companies who will remove precats for you

[Joesson]

For ideas have a look via "search" there is a lot of info on here.
If you are seriously contemplating starting diy on your 2 this would be a good opportunity.
If you are tool less ( as well as clue less, your suggestion !)  What you would pay a garage to de cat the manifold would pay for a starter set of tools and the necessary Plus Gas, gaskets and replacement nuts and possibly studs.
You will also then have truly joined the ranks of the ROC and have gained the tools and some confidence to do other jobs yourself.

[Young Cardinal]

Ok well I'll keep looking then. I'll have a good look through some of the topics. I would love to give this a go myself, but I also wouldn't like to mess up my nice new (to me) car.

I'll have a read around first.

Thanks for the help.

[shnazzle]

There is very little room to mess up your car. Everything you need to work with to do this is solid metal. There are two things that can happen:
1) you break the bolts or brackets that hold the top heat shield in place. End of world? No... Just buy 10 quid of manifold wrap.
2) you have to cut off bolts because they're rusted/rounded. End of world? No... Buy a few new bolts  s:) s:)  

Costs are: time, tools (if you have none), new gaskets, and plusgas. Possibly new bolts/nuts as required.
But you gain: a de-pre-catted manifold, heaps of experience and confidence in working with the car, a renewed sense of patience, and possibly some shiny new tools  s:) s:)   It's wins all around really.

[Anonymous]

The biggest risk is snapping / rounding a stud in the head.

[shnazzle]

The biggest risk is snapping / rounding a stud in the head.

Ssshhhhhh

[jinxedkitten]

[MOD] Please can we keep this reference thread tidy and keep discussion about the de-precatting process somewhere else, perhaps here orhere? Thanks

[Young Cardinal]

Thanks guys, really helpful! i'll have more of a look into this i think. bit more research first then.

[Lurch]

Done mine myself straight forward and only cost was new exhaust gasket. Not sure where you are in Suffolk but my mate Ian at Roys motor Company Norwich (Independant toyota dealer ) has said they have done them before. Norwich can,t be to far for you.

[Young Cardinal]

Nope not far at all, ill have a look into that. I'm in Norwich soon too. Thanks for that!

[Lurch]

Roys Motor Company are excellent and won't rip you off. 01603 424877 sprowston road Norwich.

[alij100]

Hi. Just bought a mr2 roadster and after reading about this is keen to get mine removed. Does anyone know of a garage or someone who can do this in my area which is Chelmsford Essex



Paul

[MilesH]

For anyone around Swindon / Cirencester area it's worth a call to Castle Eaton Vehicle Services (MR2 Specialist) - 01285 810808

[Ben1980]

I had my precats removed last August by Andrews Motor Engineers at Beverley, East Yorkshire for £95. The job took around 2-3 hours and I would recommend them to anyone as they have experience of removing MR2 precats.

[nobber]

For anyone around Swindon / Cirencester area it's worth a call to Castle Eaton Vehicle Services (MR2 Specialist) - 01285 810808

Cannot fault the guy. 2 snapped studs, gen gasket, a quick look around and found a leaky rad (which is covered under warranty from the garage i bought it from) all for 56 quid !!
Highly recommended

[MR2Si]

As with Nobber above,
 I have just had my precats removed, handbrake correctly adjusted, gearbox oil checked and 2 litres of engine oil added all for a very very reasonable price   s:D s:D  
John is a top bloke and comes highly recommended.

[mr2garageswindon]

Happy to help as always. Just a quick note for anyone doing their own pre cat removal. Less you have to undo the better. Dont bother removing the manifold. Undo the 3 14mm nuts. Plug the exhaust so nothing falls into it and carefully chisel out the cat material. You can always remove the sensors if you are worried about damaging them. Damn itchy stuff when you get it all over you! Naturally easier to do on a ramp but still doable on axle stands. Good luck.

[stargazer30]

Happy to help as always. Just a quick note for anyone doing their own pre cat removal. Less you have to undo the better. Dont bother removing the manifold. Undo the 3 14mm nuts. Plug the exhaust so nothing falls into it and carefully chisel out the cat material. You can always remove the sensors if you are worried about damaging them. Damn itchy stuff when you get it all over you! Naturally easier to do on a ramp but still doable on axle stands. Good luck.

Maybe for a garage/professional, but for advice for the DIY'er on here I'd say don't even go there.   You only need a small amount of precat to be missed or get knocked into the manifold pipe for the engine to draw it back in and you will have caused the very damage you tried to avoid.  Lamda's are also very easy to damage and £60 a pop so you want those out the way too.

I've done 3 x MR2s now, I'm no mechanic and honestly with plus gas and patience, getting the manifold off is not that bad.  Also once its off its much easier to clear out and you can get a pressure washer on the inside after to make sure you get all the dust out too.

[mr2garageswindon]

Whatever the individual finds easiest. I'd rather try to undo 3 nuts than remove heat shield then the manifold nuts and the support brackets. less chance of breakage. With a torch from underneath you can see when all of the cat material and wadding is gone. Like you say if you are not confident of doing the job yourself get a garage to do it. Its not expensive and peace of mind. Just a quicker way I'd found and thought I'd share it. We all have different ways of doing things.

[HFB]

Anyone in the Reigate area?  I've tried to call the guy mentioned in Dorking but got no reply

Did you manage to source anyone Martin?

I've just bought one and need to get mine done too!

HFB

[martin_b]

Sorry no..  Fortunately I'm not using any oil, and I still dream of a turbo..  so kind of gave up looking. ( i think there might be someone in the Dorking area?)

[HFB]

I have a couple of mechanic friends. One in Crawley and one in Oxted way. I'll ask them if they have done/would be willing to do a de-cat and see what they say/charge.

Pick mine up his week hopefully, if the dealer has managed to read the fault code on my jap import MR-S and replace the sensor!

HFB

[HFB]

Bonus

Picked car up yesterday and service info shows it was de-catted in 2011   s:D s:D

[Rexy2]

Does any one know of any one who can remove my precats in the Farnborough, Hampshire area. I only brought the car three weeks ago(03 plate) and I don't know if its had them removed as I'm not mechanically minded

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Welcome Rexy, I work in Farnborough and live locally. I don't know of any local garages that do it, but I know someone in Uxbridge area (35min drive)  that I recommend and I'm pretty sure he would be willing to do it. Let me know if you want the number

[Rexy2]

That would be great if you can give me the number. I will also see if I can get it done any nearer.

Thanks