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Old Jul 22, 2020 | 04:16 PM
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Default Gutted cats?

Since there seems to be performance gains to be had by removing the cats, and assuming you didn’t want to spend $1300 on test pipes, why not just gut the stock cats? I certainly don’t mind spending money on things but $1300 seems excessive for what can be accomplished in an afternoon in the garage.

Has anyone else thought about doing this?
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Jul 23, 2020, 11:46 AM
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DON'T gut your factory cats. That's insane. Our header testing showed incredible gains through the factory cats with little to no additional gains with high flow cats added. That was through the factory catback as well. I'll bump my ARH C8 Header thread to the top and request that you read through our test results for accurate information. What makes the factory cats work well is their 6" overall diameter. Don't damage them.

Nick
Old Jul 22, 2020 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by olsen185
Since there seems to be performance gains to be had by removing the cats, and assuming you didn’t want to spend $1300 on test pipes, why not just gut the stock cats? I certainly don’t mind spending money on things but $1300 seems excessive for what can be accomplished in an afternoon in the garage.

Has anyone else thought about doing this?
how much will a speed shop charge to get zr1 cats?
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Old Jul 22, 2020 | 11:48 PM
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LTH has basically a catless hookup and they charge $850 for those vs $1350 for the High flow cats...
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Z0Sick6
LTH has basically a catless hookup and they charge $850 for those vs $1350 for the High flow cats...
fab speed also has test pipes, for $1300, those were the ones I was referring to. I didn’t realize another company made them. $850 is better, but damn

https://www.fabspeed.com/chevrolet-c...ss-pipes-2020/
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by olsen185
fab speed also has test pipes, for $1300, those were the ones I was referring to. I didn’t realize another company made them. $850 is better, but damn

https://www.fabspeed.com/chevrolet-c...ss-pipes-2020/
LTH also has cats at 1350. the others are overpriced. I made a post elsewhere and everyone said their LTH parts are high end and they use the best ECOf cat out which has the highest flow rating like many of the others on the market. they didn't cheapen it out by using lesser quality stuff. the others are just overpriced due to first to market.
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Z0Sick6
LTH also has cats at 1350. the others are overpriced. I made a post elsewhere and everyone said their LTH parts are high end and they use the best ECOf cat out which has the highest flow rating like many of the others on the market. they didn't cheapen it out by using lesser quality stuff. the others are just overpriced due to first to market.
my shop quoted me 450 to cut out the cats and weld in straight pipes. What is a test pipe?
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted by olsen185
Since there seems to be performance gains to be had by removing the cats, and assuming you didn’t want to spend $1300 on test pipes, why not just gut the stock cats? I certainly don’t mind spending money on things but $1300 seems excessive for what can be accomplished in an afternoon in the garage.

Has anyone else thought about doing this?
I raised that possibility for the C7 secondary CATS (which are not monitored so no issue with sensors.) Someone responded who tried and it's not easy to remove the internals. The internals are securely attached to the sides (otherwise gases would just go around the flow restricting internals) In that case I was wondering why folks would spend the money for an "X" pipe as all recent Vettes have "X" pipes and all the aftermarket "X" pipes were doing was replacing the secondary CATS!

In fact the C7 OEM "X" pipe section and pipes (right in pic) in general looked to be better quality than some of the aftermarket products. The location of the "X" section is critical. Recall for my 1988 Vette (that did not have one) I fabricated an "H" pipe cross over section and one way to define where it should be placed was by using an optical pyrometer and finding a hot spot location!

Last edited by JerryU; Jul 23, 2020 at 09:19 AM.
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Donzo7
my shop quoted me 450 to cut out the cats and weld in straight pipes. What is a test pipe?
Based on the guy below commenting on C7 and the way the cats are designed, I wouldn't play around for $400 dollars. Just buy the test/straight pipe (same thing), and bolt it on. Keep the stocks if you sell the car or trade it in and dealer wants the cats or tries to low ball you because you gutted yours.
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Z0Sick6
Based on the guy below commenting on C7 and the way the cats are designed, I wouldn't play around for $400 dollars. Just buy the test/straight pipe (same thing), and bolt it on. Keep the stocks if you sell the car or trade it in and dealer wants the cats or tries to low ball you because you gutted yours.
Why do they call them test pipes? And can't a skilled welder do basically the same thing for 1/2 the money?
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 11:46 AM
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DON'T gut your factory cats. That's insane. Our header testing showed incredible gains through the factory cats with little to no additional gains with high flow cats added. That was through the factory catback as well. I'll bump my ARH C8 Header thread to the top and request that you read through our test results for accurate information. What makes the factory cats work well is their 6" overall diameter. Don't damage them.

