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Removed smog equipment months ago with no negative effects,
Would any benefit come from a test pipe or a gutted cat? Sound mostly is wanted. There is only so much performance available from a mostly stock 82. Gutted cat would look closest to a stock setup if the ****'s come after me. But smog stuff already long gone.
Will be cutting off remaining piping on existing cat.
If going to remove stock might as well as just gut it?
If the smog stuff is already gone, then a piece of pipe is the least of your worries if they come looking.
Go true 2-1/2" duals.
What Ken said.....unless money is an issue. You will notice an improvement in performance cat-less...dual exhaust will give better performance and sound BETTER.
in this order
stock
removed smog
gutted cat with cat back duals
test pipe with cat back duals if your that worried about the cat being removed gut it then run a pipe through it . (gutted cats supposedly cause turbulence, this would solve the issue)
true duals
after that you have to get into the engine and or ECM.
I went with true 2 1/2 inch duals on my smog-less 82. The sound is beautiful (may need an H-pipe) to tone it down a bit at WOT. Rams horn exhaust manifolds with a 2 1/2 inch exit is my next mod. The OEM stainless manifolds have a leak where the 4 runners converge.
There was one on eBay I bought one and ther was another one..it bolted right on and yes there is more sound that comes with the test pipe a much more throaty sound..a little more volume I have the stock mufflers in place as well..
I don’t think you would have any issues with emissions because of the cars age I know here in Kansas it is exempt ..yes I think it runs a whole lot better without the cat on I don’t have any emissions controls on my 82 ..
Original smog era mufflers are designed to work after a cat so the car will be louder than a stock system if you disable the cat.
I have the true duals setup now but am considering putting the original pipes back on with the test pipe I acquired. I know that seems crazy but I do have a reason.
Original smog era mufflers are designed to work after a cat so the car will be louder than a stock system if you disable the cat.
I have the true duals setup now but am considering putting the original pipes back on with the test pipe I acquired. I know that seems crazy but I do have a reason.
I will agree with you on the "seems crazy" part.....
So instead of changing mufflers you are going to go change out the true duals and go back to the restrictive Y-pipes?
opening up the factory cat cost nothing.put it back on and see if you can tell a difference .tru duals can help .best change would be the intake.heads and cam.
There was one on eBay I bought one and ther was another one..it bolted right on and yes there is more sound that comes with the test pipe a much more throaty sound..a little more volume I have the stock mufflers in place as well..
Link for the ebay pipe? I want to get rid of the cat for now as it got so hot before i see a brown burn spot ubder passenger seat on oyster carpet..it gets about 500f and heat shield rattlng..assume no heat shield needed with pipe?
Last edited by interpon; Jul 14, 2019 at 09:20 PM.
Test pipe vs gutted cat
