Tried searching but couldn'r find what I was looking for. Just trying to figure out what work people do about that cats when they switch to long tubes. Obviously the stock cats are not worth using both because of there size and restrictiveness, but do most people on here go no cats, 1 cat, 2?
Also, I live in Arizona so actual smog testing is not important since they just plug in, but I don't know if there are any rules about having no cats or moving the cats to other than stock locations.

Also, with the little amount of "preformance mods" I have done so far, do you think I would be better off sticking with a Y pipe set-up to the cat back, or X, H with true duals?

Thanks

 

My exhaust shot said they couldnt do it with dual cats and an X-pipe. There wasnt enough room to clear fuel lines and the ground and such. They said that if a car came with 1 cat that they could not add another cat. Being that yours is a 96, from 95+ they offered a dual cat option. A shop cannot build an exhaust without a cat unless its strictly a race car. My shop guy said the fine was $50,000 and they would close his business so most shops wont even take the risk.

Cats are a federal law and i know of a guy who they fined $1,100 for driving on the street without cats. That being said, my new setup won't have cats, but i've been bulled over twice in my life running without mufflers and only for things like speeding and faluire to yeild. No inpsection tickets yet. I don't think any cops in DE care too much though, it might be different in your state.

 

I just finished mine up yesterday. LT's, H-pipe and duals. Went from 1 to 2 cats. No problem, just welded a plate between the cats and the fuel lines.

 

Do you have any pictures?

What type of Mufflers are you using?

 

I'm using Dynomax bullets. Didn't have the camera handy, but as soon as I can get back on the lift, I will. I'll email you the one I used as a guide, though.

 

ArizonaZ: Which long tubes are you getting?

If its FLP's, they have off-road pipes and cats you can swap out, so there you go.

If its Hookers/Jet-Hots you want, then you can go custom with the rest. I cant stand the sound or smell of a car with no cat(s) so I personally would weld up a high-flow cat (or two, depending). If you've got big power plans for the car, do it right the first time and go true duals.


PS: I'm in AZ too.....finally starting to cool off here, huh?

 

I would suggest the FLP header setup. It comes with 2 cats ready to bolt on as well as a y-pipe and the kit uses high quality clamps.

The only problems are plug access on a few is very tight, where a shorty-style plug had to be used. And on the driver side, it is close to the brake/fuel lines. Some type of a shield should be fabbed up or those lines covered with reflective tape. Also, if you have an oil cooler, it must be removed and a smaller oil filter installed. Therefore, use of a synthetic oil is pretty much mandatory.

The cats must be installed with the heat shield towards the car, not the ground. Some years ago, a muffler shop had incorrectly installed a cat converter on my car, with the shield facing the bottom. The guy said it didn't matter...he was full of it.

I live in CA and have had no problems passing the smog test here with them.
The long tube headers come with both air and egr connections. The primaries are 1 3/4" in diameter. Unfortunately they are not equal length.

 

The only issue with the FLP headers for f-bodies is that they stopped production on them, last I heard. I owned a set and understood why. However, I did retain the y-pipe and cats on my new set-up and it is possible to either modify an FLP y-pipe with dual cats, or have a shop make one emulating the modified FLP y-pipe. You can get it pretty tight to the underside of the car with creative sheet metal heat shields around critical areas.

Ed: I thought everyone knew the heat shield is to protect the car, not the ground.

 

Yep, I know. You would be surprised how many idiots there are out there.

 

Yeah like the ones who jack their car up by the fuel line protection plate *cough* I about had a heart attack yesterday when i was laying under the car an saw what i jacked it up by. It didnt seem to bend anything, to bend anything or hurt the fuel lines, but if it did it would have sheered them right off it looks like.

 

Yeah, definately a good thing about the weather, no more 7000 ft Density Altitutes down here in Tucson, at least for a couple months.

I was planning on going with the Hookers/Jet-Hots because even though people are raving about the pacesetters, every other piece of exhaust, especially shorty headers are garbage. Found that out first hand with another vehicle.

The is a guy on theis forum, Poormanz28 i believe was his name, that used the summit universal kit of his and it looked real nice, but I really want cats to quite it down a little, and still try to keep it semi legal .

Well, I plan to put it in over the winter break when I don't have to worry about homework and exams, so we'll see what happens.