For those not running cats, how bad is the exhaust smell behind you?
02-23-2010, 12:10 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
For those not running cats, how bad is the exhaust smell behind you?
Thinking about doing headers and getting rid of my cats. Just wondering how bad the smell is without cats. My cats have already been deleted during a tune so I should have no trouble taking them off. No emissions testing here either
02-23-2010, 02:24 PM
#4
Team Owner
ask the dead people behind me 
02-23-2010, 05:13 PM
#10
Racer
NO CATS HERE....You like going to race tracks and the smell of racecars?? I personally love the smell of raw fuel and race gas .. My Z deff smells like a race car.. Doesnt really bother me much in the car.. If you think your gonna be worried about and a loud exhaust then its not for you...
02-23-2010, 05:21 PM
#12
Instructor
I have an 01 Vert with a blackwing, long tube headers, high flow cats, and Corsa exhaust. When I purchased my car from the previous owner he also gave me a set of straight pipes that fit right where the cats are and a couple of 02 Sims. After owning the car for a couple of years I took the cats off and put on the straight pipes to see what the difference would be. A little louder and sounded really good at WOT - but when I would stop at traffic lights or sit at idle anywhere I would get the rich exhaust smell in the car - this would be with top up and top down - did not matter. Not sure if the car could have been tuned to eliminate the smell but I decided to put the cats back on and plan on leaving them on. So if it can be tuned to eliminate the smell or you don't do much stop & go driving then you may be ok. I recently got a little louder and allot more horsepower by adding an A&A Supercharger - no smell either!! 
02-23-2010, 05:50 PM
#15
Race Director
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St. Jude Donor '03
Actually, it's only one of the above. But all three mentioned are certainly products of political brainwashing.
Smell never bothered me. A splash of leaded race gas sweetens it up too....If you're male and don't like that smell, Turn in your man card and buy a Prius.
Smell never bothered me. A splash of leaded race gas sweetens it up too....If you're male and don't like that smell, Turn in your man card and buy a Prius.
02-23-2010, 06:12 PM
#16
Drifting
Thread Starter
I want the sound without cats but not the smell. Have a dry eye that is really sensitive to strong odors. That is why I am trying to decide, don't need my eye irritated while driving. Sounds like I need the cats.
02-23-2010, 06:16 PM
#17
Safety Car
i dont have cats with my ARH's and i get some smell every now and again.. if i had to do it over i would get the cats.. or if i have some time, i'll go to them to have some welded on
02-23-2010, 06:33 PM
#18
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '08
I have high flow cats with my LT's, but the smell is still pretty bad. I bought the system used on the forum. I always worry about motorcycle cops riding behind me. Someone mentioned to me that the previous owner of my headers ran race fuel and that the cats may be worthless. I am looking to buy a new catted X-Pipe.
02-23-2010, 07:44 PM
#20
Safety Car
I ran without cats for a while. The smell was quite bad; clothes constantly smelled like fuel which didn't go well with my current job. I ended up putting HF cats on and the smell is much better now. The cam I believe is a big factor.