[Z06] Cats
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 55
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From: Houston Texas
Cats
Look, I don't want a lecture about the economy. I just want to know the details on removing them. Do I need to tune the car? Purchase eliminators? Can I just gut the stock ones? How will it sound? I am going to buy exhaust and probably with cats. I'm just looking for more tone now. People are going to say just wait and buy the exhaust, but my lightning is in the shop (building the motor) and I would like to have something other than the sound of a civic to drive to work. Please don't flame, just want simple answers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
If you're saying you don't want a lecture about the environment, I won't give you one, but taking your cats off won't hurt the economy. 
Any exhaust shop can cut the cats out and put in test pipes. I wouldn't do it, personally. If you plan to sell the exhaust after you put on the new exhaust, the cats are the part that most people want because people cut the cats out (thinking there's an advantage to not running them) and then have to go smog and can't.
My advice is that if you're getting new exhaust, definitely leave the cats in. If at any time you need to smog and you fail with the new exhaust, you can put the old exhaust on temporarily, get smogged, and then put the new exhaust back on. Win/Win.
Any exhaust shop can cut the cats out and put in test pipes. I wouldn't do it, personally. If you plan to sell the exhaust after you put on the new exhaust, the cats are the part that most people want because people cut the cats out (thinking there's an advantage to not running them) and then have to go smog and can't.
My advice is that if you're getting new exhaust, definitely leave the cats in. If at any time you need to smog and you fail with the new exhaust, you can put the old exhaust on temporarily, get smogged, and then put the new exhaust back on. Win/Win.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
If you just remove the cats you will need a tune, or at least the eliminators, to fool the rear 02's. When I first did my headers, I went with an offroad system, but have since added HF cats. It was too loud with LTs, X, and Pacecars for my taste, but it's a little less harsh after I added the cats, and I don't hurt the economy that way.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
I know people that run cut outs pre-cats. That's where LSx's make the most power with them. Having them further down the exhaust doesn't really help much. Sure, it makes their cars louder, but LSX's like to breath.
For racing, cut-outs should always be before the cats.
If you get 02 simulators, you still need a tune. Just putting 02 simulators in will make you run rich, even if you're putting them in the second pair. You have to tune out those post-cat 02 sensors to go cat-less correctly.
For racing, cut-outs should always be before the cats.
If you get 02 simulators, you still need a tune. Just putting 02 simulators in will make you run rich, even if you're putting them in the second pair. You have to tune out those post-cat 02 sensors to go cat-less correctly.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
You guys crack me up.
2k3 is right. The smell of a non-catted car is just disgusting. Seriously. Have you been behind one in traffic? Lots of my idiot friends are too cheap to do real mods so they gut or remove the cats. When we drive around town to the next stop for the night, I often try to get ahead of them in the caravan because it stinks so bad. If I'm behind them, I turn off the vent in my A/C and go to circulate the cabin air.
If you don't mind being the jerk on the road that everyone hates because you stink, cut your cats out.
I think this is like getting on a crowded bus smelling bad of B.O. and not caring who has to suffer the whole trip.
2k3 is right. The smell of a non-catted car is just disgusting. Seriously. Have you been behind one in traffic? Lots of my idiot friends are too cheap to do real mods so they gut or remove the cats. When we drive around town to the next stop for the night, I often try to get ahead of them in the caravan because it stinks so bad. If I'm behind them, I turn off the vent in my A/C and go to circulate the cabin air.
If you don't mind being the jerk on the road that everyone hates because you stink, cut your cats out.
I think this is like getting on a crowded bus smelling bad of B.O. and not caring who has to suffer the whole trip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 4
From: granville mass
You guys crack me up.
2k3 is right. The smell of a non-catted car is just disgusting. Seriously. Have you been behind one in traffic? Lots of my idiot friends are too cheap to do real mods so they gut or remove the cats. When we drive around town to the next stop for the night, I often try to get ahead of them in the caravan because it stinks so bad. If I'm behind them, I turn off the vent in my A/C and go to circulate the cabin air.
If you don't mind being the jerk on the road that everyone hates because you stink, cut your cats out.
I think this is like getting on a crowded bus smelling bad of B.O. and not caring who has to suffer the whole trip.
2k3 is right. The smell of a non-catted car is just disgusting. Seriously. Have you been behind one in traffic? Lots of my idiot friends are too cheap to do real mods so they gut or remove the cats. When we drive around town to the next stop for the night, I often try to get ahead of them in the caravan because it stinks so bad. If I'm behind them, I turn off the vent in my A/C and go to circulate the cabin air.
If you don't mind being the jerk on the road that everyone hates because you stink, cut your cats out.
I think this is like getting on a crowded bus smelling bad of B.O. and not caring who has to suffer the whole trip.
not the smartest thing to do......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
If I'm sacrificing 3HP to not have stinky exhaust and to have a cleaner conscience, that's fine with me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,553
Likes: 936
From: Communist Colorado
Look, I don't want a lecture about the economy. I just want to know the details on removing them. Do I need to tune the car? Purchase eliminators? Can I just gut the stock ones? How will it sound? I am going to buy exhaust and probably with cats. I'm just looking for more tone now. People are going to say just wait and buy the exhaust, but my lightning is in the shop (building the motor) and I would like to have something other than the sound of a civic to drive to work. Please don't flame, just want simple answers.
You can
Yes, but again, expect an SES light and excess hydrocarbons/stink
Pretty much the same, but backfires can be expected especially on deceleration
