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What are Pup cats?

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Old 12-25-2007, 10:30 PM
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0TheRadioFlyer97
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Default What are Pup cats?

I think we're talking about pre-cats. What is their purpose and why do the base model cars have them and the Z-cars don't?
Old 12-25-2007, 10:39 PM
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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.
Old 12-26-2007, 01:45 AM
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hermit
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My 01 ZO6 had them.
Old 12-26-2007, 01:52 AM
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Default 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; 12-26-2007 at 02:00 AM. Reason: url link
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Old 12-26-2007, 09:28 AM
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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.
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Old 12-26-2007, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
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.
A few additional comments: Pup cats appeared on SOME, primarily California / Low Emissions C5s in 2000, not 1999. I do not have the pup cats on my 2000, which was originally sold in Cinn. Ohio. The pup cats appeared on ALL 2001 C5s, including Z06.
Old 12-26-2007, 02:35 PM
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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
Old 12-26-2007, 03:08 PM
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^^^^^^ very good info
Old 12-26-2007, 09:46 PM
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Does "hollowing out" the 2001 pre cats throw any codes or require a re-tune?
Old 12-26-2007, 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by jovette
A few additional comments: Pup cats appeared on SOME, primarily California / Low Emissions C5s in 2000, not 1999. I do not have the pup cats on my 2000, which was originally sold in Cinn. Ohio. The pup cats appeared on ALL 2001 C5s, including Z06.
hey; thanks for the clarification

Does "hollowing out" the 2001 pre cats throw any codes or require a re-tune?
no.

(but you have to pay a fine to AlGore... )

Old 12-27-2007, 01:49 AM
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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.
Old 11-09-2018, 05:01 PM
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Does anyone know exactly what years pre-cat pup cats were installed on C5's? Is there a source for this information?
Old 11-09-2018, 05:14 PM
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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.
Old 06-18-2019, 01:48 PM
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I'm wondering what is the noise effect of cleaning out the pup centers. Will I get a little increase in growl or a lot?
Old 06-18-2019, 09:58 PM
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Not much if any.
Old 06-19-2019, 12:56 PM
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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

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