Re: putting a catalytic converter on a 250? The issue is that in Germany you have to have certain emissions to drive in large cities so yes they expect the car to pass emission standards that were set for newer cars. I can try to get a historical plate but they are hard to come by. I will probably just leave it here and take a different vehicle. Would be easier I think or just by a beeter to drive in the city and use the truck for weekend driving. __________________ 1969 C10 Long Bed Step Side (My Texas Heirloom!) It is a work in progress!!!!!

11-24-2013, 09:38 PM	#6
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,408	Re: putting a catalytic converter on a 250? Putting a convertor on won't hurt a thing. I would buy a monolithic cat (honeycombed), and have it flanged so you can bolt it in and remove it later down the road to replace with a pipe. If you buy a generic on, it will already have heat shields on it. The biggest demise of a convertor is putting too much fuel at once through them, that is when you get that rotten egg smell letting you know that you are destroying the internals.



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