Cat or No Cat?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Arkansas
Cat or No Cat?
Other than getting the nod from the Earth Day crowd, what advantages do I get from ordering my new headers/X-pipe with cats? Does it have any impact on HP gains, drone, acoustics? I do not have to deal with emissions testing or safety inspections in my State.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 539
From: AZ
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Only two things I know of. One is the smell, my catless 08 stunk to high heaven, it was unpleasant. Second is the feds, your state might not require cats but if the feds bust you, it's a pretty hefty fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 539
From: AZ
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Only two things I know of. One is the smell, my catless 08 stunk to high heaven, it was unpleasant. Second is the feds, your state might not require cats but if the feds bust you, it's a pretty hefty fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 145
From: Little Egypt, USA
No smell to bother me on my 07. Smells no worse than any pre cat car, i.e. 1974 and older.
Advantages you will get over cats: less tunnel heat, better sound, better flow (the 5 or 6 hp), save $300 to $400 on the cats/rear O2 extensions plus you don't have the hassle of routing the rear O2 wiring. I have no drone with headers, no cats and the stock exhaust.
I recommend going catless if you want the above advantages. You can always add cats later if you change your mind. As far as violating the federal emissions law, once you install the headers the law is broken cats or no cats.
All the above is of course IMHO.
Advantages you will get over cats: less tunnel heat, better sound, better flow (the 5 or 6 hp), save $300 to $400 on the cats/rear O2 extensions plus you don't have the hassle of routing the rear O2 wiring. I have no drone with headers, no cats and the stock exhaust.
I recommend going catless if you want the above advantages. You can always add cats later if you change your mind. As far as violating the federal emissions law, once you install the headers the law is broken cats or no cats.
All the above is of course IMHO.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I would never consider running without cats because it is not legal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
More like the personal responsibility/integrity crowd.
You wouldn't drive around with your high-beams on all the time, blinding oncoming traffic, would you? If not, then don't consider dumping noxious fumes into the airstream directly onto the cars behind you - and for no performance gain. Keep the cats.
You wouldn't drive around with your high-beams on all the time, blinding oncoming traffic, would you? If not, then don't consider dumping noxious fumes into the airstream directly onto the cars behind you - and for no performance gain. Keep the cats.
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No I think the "Earth day" crowd is a better description.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I don't get the smell issue. I had several cars without cats because cats were not invented yet, and I don't remember a smell issue. I only used Amaco Gold that was not advertised as an unleaded fuel, but was.
I would never consider running without cats because it is not legal.
I would never consider running without cats because it is not legal.
We've been running catalysts in the United States for 35 years. The Europeans have been at it for less than 20. You can find much more modern catalyst-free cars there than we ever had, and boy are they awful.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
TorqueTube, Seriously...get a life. Responsibility? Integrity?
Back on topic, all the performance cars ive had (2 LT1 Z's, 01 WS6, 02 Lightning, 02 Mustang GT, 88 Mustang Notchback) have never had cats once headers went on. My 09 Vette is getting headers this friday and guess what...No cats. The slight HP gain is nice, but the sound is what makes it worth it for me. Again, if the smell bothers you, pass me!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: SPRING CREEK NEVADA
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
Oh how I miss the California tree hugging mentality - I don't have an "attitude" about anything really, I just choose not to take headers without cats so seriously.I'm actually a pretty responsible guy - go dance in the grass with a flower wreath on your head, hippy.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Now, now...children!!
I don't understand why folks have to get ugly when someone doesn't agree with their position. If you're not interested in what other people think or know....why are you on this forum?
Just my opinion! I don't have a dog in this fight!
Andy
I don't understand why folks have to get ugly when someone doesn't agree with their position. If you're not interested in what other people think or know....why are you on this forum?
Just my opinion! I don't have a dog in this fight!
Andy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I'm advocating the don't-be-a-***** mentality: don't talk on your cell phone in movie theaters, don't double-park across handicapped spaces, don't leave your high-beams on all day, and don't dismantle a pollution control system for no advantage whatsoever and dismiss the _reality_ of its negative impact on others with a flippant "roll your windows up and shut your vents."
My C6 is just as fast as yours is and it doesn't give passers-by headaches. Win-win.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Catless for sure.
Better sound, better power and less money.
Also, my car has no bad smell after removing the cats. None whatsoever and others say the same thing. It's tuned very agressively, and that could be a reason for it.
Better sound, better power and less money.
Also, my car has no bad smell after removing the cats. None whatsoever and others say the same thing. It's tuned very agressively, and that could be a reason for it.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,381
Likes: 939
From: Huntsville Alabama
vette was the first car i said, ok will try the hi flow cats.
ordered headers with hi flow cats (american racing)
they messed up and sent me both xpipes, so i ran the cats for about 2-3 months, then said ok lets see if there is a difference,
NONE, just 500 bucks more, and that catted x-pipe is just in the box now. smell is the same, SMALL difference in sound. less heat.
ordered headers with hi flow cats (american racing)
they messed up and sent me both xpipes, so i ran the cats for about 2-3 months, then said ok lets see if there is a difference,
NONE, just 500 bucks more, and that catted x-pipe is just in the box now. smell is the same, SMALL difference in sound. less heat.