What are Pup cats?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
I think they just help light off the the main cats even faster - another emission device. I believe certain years have them and some don't. I think it depends on the year the emission standards at the time and whether or not California cars needed them.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
pups.........
Read this article:http://www.idavette.net/writers.htm Look under the article, The Ruthless Pursuit of Power, Sequel. Then page three (3)" Pups out, new cat in" . I personally removed the OEM exhaust from my '01 Z06 and replaced it with a system from a '02 Z06 for $350. A direct bolt in job.
Last edited by dieseldave56; Dec 26, 2007 at 02:00 AM. Reason: url link
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
pup cats didn't appear until 1999 - and just in a few regions of the country. In 2001 they were on all C5 LS1's.
Your 1997 does not have them.
in a nutshell; pup-cats (pre-cats) are an additional pair of catalytic converters... placed close to the engine. They are much smaller than the main cats. For C5's with pup-cats, there are a total of 4 catalytic converters in the exhaust system.
Your 1997 does not have them.
in a nutshell; pup-cats (pre-cats) are an additional pair of catalytic converters... placed close to the engine. They are much smaller than the main cats. For C5's with pup-cats, there are a total of 4 catalytic converters in the exhaust system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
pup cats didn't appear until 1999 - and just in a few regions of the country. In 2001 they were on all C5 LS1's.
Your 1997 does not have them.
in a nutshell; pup-cats (pre-cats) are an additional pair of catalytic converters... placed close to the engine. They are much smaller than the main cats. For C5's with pup-cats, there are a total of 4 catalytic converters in the exhaust system.
Your 1997 does not have them.
in a nutshell; pup-cats (pre-cats) are an additional pair of catalytic converters... placed close to the engine. They are much smaller than the main cats. For C5's with pup-cats, there are a total of 4 catalytic converters in the exhaust system.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Some more Vette trivia (bad golf weather here, kinda bored):
Yes, the pups didn't appear until the 2000 model, and only in California and some New England states.
To offset the slight HP loss from the pups, all 2000's received cams with .500 lift (vs about .476 previously).
On the 45-state 2000's that didn't get the pups, the cam change resulted in a 5-8 HP increase on the dyno vs the earlier models.
But wait, there's more!
When the '02 Z06 dropped the pups, they did so by introducing a dual-stage main cat that had two "bricks" built into the main cat body. I think the front brick is a rhodium compound that helps quick light-off.
But these were more costly, so they did not switch to them for the regular C5.
Now, if you have a '01-'04 C5 you can switch to the Z midpipe to eliminate the pups. Or, you can find a 2000 45-state midpipe, and get the same effect. Maybe cheaper if you can find one. Only the 2000 will bolt up, the '97-'99 was a different length.
Either way, it's only about 5HP, but I've paid more and gotten less.
Cheers,
DG
Yes, the pups didn't appear until the 2000 model, and only in California and some New England states.
To offset the slight HP loss from the pups, all 2000's received cams with .500 lift (vs about .476 previously).
On the 45-state 2000's that didn't get the pups, the cam change resulted in a 5-8 HP increase on the dyno vs the earlier models.
But wait, there's more!
When the '02 Z06 dropped the pups, they did so by introducing a dual-stage main cat that had two "bricks" built into the main cat body. I think the front brick is a rhodium compound that helps quick light-off.
But these were more costly, so they did not switch to them for the regular C5.
Now, if you have a '01-'04 C5 you can switch to the Z midpipe to eliminate the pups. Or, you can find a 2000 45-state midpipe, and get the same effect. Maybe cheaper if you can find one. Only the 2000 will bolt up, the '97-'99 was a different length.
Either way, it's only about 5HP, but I've paid more and gotten less.
Cheers,
DG
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Does "hollowing out" the 2001 pre cats throw any codes or require a re-tune?
(but you have to pay a fine to AlGore...
)
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
Actually according to Dave Hill, Corvette Chief Engineer " While the offical ratings (hp) didn't change, '00 California cars were about 5 hp SHORT of the '97-'99's because of the pups. MY01 had no deficiency because the LS1 was changed in other areas negating the pup's power loss.
Other benefits of going pupless were 5 1/2 pound weight loss.
Other benefits of going pupless were 5 1/2 pound weight loss.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The Pup Cats were introduced in 2000 to meet the changes in the California emissions changes beginning that year. Many of the New England states incl. NY also received the same exhaust.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The BLUDGE in the exhaust pipe in that hollowed out pre CAT could COST YOU POWER instead of a power gain.
The turbulence/ resonance and loss of smooth gas flow can do very strange and unexpected things to the engine. One of them is NOT more HP.
Like it was mentioned previously, get the later 2002+ ZO6 exhaust manifolds and mid pipe and bolt it in. Then you will gain power on a stock system.
You can install a C6 ZO6 manifold and exhaust mid-pipe on your C5 and people claim its just as good as headers. There are numerous post on doing this mod. Requires some mods but it well worth the time and money spent
The turbulence/ resonance and loss of smooth gas flow can do very strange and unexpected things to the engine. One of them is NOT more HP.
Like it was mentioned previously, get the later 2002+ ZO6 exhaust manifolds and mid pipe and bolt it in. Then you will gain power on a stock system.
You can install a C6 ZO6 manifold and exhaust mid-pipe on your C5 and people claim its just as good as headers. There are numerous post on doing this mod. Requires some mods but it well worth the time and money spent
