I'm thinking about removing my catalytic converters to make the exhaust sound better.

To those of you who have removed them:

- What kinds of gains did you see?
- Does your exhaust smoke/smell at all?
- What does one do about the inevitable SES light?
- Could I get pulled over for this and what's the penalty?
- What do I do about the O2 sensors?
- Is this really worth it?

Thanks.

 

the gains are not all that noticable on a near stock car. i installed an orp on my 99z last year. there were not noticable gains.

you can smell a little more unburnt fuel than normal...but that is expected.

you'll only get the SES light if you don't install o2 sims or reprogram the computer to delete the rear o2 sensors

you'd probably get pulled over for something else...say noise...and i suppose they could ticket you if they are able to test on the street for emissions.

as for the o2 sensors...o2 sims or a reprogram will cover that

it is well worth it for the sound!!

if you are interested i still have the basanni orp that i need to get rid of...will make a good deal to get rid of it quick. that way you can switch back to cats if need be.
there are some pics on my website...page 2 i think

 

well, i see you're in florida. no emissions here, i say take them off (i did, never putting them back on)

 

Take those bastards off. I purposely got the Texas-Speed y-pipe because it gives you the option of adding cats later if you would like, but I can tell you right now, they're never going back on the car.

 

I see you asked if it was worth it. With the money youd spend on the offroad pipe and 02 sims, I'd say no on stock manifolds. Youll spend couple hundred dollars for ~5hp. If you just gutted your stock cats youd get by a lot cheaper, but just remember if for any reason you ever do want to go back to your emmissions equipment, cats can get pricey.

Id personally only consider doing it if you were considering going to headers.. in which case youd be replacing the exhaust manifolds and y pipe all at once.

 

i second that, just wiat till you get LT's

 

i still have to check but im pretty sure my cats are dead...if they are im just going to gut them for now. except i have to pass emissions in september 2005, so i'll probably just buy new cats then

 

LTs will eventually come, but for now is it possible to remove the cats and have a skilled exhaust man fabricate two pieces of pipe to go where the cats used to be?

 

you can...but it's illegal...

not all shops will do that...it's against the law for them to remove the cats

 

I wouldn't f*** with the stock Y...just buy an off-road Y or have one made.

teke is correct, most shops will not remove your cats...it's illegal for them and it's illegal for you to drive around w/o cats too. FL doesn't have emissions testing but that doesn't mean you can just remove the cats (just FYI). Also, the fines are very expensive if you get caught...I wouldn't worry too much about the local PD's checking for cats but state troopers are another story.


If you're in south FL, I know of a very good exhaust shop down here.

 

When I had my Rumbler installed, the FIRST thing the guy asked me was if I wanted to cut the cats off.

I guess with my current setup, it's not really worth removing the cats.

 

How do I remove the Cats from my exhaust system? Should they just bolt on, or will I have to remove my pipes and drill them out... I have no idea how to do it.
Anyone have a walk through or anything?