Considering losing the cats on my WS6!
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958
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From: Mentor, Ohio
Considering losing the cats on my WS6! I have "collectors" license plates on my SS and now on my WS6. These plates in OHIO make the car exempt from emissions testing. My Ws6 has the following mods:
cut-out in the intermediate pipe
hood nostril baffles removed
SPEC stage 3 carbon clutch(original design)
I am considering yanking the cats off the stock y-pipe, but I don't know what the best way to do it would be. Here are my choices:
-gut the stock cats(hollow them out) and re-install the stock y-pipe
-install cat by-pass pipes
-install an off-road y-pipe
I don't know what exhaust I want to go with yet but I have narrowed it down to three:
Hooker catback
GMMG
CORSA
I am not installing headers for a while. I am installing a Moser 12 bolt with 4.30s and replacing the SPEC clutch with a RAM 910/402 VDS before I spend cash on headers. When I do get headers, I am going with either Thunder Racing headers, Kooks, or QTP.
What do you all think?
cut-out in the intermediate pipe
hood nostril baffles removed
SPEC stage 3 carbon clutch(original design)
I am considering yanking the cats off the stock y-pipe, but I don't know what the best way to do it would be. Here are my choices:
-gut the stock cats(hollow them out) and re-install the stock y-pipe
-install cat by-pass pipes
-install an off-road y-pipe
I don't know what exhaust I want to go with yet but I have narrowed it down to three:
Hooker catback
GMMG
CORSA
I am not installing headers for a while. I am installing a Moser 12 bolt with 4.30s and replacing the SPEC clutch with a RAM 910/402 VDS before I spend cash on headers. When I do get headers, I am going with either Thunder Racing headers, Kooks, or QTP.
What do you all think?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 503
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From: Temple, TX
IMHO Gutted cats sound like *** and no cats sounds bad ***. I would either cut them out and put a straight pipe there, or just not worry about it till you get headers. Do not buy a new y-pipe if you plan on doing headers, waste of money.
i have some cat bypass pipes for sale if u want them just pm me. try an exhasut shop, the one arond here wouldnt bypass the cats so i had to get these pipes, they bolt right up and are stainless steel
how do u get it as a collectors car like that?
how do u get it as a collectors car like that?
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958
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From: Mentor, Ohio
In Ohio to get the "collectors" plates the state has a book full of cars they consider to be collectible. If your car isn't listed in the book then you must prove why it is considered a collectors vehicle, either low production or limited edition or a LARGE amount of money invested and have proof(reciepts/pictures). I don't know the exact amount of money that has to be invested to get the plates. I got them simply because of the low production of the WS6 and SS. If I had just a plain Z28 or Trans Am I couln't have gotten them. I may have been able to get them with the Camaro(even if it wasn't a SS due to the money I have in it). To get the "collectors" plates you have to have more then that one car in your name, meaning the "collector" car isn't your means of transportation. They don't put a limit on mileage or anything like that, and it is still illegal to make the car non-emissions compliant. Having the plates doesn't give you the right to remove the emissions equiptment. The plates just makes it so you don't have to be tested when you renew the plates. I take real offense to punks that rip the cats and crap off their cars, get some huge motor or cam then go get these plates and drive the car ALL the time! Thats bullshit! Those kind of people will ruin it for everyone. Those are the kinds of punks you see driving the ratty 5.0s with "collectors" tags. I only put 800 miles on my SS in 2003 and only 3000 miles on my Ws6 after I got the tags for it(that took about 7 months to put 3000 miles on it). In my opinion I am not abusing it at all.
on my 98 all 6 manifold to cat bolts broke when i was doing headers so keep that in mind...if they break how are you gonna get the cats back on there? hehe...just do headers...my pacesetters ran like $440 shipped to my door and its only a little more work than what your talkin about doing and will look and sound much better.
