In August 1986, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new proposed guidelines for the construction, efficiency and installation of aftermarket converters. The EPA guidelines state that replacement converters may be installed only in the following situations:

1. The vehicle is missing a converter.

2. A state or local inspection program has determined that the existing converter needs replacement.

3. The vehicle is more than five years old or has more than 50,000 miles and a legitimate need for replacement has been established and documented.

The installer must include the customer’s name, address, and the make, model, year and mileage of the vehicle on the service invoice, along with a stated reason for replacement. Where a state or local government has determined that a converter is damaged or needs replacement, the service or repair facility must retain a copy of the written statement or order by a proper government representative which indicated that the converter should be replaced and attach it to the invoice. Where the replacement need has not been verified by a proper state or local government representative, the customer and a representative of the service or repair facility must sign a statement verifying that replacement is justified. That statement is included in every Walker converter carton.

Furthermore, the EPA has issued the following installation requirements:

1. The converter be installed in one of the three situations outlined above.

2. The converter be installed in the same location as the original converter.

3. The converter be the same type as the original converter ( i.e. oxidation, three-way or three-way plus oxidation).

4. The converter be the proper one for the vehicle application as determined and specified by the manufacturer.

5. The converter be connected properly to any existing air injection components on the vehicle.

6. The converter be installed with any other required converters for a particular application.

7. The converter be accompanied by a warranty information card to be filled in the installer.

The catalytic converters listed in this catalog have been designed, tested, manufactured and proven to meet the EPA policy and conversion efficiency requirements as issued in the Federal Register on August 5, 1986 and November 3, 1987.

The installation of a noncomplying catalytic converter by a named party will be considered a violation of the Clean Air Act, 203 (a) (3), and the violator may be prosecuted accordingly. Any person who causes such violations will also be considered liable under the Clean Air Act.