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Headers without cats?

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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 01:22 AM
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Default Headers without cats?

I think this is what I would like to do and just would like input from the forum on whether it is a good or bad idea.

I have a Vortech supercharger and I am planning on adding LG headers without hi-flow cats. I have heard a lot of people from the forum that had problem with forced induction and cats.

I am planning on purchasing the high flow cats but not installing them until I need a smog check (hoping they can pass on the visual if I pass sniff test).

Just wondering if there is a down side to running the headers without the hi-flow cats? Thanks
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 06:26 AM
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No cats make it louder but more dry and raspy sounding, on my non-cat setup the turbos tend to reduce the loudness a bit...and after awhile the smell can get on your nerves.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Brabus2
No cats make it louder but more dry and raspy sounding, on my non-cat setup the turbos tend to reduce the loudness a bit...and after awhile the smell can get on your nerves.

I absolutely love the sound, but the odor is pretty tough.

Bruce
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 09:47 AM
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The insides of your exhaust tips will be quite tough to clean !! I've given up on mine..
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by xtacy187
The insides of your exhaust tips will be quite tough to clean !! I've given up on mine..
My setup has been the same for a year and a half and although I do clean them regularly, my Corsa tips look absolutely brand new.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 02:17 PM
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CARTEK 2X H/C pkg. Kooks, no cats, Borla way back.

Love the sound and love the unspent gas smell MORE.

The slight drone with the Borlas @1500-1700 is twice as loud. I just plan around it.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 02:35 PM
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OK, I guess the recommendation is to install the hi-flow cats since everyone is saying the smell is really bad. Is this correct from the posts here?
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 04:09 PM
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I had a non catted built v8 S10 pickup, headers and a big cam, and it had a strong gas smell to it.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 04:32 PM
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My 2000 C5, with heads and cam, no cats did have a smell to it. My 2007 Z06, stock heads and cam, no cats, has no smell to it. High overlap (aftermarket) cams will pass more gasoline down the exhaust and have a smell.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by csun213
OK, I guess the recommendation is to install the hi-flow cats since everyone is saying the smell is really bad. Is this correct from the posts here?
I was worried about the same thing when I removed the cats. Try without. . .
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by csun213
I think this is what I would like to do and just would like input from the forum on whether it is a good or bad idea.

I have a Vortech supercharger and I am planning on adding LG headers without hi-flow cats. I have heard a lot of people from the forum that had problem with forced induction and cats.

I am planning on purchasing the high flow cats but not installing them until I need a smog check (hoping they can pass on the visual if I pass sniff test).

Just wondering if there is a down side to running the headers without the hi-flow cats? Thanks

It seems obvious that long tube headers w/o cats will not meet state smog emission requirements. What about with the LG hi-flow cats?
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Smokin1
It seems obvious that long tube headers w/o cats will not meet state smog emission requirements. What about with the LG hi-flow cats?
I am going to purchase the LG hi-flow cats but just did not want to put them on. Some people with forced induction were having problem with the cats and I was going to put it on if I need to smog the car. I was just asking what people thought about running the car without cats and I think most people say that the smell will get to me.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Brabus2
...and after awhile the smell can get on your nerves.


I have been running LGs without cats for about a year and a half and my only complaint is the smell. I am seriously considering putting the hi flow cats on. It is only a problem when I back the car into the garage or a closed in space. It's not a problem when you're running down the road.

Last edited by Maalox; Aug 26, 2007 at 09:35 PM.
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Old Aug 26, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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ok, I tend to cause a stink with my thoughts....but, Simply take the factory cats and chop them in half on one of the two factory welds. throw all the stuff from the insides away. Cut a piece of pipe that you aquired from the local muffler shop that is the same diameter to fit perfectly with the angle of the top of the inside of the cats. Shove them together and reweld just like factory. Now have your tuner disable those O2s. Depending on the state you are in, you will pass o test. Now you will get a headache from noise from your stingers and will go back to cats or install touring exhaust. I'll let you know about the difference in power on FI app. since the first one was a few months ago and the new one with factory cats is tuesday on the dyno. The baseline was 352rwhp stock at 92% outside. Should be a strong car!
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