When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
If it were me, I'd just spring for LG Street Series headers with high flow cats...
But that's in my plans regardless, without the codes
If you were anywhere close to Corpus Christi, Texas, and could pick them up, I would make you a helluva deal on the original cats, H-pipe, or stock mufflers. There's a pretty good chance a lot of shops and tuners have them laying around collecting dust.
Last edited by Pewter Scooter; Sep 15, 2011 at 02:27 PM.
WOW,, there were over 100 mid section pipes/with CATs at the last Carlisle swap meet that you could have picked up for little or nothing and installed a whole new midpipe with cats!
Where do you live?? If there are any Corvette speciality shops in your area, they probably have a dozen take off pipes with OEM CATs hanging around... Check there!
Have you looked on the C5 parts for sale /wanted section. Post for a set in there!
I agree that replacing the cats with high flow types would work well, and yes the RT cats have a good reputation. As suggested, you could have the rear O2’s tuned out.
Did the dealer do more troubleshooting than just read the code? It may be possible that it could be a faulty O2 or wiring.
Find a tuner and get the catalytic codes disabled. Never worry about it again, and you will pass emissions unless your state does a sniffer/smog test.
I agree--at 10 years old the cats always seem to pop up pesky codes-It all depends on your local smog rules---IF you have to run your car on the sniffer or rollers--You will have to get the codes deleted permantnly to get it to pass--and to get all the "readiness tests" set to "READY"--- IF you don't have to run it on the sniffer and its just a VISUAL test delete the codes permantely and leave the cats be--
IF it won't pass on the sniffer ( bad cats cause the NOX to go way up) then you will need to replace them--Again local smog laws are all different-Some strict states like calif ---Won't let you change them to any other cat other than the ones on their aproved list--Some states won't allow any cat change other than stock unless your car is 10 years old !! here you shoulf be OK--
IF your car seems to be running fine most likely the cats are OK and it's just pesky old age stuff
There are several outlets that sell OEM converters for reasonable prices, I believe this site sells CATCO which is an OEM supplier. The price listed is for the complete mid pipe and the converters.
High flow cats will most likely not pass the sniffer test and they do not maintain the OEM exhaust system configuration. Check with the laws and inspection requirements in your state before you go down the road of modifying the exhaust system with after market component and tuning out emmission control system parameters.