Cat Delete (Headers & X-Pipe)
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 19
Likes: 7
From: Colleyville, Texas
Cat Delete (Headers & X-Pipe)
Hey guys, I really would like to go cat-less on my 2001 Z06 but I’m not sure what I should do. Is there a good affordable option for headers and an x-pipe out there? And when getting an x-pipe with no cats I would need to get a tune to take away the code right? Could be a stupid question but just looking for some advice here, thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 401
From: Palm City
St. Jude Donor '06-'11
I did it a few months back and ordered a new catted x pipe the next day. Terrible smell and my car ran too rich. I would say you will need a tune. I installed some cat cheaters for the sensors so I had no codes. It was a huge waste. I would say just get high flow cats and headers.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 19
Likes: 7
From: Colleyville, Texas
I did it a few months back and ordered a new catted x pipe the next day. Terrible smell and my car ran too rich. I would say you will need a tune. I installed some cat cheaters for the sensors so I had no codes. It was a huge waste. I would say just get high flow cats and headers.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
Hey guys, I really would like to go cat-less on my 2001 Z06 but I’m not sure what I should do. Is there a good affordable option for headers and an x-pipe out there? And when getting an x-pipe with no cats I would need to get a tune to take away the code right? Could be a stupid question but just looking for some advice here, thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
If you don't like to smell exhaust (not many do!) while at a stoplight, don't go catless. It isn't an overwhelming smell, but without cats, it'll be there. I might add I have a convertible, so it's possible that coupes may not have the exhaust smell quite so strong, idk. IMHO, LT headers and an X-pipe are one of the better mods you'll ever make, don't affect reliability, and sound great, which is subjective, but most will agree with me. The only thing I can add is underhood heat will increase dramatically. Mine got hot enough so it melted a hole in the battery heat shield, which is (inexplicably!) made of black plastic. As long as you're spending nearly 2k on a system, get your LT headers a good thermal coating. Mine were NOT! So learn from my mistake! Get a good name brand, like KOOKS, ARH, Stainless Works, LG, etc. Hope this helps.....
NCM Lifetime Member
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Cunningham, TN
2021 Corvette of the Year - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Winner- Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '26
I too thought I wanted to go catless, until I did.
Fortunately I had LG super pro long tubes and could simply replace the off-road pipe section with their high flow cats. To my knowledge, LG is the only mid/x-pipe that is easily interchangeable that way with clamps.
Too much raw gas smell for me. The smell would get in my clothes and my garage always smelled like gas too.
Regardless of which system you go with, the ceramic coating as previously mentioned is good for heat mitigation, and I highly recommend a tune, as the car will be leaner with the OEM tune and headers.
Fortunately I had LG super pro long tubes and could simply replace the off-road pipe section with their high flow cats. To my knowledge, LG is the only mid/x-pipe that is easily interchangeable that way with clamps.
Too much raw gas smell for me. The smell would get in my clothes and my garage always smelled like gas too.
Regardless of which system you go with, the ceramic coating as previously mentioned is good for heat mitigation, and I highly recommend a tune, as the car will be leaner with the OEM tune and headers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,595
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From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I agree that It's better to have high flow cats. However, if you are going catless, Speed Engineering is a good option for CHEAP. Unfortunately, they don't have a catted option.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 401
From: Palm City
St. Jude Donor '06-'11
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Safety Car
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From: N.E. Suburb MN
Hey guys, I really would like to go cat-less on my 2001 Z06 but I’m not sure what I should do. Is there a good affordable option for headers and an x-pipe out there? And when getting an x-pipe with no cats I would need to get a tune to take away the code right? Could be a stupid question but just looking for some advice here, thanks.
Last edited by WalterSobchak; Oct 12, 2021 at 03:37 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 3,974
From: Cincinnati, OH
Don't go catless. There is no decrease on today's cars performance wise with using hi flow cats.
3" header collector, 3" midpipe and 3" cats to a 2.5" catback will flow more than enough on a stock LS6.
Look at TPS headers (NOT TEXAS SPEED) and midpipe. AMAZING fitment and price is right.
3" header collector, 3" midpipe and 3" cats to a 2.5" catback will flow more than enough on a stock LS6.
Look at TPS headers (NOT TEXAS SPEED) and midpipe. AMAZING fitment and price is right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,595
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From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Some food for thought. A catalytic converter will remove 95% - 99% of harmful emissions from your exhaust. Removing the catalytic converter will net you approximately a 1% HP gain. I'm no tree hugger, but is a 3-5 HP gain really worth a 95% increase in harmful emissions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 3,974
From: Cincinnati, OH
My car wasn't bad catless and stock cam in my C5Z...adding a aftermarket cam made the exhaust smell TERRIBLE at a stop light. Fumes would waft in the car to the point my clothes would smell and it wasn't even tuned "rich".
I quickly added 3" universal hi flow Flowmaster cats and never looked back.
I quickly added 3" universal hi flow Flowmaster cats and never looked back.
Last edited by smitty2919; Oct 12, 2021 at 07:45 PM.