Does a 1981 Chevy have catalytic converter?

Not all 1981 Chevy vehicles had catalytic converters. The federal mandate requiring catalytic converters on all new passenger cars began in 1975, but the effectiveness and implementation varied. Therefore, whether a specific 1981 Chevy had one depends on:

* The engine: Some engines might have been exempt from the requirements, or might have used different emission control systems.

* The model: Different Chevy models (e.g., a pickup truck vs. a passenger car) may have had different emissions equipment.

* The market: Vehicles sold in California, which had stricter emissions standards, were more likely to have catalytic converters even earlier than the federal mandate.

To know for sure if a particular 1981 Chevy has a catalytic converter, you'd need to check the vehicle's documentation or visually inspect the exhaust system.