Nick
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by AR Headers
DON'T gut your factory cats. That's insane. Our header testing showed incredible gains through the factory cats with little to no additional gains with high flow cats added. That was through the factory catback as well. I'll bump my ARH C8 Header thread to the top and request that you read through our test results for accurate information. What makes the factory cats work well is their 6" overall diameter. Don't damage them.

Nick
I was told that the factory manifolds are good to 800 hp but the cats will melt and fry the motor? That's why the cats have to be cut out or gutted. Is my information wrong? I'm getting ready to mod but was told headers weren't necessary.
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Donzo7
I was told that the factory manifolds are good to 800 hp but the cats will melt and fry the motor? That's why the cats have to be cut out or gutted. Is my information wrong? I'm getting ready to mod but was told headers weren't necessary.
You've been misinformed regarding the factory manifolds. With no other changes we crushed them across the entire RPM range with our 1-7/8" long tubes. It wasn't even close. As far as the cats, how you plan on getting to 800 HP matters. The easiest way by far is through supercharging and I still feel that the factory cats' overall OD size really helps their cause. Most at that power level will go cat delete regardless and some will have high flow cats, but don't underestimate the factory cats is what I'm saying.

Nick
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by AR Headers
You've been misinformed regarding the factory manifolds. With no other changes we crushed them across the entire RPM range with our 1-7/8" long tubes. It wasn't even close. As far as the cats, how you plan on getting to 800 HP matters. The easiest way by far is through supercharging and I still feel that the factory cats' overall OD size really helps their cause. Most at that power level will go cat delete regardless and some will have high flow cats, but don't underestimate the factory cats is what I'm saying.

Nick
I'm looking to be in the 650-700 range. So your saying that the factory cats wont be a problem that could ultimately ruin the motor? Its troubling to me that I can't get a consistent answer on this topic....
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Old Jul 23, 2020 | 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by AR Headers
DON'T gut your factory cats. That's insane. Our header testing showed incredible gains through the factory cats with little to no additional gains with high flow cats added. That was through the factory catback as well. I'll bump my ARH C8 Header thread to the top and request that you read through our test results for accurate information. What makes the factory cats work well is their 6" overall diameter. Don't damage them.

Nick
that’s good to hear. I read something elsewhere that a cat delete netted 20+ hp. Not to mention the sound difference is quite noticeable.
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Donzo7
I'm looking to be in the 650-700 range. So your saying that the factory cats wont be a problem that could ultimately ruin the motor? Its troubling to me that I can't get a consistent answer on this topic....
Donzo,

The C7 ZR1 makes 750hp through factory cats. The Hellcat Redeye and new GT500 are either right there or making more, all through factory cats. They are very durable but yes, they have their limitations, especially when they're subject to long term extreme situations like road racing in high temperatures, but aftermarket cats have their limits too under extreme conditions.

Nick
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by AR Headers
Donzo,

The C7 ZR1 makes 750hp through factory cats. The Hellcat Redeye and new GT500 are either right there or making more, all through factory cats. They are very durable but yes, they have their limitations, especially when they're subject to long term extreme situations like road racing in high temperatures, but aftermarket cats have their limits too under extreme conditions.

Nick
Well I'm pretty aware of the hp ratings of new cars. I was just wondering if a 638 hp cars cats can handle another 150 hp without any damage to cats or engine? I can't get the same answer out of kong and guys on here that run close to 700 who. 9 sec says headers are a waste of money under 800 who. What the heck!!! I'm most likely the poorest zr1 owner on the planet. I can't afford to buy a new engine after dropping 10 k on mods. Just saying....
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Donzo7
Well I'm pretty aware of the hp ratings of new cars. I was just wondering if a 638 hp cars cats can handle another 150 hp without any damage to cats or engine? I can't get the same answer out of kong and guys on here that run close to 700 who. 9 sec says headers are a waste of money under 800 who. What the heck!!! I'm most likely the poorest zr1 owner on the planet. I can't afford to buy a new engine after dropping 10 k on mods. Just saying....
Donzo,

I highly recommend you calling me Monday and I’ll get you all squared away. You’re being misinformed. Anyone that tells you headers aren’t needed till 800hp is not who you want to take advise from. You can bank on that. Reach me at 631-608-1986. Thanks.

nick
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by olsen185
that’s good to hear. I read something elsewhere that a cat delete netted 20+ hp. Not to mention the sound difference is quite noticeable.
look up redliner on you tube, he has a catless c8. let us know how hard it is to gut these cats. thanks


Last edited by SL41; Jul 27, 2020 at 12:55 PM.
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by SL41
look up redliner on you tube, he has a catless c8. let us know how hard it is to gut these cats. thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDkw946xnQU&t=966s
seen his videos and heard his car, I think it sounds great!! Just don’t think it’s worth $1300
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by olsen185
seen his videos and heard his car, I think it sounds great!! Just don’t think it’s worth $1300
$1300 is a total rip off
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