Bad Cat Converter?

[imported_chinslip]

I bought a 94 Del Sol sohc 3 years ago with a bit of a oil burning problem that was traced back to a pluged up pcv valve tube just recently. The problem has since completely gone. The engine however is noisy...rough sounding. I have a civic of the same year, same engine and transmission...and this thing whines up smoothly, quickly and quitely. But the Del Sol sounds rough when I stomp on the gas and doesn't seem to have much power (less then the civic). I've since done a mini-me swap with a Z6 head. Compression is now 210psi...and it still sounds rough and less power then the civic. Could the cat converter be cloged up from all the oil burning before?

[Calesta]

It's very very very possible. Remove the catalytic converter and check if you can see straight through it. You should be able to hold it up to the light and see through all the cells (you'll have to turn it a bit here and there). If you have a lot of blocked cells, you'll definitely want to replace the cat.

[imported_chinslip]

THX....I'll try that. Those are real expensive right?

[Calesta]

If you buy an OEM one from a dealer or from a chain muffler shop, yes. You can get new ones online for about $50-60 shipped, even decent name brands. Look to Magnaflow, Dynomax, Catco, Carsound.