CATS off for a daily driver?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,407
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From: My barber didn't know when to quit... Do you?
CATS off for a daily driver?
Anyone running off-road pipes on their daily driver?
I am not concerned with the sound level. (I like it loud) :D but the only thing holding me back from doing this is the smell.
How bad is the smell and is it bearable in stop and go traffic and on long trips?
Thanks. :cheers:
I am not concerned with the sound level. (I like it loud) :D but the only thing holding me back from doing this is the smell.
How bad is the smell and is it bearable in stop and go traffic and on long trips?
Thanks. :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (2000^C5)
I run no CATS on my Z06 and I have absolutely no problems with smell. The only issue that has raised in my book is the heat generated from the exhasut afterwards.
I would definately paint the exhaust with some ceramic paint to help dissipate heat! :cheers:
I would definately paint the exhaust with some ceramic paint to help dissipate heat! :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (2000^C5)
I tried mine without the cats for a few days, it wasnt really much louder then the FLP cats but I couldnt take the smell. Depends on your tolerence for the smell I guess, I hate it, one time with the top off on a 90 degree/no wind day in traffic was all it took for me to put them back on..
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 316
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From: Spanish Fork UT
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (kp)
I was forced to put mine on. I got caught by a state emissions inspector. I put on my FLP high flows and I like the sound better and the smell dropped dramatically as well as the soot. I can't tell if I lost any power because it got really cold here at the same time and my car is screaming.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 168
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From: Memphis, TN.
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (vstella)
I've had mine off for about 3 months now... No smell at all. I was worried about the smell that these guys were talking about before I took them off. Still don't know what it is that they smell? I wouldn't put that dead weight back on for a nothing! :smash:
Clint
Clint
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,723
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From: Redacted
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (2000^C5)
Of course, it's illegal and there's not much I can support about dumping a bunch of unburned HC into the air. Keep it street legal for everyone's sake. GM worked hard to deliver a performance car that gets good economy and low pollution figures. Seems like a shame to tank good engineering.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,147
Likes: 32
From: Dallas TX
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (larrysb)
The smell on mine was really bad but a lot of thats is cause the car was running really rich. After having the car tuned, the is smell is not very noticeable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,071
Likes: 297
From: Savannah GA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (kumar75150)
The smell on mine was really bad but a lot of thats is cause the car was running really rich. After having the car tuned, the is smell is not very noticeable.
and I am running big cubes + big cam. :yesnod: Not a daily driver so I keep pollution to a minimum for the tree huggers. :smash: :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (C5-VERT)
Before I had tuning done, the car was running very lean and the smell was much stronger for some reason. Now after having it tuned I hardly ever notice it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (larrysb)
Of course, it's illegal and there's not much I can support about dumping a bunch of unburned HC into the air. Keep it street legal for everyone's sake. GM worked hard to deliver a performance car that gets good economy and low pollution figures. Seems like a shame to tank good engineering.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
From: Lutz FL
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (larrysb)
Of course, it's illegal and there's not much I can support about dumping a bunch of unburned HC into the air. Keep it street legal for everyone's sake. GM worked hard to deliver a performance car that gets good economy and low pollution figures. Seems like a shame to tank good engineering.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (Automag928)
Its not illegal in Florida.... Just to put this in perspective (as far as pollution) - There is more pollution generated by the cars driving to watch a shuttle launch than from the shuttle launch itself...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 399
From: North Haven, CT
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (RobsC5)
I haven't had any problems with smell at all. I think the cam has alot to do with it as someone mentioned earlier.
ps, my car is driven 70+ miles a day, and I am not bothered by the sound or smell at all. I say go for it, the improved sound alone, plus the added power is more than worth it. Plus, you can't shoot flames with cats on the car. :D :D :D
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,723
Likes: 1
From: Redacted
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (Automag928)
Its not illegal in Florida.... Just to put this in perspective (as far as pollution) - There is more pollution generated by the cars driving to watch a shuttle launch than from the shuttle launch itself...
http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/sips/fl/fl242700.htm
http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/sips/fl/fl243400.htm
Just to put it in perspective, a car with inoperative catalyst produces more pollution than 100 cars with operating controls.
I'm all for having a good time on the track - but I really think that in this day and age, it is imperative that we performance enthusiasts keep our cars legal with respect to pollution. The controls have come SO far in the last 30 years that we now have vehicles that perform better than in the muscle car era and pollute very, very little.
Else we face the enviro-whacko's demanding that ALL performance cars (and trucks, diesels, SUV's etc) be banned. There's plenty of people who want do just that too.
For that matter, there's plenty of nuts who want cars banned period.
Why give 'em a reason when just keeping the controls working isn't that big of a deal?
[Modified by larrysb, 12:06 AM 11/5/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (2000^C5)
We dont have emission testing here and everytime I end up behind a ricer or a pickup with the cats lopped off I can smell it, especially with the AC on and I'm behind them at a light. I am not sensetive to fuel smell, I can stand next to an idling top fuel car and it doesnt really bother me but these newer cars w/o the cats give me a headache for some reason :)
I think some people just get used to it or it just doesnt bother them. I picked up a little power with them off but to me it really made the car seem like a beater to me when the people behind me were thinking the same thing I did when I pulled up behind a car with no cats. I think about 60% of the cars/trucks (even newer ones) have the cats cut off here, its a lot worse here then in chicago where they had emission testing...
I think some people just get used to it or it just doesnt bother them. I picked up a little power with them off but to me it really made the car seem like a beater to me when the people behind me were thinking the same thing I did when I pulled up behind a car with no cats. I think about 60% of the cars/trucks (even newer ones) have the cats cut off here, its a lot worse here then in chicago where they had emission testing...
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: everson wa
Re: CATS off for a daily driver? (kp)
mine doesn't make any more smell than my other vehicles, and they all have cats on them! possibly just leave pre-cats on for a little scrubbing. this also keeps the resonance levels down. just my 2 cents................ :cheers:
