Removing catalytic converters
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Removing catalytic converters
I have an 87 L98 Cpe with stock exhaust on it now and have just
purchase a set of ZR1 style Targa mufflers to put on and now thinking
about removing pre-cats and the catalytic conerters with new exhaust
pipes, my question is will doing this effect or cause any problems down
the road? I understand with the converters I'm being robbed of addtional
horsepower, the state I live in doesn't have emission stops or inspections
anylonger. Please give me some opinions on this subject.
purchase a set of ZR1 style Targa mufflers to put on and now thinking
about removing pre-cats and the catalytic conerters with new exhaust
pipes, my question is will doing this effect or cause any problems down
the road? I understand with the converters I'm being robbed of addtional
horsepower, the state I live in doesn't have emission stops or inspections
anylonger. Please give me some opinions on this subject.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I removed the precats and put in a high flow main cat. It seems to be a good compromise between better flow and excessive resonance. You can get a universal high flow main cat for @ $65.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I recently had a Flowmaster tech tell me that cats are one of the better low/mid-level mufflers. I'd already been saying that but he surprised me by saying hi-flow cats often perform better than equivalent muffling by a muffler.
Consider returning the mufflers and going to hi-flow cats (front and mid-section). No muffler.
Consider returning the mufflers and going to hi-flow cats (front and mid-section). No muffler.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
I've been running with no cats for 23 years on my '86. All I have are resonator tips.
It's not too loud - my son was getting a little carried away though.
It's not too loud - my son was getting a little carried away though.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
The flow restriction of a properly performing cat is negligable and the exhaust is not as offensive.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 2
From: Perth Western Australia
St. Jude Donor '10
Since I removed the precats and put in a hi flow main cat my 87 actually goes and sounds like a v8. Its like a different car. Mind you the 3 cats I took off had collapsed and were blocking the pipes more than they were designed to do.
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