1976 Eldorado clogged cat

[7gen]

How can you tell your cat is clogged?

By the roundish scorch mark on the front passenger carpet. Where the white hot cat has burned things. Not just melted the carpet. Burned it.

I had a heavy rubber-backed mat over the original carpet which kept me from noticing the scorch mark but also may have starved the process of oxygen so no fire. Very scary.

I'm guessing some long hard pulls up some mountains dumped enough fuel through the system to clog the cat, which was original to the car.

Any experience with after market cats out there?

[bcroe]

Your one-fits-all original cat is entirely inadequate for a 500 engine.  At minimum
you could use a 3" monolithic replacement cat, which is smaller, less restrictive,
and legal.  And 3" pipes.  Better would dual 2.5" (with cross over pipe), but not
legal if you have inspection.  These have served me well for decades.  Probably
dual 3" would produce a measurable additional improvement.  Bruce Roe

[V63]

I have an OEM rust free original one that's 2.5" for $50