Any of us who has kids is familiar (whether we like it or not) with “The Name Game”. Come on now “banana fana fo fana, fee fi fo fana”. We have all probably loved and hated that song at some point in our lives. The point is; it started out, and was intended as a tool. Intended to help children remember names, and of course it was fun and light hearted, but then there was always the mean little kid who has to spin it off, add in mean names to try hurt someone and end up ruining it for everyone.

Unfortunately in the Catalytic Converter business we have to deal with our own version of “The Name Game”. “Our” version is in some ways very similar and in other ways quite different.

Originally we would come up with different nick names to help describe a particular converter to our cat buyer or our customer, just to make sure we were talking about the same piece. With differences of $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, and sometimes more, this was a valid and necessary tool.

Nowadays with digital cameras, picture phones, and forums such as this, it is much easier to look at a picture and make sure we are all on the same page.

Unfortunately, there are those in the industry who have taken the name game too far. Putting out price lists with as many as 40 or sometimes even more categories. Using too vague or too complicated of descriptions for otherwise basic converters. Thus causing a great burden on the seller to learn and remember all of these different “categories” (which by the way is impossible) as is often times the intention of the unscrupulous creator of all the categories to begin with. This is where the “Game” comes in to play. If the seller has just a few of a particular unit this time it can be called xx which is worth a couple dollars more. But next time when he has more of that same unit oh it’s not an xx it’s an xy which looks almost the same but, is worth a few dollars less.

It is unfair, unnecessary, and impossible to ask every auto recycler, muffler shop manager, shop foreman etc. to memorize each converter that is a couple of dollars different. That is why as an industry we have (what should be) standard categories which encompass groups of similar type and value converters.

All of this being said, converter nick names are a part of our industry some of us use them honestly, with a valid purpose. Others are out to manipulate, cheat, and ultimately steel from those who are our collective customer base. Either way the goal of this forum is to share the nicknames we have heard or used for specific converters and ultimately build a database that will either contain every possible nickname or description, or simply put an end to the “Name Game” all together.

Please join us in not only educating yourself by browsing through the nicknames we have accumulated but also by adding any others that you are aware of. Be sure to check back often for updates.

Here are just a few basic comparisons to start with, keep in mind this list is simply different names for the basic categories:

High Grade GM =
Regular GM = Large GM, Double GM
Low Grade GM = Air Tube, Center Tube
High Grade Domestic = Strait Edge, Strait Chrysler, 4 Dot, large A/C
Large Domestic = Large Honeycomb
Small Domestic = Small Honeycomb, Standard, Regular, Regular Domestic, Regular Honeycomb
Domestic Pre = Pre
After Market =
XL Exotic =
Large Exotic = Jumbo, Exotic
Small Exotic = Extra Large Import
Large Import = Large Foreign
Medium Import = Medium Foreign
Small Import = Small Foreign, Standard Foreign
Low Grade Import = Low Grade Foreign, Low Foreign
Import Pre = Pre, Tiny
Truck Bead = Jumbo, Jumbo Pellet
3-Way Bead =Double Plug, Regular Bead, Standard Pellet
2-Way Bead = Single Plug, Regular Bead, Standard Pellet
Foils (Lg., Med., Sm.) = Wraps, Steels, Wires

Now the fun part. Every couple of weeks I will post a few more pictures with all of the names I know of for them. I encourage you to stop by often and add any additional names you know of for these units and they will all be available to view anytime thereafter.