C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Removing my Cat Converter.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 6, 2014 | 09:41 PM
  #21  
qwank's Avatar
qwank
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Default

No emissions test - no cat. Get it out of there. If anyone says anything tell them you bought it that way.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2014 | 03:19 PM
  #22  
jso789's Avatar
jso789
Advanced
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: New York
Default

I took the cat off of my 81. The original cat was rusted and had leaks so I replaced it with a test pipe. Slight increase in power but overall the biggest increase was in sound. The exhaust seems much more freely flowing than it did with the cat. It definitely will help your car breathe better if it is an original style flat cat on your car. They clog up with carbon and become very restrictive over time...
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2014 | 06:19 PM
  #23  
gcusmano74's Avatar
gcusmano74
Drifting
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Default

Originally Posted by Roughrider
You can always install a modern performance cat...they're not that expensive and don't restrict flow like early ones did. Check with Summit Racing or Jegs and see what's available.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2014 | 08:35 PM
  #24  
BEVO76's Avatar
BEVO76
Pro
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 546
Likes: 7
From: Kansas
Default

Originally Posted by scottyp99
I'm not advocating doing this, but let's say, hypothetically, you were to remove your cat, ya know, to inspect it, and while you were inspecting it, you accidentally jammed a big pipe into it. Let's further assume that you are very clumsy, and accident prone, and you kept accidentally doing this, over and over, until all the guts crumbled and fell out of the cat. Then, maybe you went back in the house, cleaned up, made a sandwich and ate it, watched some tv, and forgot all about the accidents with the cat and the pipe. Then you went back out into the garage and re-installed the cat, because you didn't remember that it was just a big, empty shell now.

If this particular series of events were to take place, then you would have a more free flowing exhaust system, which would be just a hair louder, and anyone who looked under your car would see the original cat sitting there, just as pretty as you please. No one would be the wiser. Not even you, because you forgot all about it. All hypothetical, of course. I would never advocate doing anything illegal. I'm a good boy. I drink the Kool-Aid, just like I'm supposed to.

Scott
I like this!!!

Or just tell them you have really really small cats that are installed in your straight pipes.....they are there you just can't see them. But for me if you looking under my car than your entirely too close to my car
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2014 | 09:01 PM
  #25  
gcusmano74's Avatar
gcusmano74
Drifting
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Default

In New Jersey motor vehicle inspections, was a time when the DMV guys would shove a mirror attached to a pole under the car to see if the cat was still installed. Dunno if they still do that.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 04:16 AM
  #26  
mauiwilly's Avatar
mauiwilly
Advanced
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton AB
Default

It's a no brainer....easy way to get a few extra HPs....get more air in....and more out !!
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 02:43 PM
  #27  
John Holmes's Avatar
John Holmes
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 5
From: OR
Default

Deleting the cat is worth 8 rear wheel horsepower, I know because I measured it on my '79.
It was also worth 1/10 in the quarter mile.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 10:14 PM
  #28  
terry82's Avatar
terry82
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Default

Originally Posted by maverickmk
Hmm, this sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe it was a dream?
have heard this many times from so many that have had the same dream and performance gaines
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 10:41 PM
  #29  
7t9l82's Avatar
7t9l82
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

until recently i wouldn't have worried about it, but with S.W.A.T teams showing up for cattle eating grass i may re think that.
the official story is my 79's emissions system was vandalized 2 days after it left the factory
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 10:49 PM
  #30  
tektrans's Avatar
tektrans
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 451
From: Central NJ
Default

Originally Posted by John Holmes
Deleting the cat is worth 8 rear wheel horsepower, I know because I measured it on my '79.
It was also worth 1/10 in the quarter mile.
That 8 rwhp # could be more or less on a given car depending on the set up and the condition of the cat that was removed and the 1/10th quarter mile gain would be a stretch to verify and depending on the quarter mile range of the car that 8rwhp could see much less than a tenth or close to a tenth but rule of thumb is would take at least 10 rwhp to give you a tenth back with all other variables being consistent.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 11:18 PM
  #31  
John Holmes's Avatar
John Holmes
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 5
From: OR
Default

That 8 rwhp # could be more or less on a given car depending on the set up and the condition of the cat that was removed and the 1/10th quarter mile gain would be a stretch to verify and depending on the quarter mile range of the car that 8rwhp could see much less than a tenth or close to a tenth but rule of thumb is would take at least 10 rwhp to give you a tenth back with all other variables being consistent.
The 1/4 mile times were easy to verify, I ran this car a couple dozen times before the cat was removed. A stock car with an automatic transmission is easy to run consistently and I keep very detailed records of my track experiences going back to 1976.
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2014 | 08:05 AM
  #32  
7t9l82's Avatar
7t9l82
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by tektrans
That 8 rwhp # could be more or less on a given car depending on the set up and the condition of the cat that was removed and the 1/10th quarter mile gain would be a stretch to verify and depending on the quarter mile range of the car that 8rwhp could see much less than a tenth or close to a tenth but rule of thumb is would take at least 10 rwhp to give you a tenth back with all other variables being consistent.
i agree it takes more than 10 horsepower to shave a tenth in a 1/4 mile. i don't doubt removing a convertor would pick up that much, you should have replaced the exhaust with a good dual exhaust and you would have picked up more.

Last edited by 7t9l82; Apr 20, 2014 at 08:10 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2014 | 10:49 AM
  #33  
garygnu's Avatar
garygnu
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: coon rapids mn
Default

I removed my cat and put it in a safe place to prevent it from being stolen .
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2014 | 10:58 AM
  #34  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by 7t9l82
i agree it takes more than 10 horsepower to shave a tenth in a 1/4 mile. i don't doubt removing a convertor would pick up that much, you should have replaced the exhaust with a good dual exhaust and you would have picked up more.
Those old cats were so heavy, the weight loss of removing it may have contributed to the reduction in E.T.

Scott
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2014 | 11:33 AM
  #35  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Magnaflow make a real good quality cat that flows very well and they are reasonable

Useless piece of info, I am leaving my smog equipment on the car because i think it will effect the value down the road if it is removed

There are some simply awesome cars on Cl for sale out here that are COMPLETELY worthless cause theres not one piece of smog equiptment on them. We got these STAR state run stations now you get that on your renewal notice theres no paying anyone either it passes or no tags for you!

Just spent too much on 2 Ca approved cats for my 02 Chevy pu. Think they are a waste of money but a necessary evil.
Could of almost bought me 1 AFR head with that for the toy
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:15 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE