My Girl has a 2001 Nissan Frontier Truck. It has a 3.2 V 6. The right Cat is bad and we ordered one from Nissan. I need to replace it and was wondering if any of you guys have any advice to getting the old one out and installing the new one.

I am sure I can do it just wanted to know the easier way of accomplishing it ?

Thanks in advance.

Mike,

The EPA has warranties in place for all emissions-related devices on vehicles less than xx years old. You need to take it to Nissan and let them AT LEAST order it for you. You should not be paying for the cat.

Jake we went that route. The truck has 109 thou on it and its past the eight years the original one would be in warranted.

The dam thing was $775.00

Oh man!!! That sucks Mike. I think that is best handled by someone that can do some welding. :yes:

If its a OEM unit. I dont think you will have to do any welding. Those weld in converters are more common in the aftermarket. That converter most likely has flanges on each end in which you can unbolt each end and replace the unit. However it may not be that simple, some of these bolts may not come out so easily so your probably going to have to heat them up with a torch to loosen them up. Or, they just end up breaking off and now you get the pleasure of trying to remove a broken stud. You want to talk about a major pita. Especially if access to the stud is limited.

I got it done took about 4 hours and was a PITA. Every component has a heat shields around it,
Had to heat the studs so they would not break.
I would rather pay someone else to do it .
Thanks

SOOOOO, did you use black bolts, hex bolts or pretty shiny bolts? :D

Call a mofo sometime

FYI. Rock Auto has the right side converter for $248.00. You paid about $520 too much.

not that it matters, but this is the best tool for cat converter removal. it also works well on heat shields and any fluid lines or wires that get in the way, as well as the floorboard if you aren't careful:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31285TGDFTL._SS400_.jpg
i can't help with putting one back in, since i don't think i ever have, but i'd guess that one of these would be helpful:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/millermatic_212_autoset.jpg

If its a OEM unit. I dont think you will have to do any welding. Those weld in converters are more common in the aftermarket. That converter most likely has flanges on each end in which you can unbolt each end and replace the unit. However it may not be that simple, some of these bolts may not come out so easily so your probably going to have to heat them up with a torch to loosen them up. Or, they just end up breaking off and now you get the pleasure of trying to remove a broken stud. You want to talk about a major pita. Especially if access to the stud is limited.

You are right Chris. The cat has the flanges built into the cat.
Dealer item only.
You cant merely cut out the old one and weld in a new one. We called several dealers and all were about the same price.
Some other places offered cats but they were not Calif legal.

FYI. Rock Auto has the right side converter for $248.00. You paid about $520 too much.


We could not find any other than dealer that were Calif legal.



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2001 : NISSAN : FRONTIER : 3.3L 3275cc V6 FI [VG33E] : Exhaust : Catalytic Converter [Subscribe to RSS feed to be notified when new parts are added for this car] Price Core Total Add to Cart
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 82724 {Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}
RIGHT FRONT SIDE; UNIVERSAL-LEFT FRONT
RIGHT FRONT UNIT; UNIVERSAL-RIGHT FRONT
More Info
$85.89 $0.00 $85.89
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40411 {Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}
RIGHT REAR; DIRECT FIT-RIGHT REAR
More Info
$189.79 $0.00 $189.79
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40410 {Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}
LEFT REAR; DIRECT FIT-LEFT REAR
More Info
$189.79 $0.00 $189.79
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40376 {Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}
RIGHT FRONT SIDE; DIRECT FIT-LEFT FRONT
More Info
$213.79 $0.00 $213.79
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40377 {Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}
RIGHT FRONT UNIT; DIRECT FIT-RIGHT FRONT
More Info
$213.79 $0.00 $213.79
WALKER Part # 16285 {***No Longer Legal for Use in California***; Direct Fit ($30 Rebate Available! See Promotions & Rebates Page for Details)} Sale Item
4 WHEEL DRIVE; 10-00 to 1-01; LH
More Info
$219.79 $0.00 $219.79
WALKER Part # 54339 {***No Longer Legal for Use in California***; Direct Fit ($30 Rebate Available! See Promotions & Rebates Page for Details)} Sale Item
LH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
More Info
$240.79 $0.00 $240.79
WALKER Part # 53346 {***No Longer Legal for Use in California***; Direct Fit ($30 Rebate Available! See Promotions & Rebates Page for Details)} Sale Item
RH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
More Info
$248.89 $0.00 $248.89
WALKER Part # 16284 {***No Longer Legal for Use in California***; Direct Fit ($30 Rebate Available! See Promotions & Rebates Page for Details)} Sale Item
4 WHEEL DRIVE; 10-00 to 1-01; RH
- Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 1 business day

not that it matters, but this is the best tool for cat converter removal. it also works well on heat shields and any fluid lines or wires that get in the way, as well as the floorboard if you aren't careful:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31285TGDFTL._SS400_.jpg
i can't help with putting one back in, since i don't think i ever have, but i'd guess that one of these would be helpful:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/millermatic_212_autoset.jpg

I got that stuff !!!! :)