lata
Bill
lata
Bill
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
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From: Northern Va
i installed a hooker catback as soon as i got my car in sept. 2003, a 98 z28. Sounded great to me. But its quiet at idle, 1/2 throttle its gotta great rumble, and WOT sounds perfect for my tastes. Then i picked up an off road y pipe from a guy off this board, Bassani makes one to fit stock manifolds, and it sounds absolutely sick. when i start up the car it sounds like i just have a catback, then when i mash it down, it sounds like i have a heads and cam package. not quite as aggressive sounding as a corsa or GMMG but hell i dont have that kinda money. hooker catbacks go for anywhere between 230-300 bucks, just keep an eye out id recommend it.
However if i were you, if you have the dough of course, id get a set of long tubes or mid length headers. you can pick up a off road y pipe to match. if you have the dough, do it right the first time you wont be disappointed.
Good luck man
happy modding
~T
However if i were you, if you have the dough of course, id get a set of long tubes or mid length headers. you can pick up a off road y pipe to match. if you have the dough, do it right the first time you wont be disappointed.
Good luck man
happy modding
~T
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Launching!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 257
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From: Fort Carson, CO
Originally Posted by BlackWS602
IMHO Gutted cats sound like *** and no cats sounds bad ***. I would either cut them out and put a straight pipe there, or just not worry about it till you get headers. Do not buy a new y-pipe if you plan on doing headers, waste of money.
I agree with this completely 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,558
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by BlackWS602
IMHO Gutted cats sound like *** and no cats sounds bad ***.
Problem with gutted cats is, the power gain just isn't there like it is with an ORY. I still say get the headers and ORY, just pick a good catback to make it sound right.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958
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From: Mentor, Ohio
Well it seems that maybe just swapping out the manifolds for headers is better then yanking just the cats. With my SS I had the Grott headers(yes, REAL Grottyohann headers from ROGER the dodger GROTTYOHANN) and Random Tech cats with the Grott 3 inch y-pipe and a Borla. I hated the Borla. Borlas sound awesome on LT1s and L98s but NOT on LS1s. I personally think the real GROTTYOHANN headers are still the best design out there. Although it took me about 4 months to get them 
They were worth every penny! Say I just go the header route on the WS6; would you say Kooks over QTP or the Thunder Racing headers? Price isn't a HUGE matter, don't get me wrong, I am not Donald Trump or anything, but I am a strong believer in you get what you pay for in most cases, especially in the LS1 market. I really like true duals but I plan to drop the car a bit and I don't like worring about scrapping all the time. Personally, I don't like most of the true dual set-ups out there. Sure they may sound great, save weight, and produce more power then catbacks(some times) but no offense to those out there with true duals, but most of the ones I have seen lokk seriously shitty(I especially don't like the ones with pipes out the back UNDER the axle). I have seen several with real custom bent pipes over the axle and they looked badass, but I am not paying $1500 for an exhaust(thats w/o headers). For the catback I would choose either a Corsa, GMMG, or a Hooker. The WS6 will be used mainly for street cruising, some autoX and probably a bit more drag racing!
They were worth every penny! Say I just go the header route on the WS6; would you say Kooks over QTP or the Thunder Racing headers? Price isn't a HUGE matter, don't get me wrong, I am not Donald Trump or anything, but I am a strong believer in you get what you pay for in most cases, especially in the LS1 market. I really like true duals but I plan to drop the car a bit and I don't like worring about scrapping all the time. Personally, I don't like most of the true dual set-ups out there. Sure they may sound great, save weight, and produce more power then catbacks(some times) but no offense to those out there with true duals, but most of the ones I have seen lokk seriously shitty(I especially don't like the ones with pipes out the back UNDER the axle). I have seen several with real custom bent pipes over the axle and they looked badass, but I am not paying $1500 for an exhaust(thats w/o headers). For the catback I would choose either a Corsa, GMMG, or a Hooker. The WS6 will be used mainly for street cruising, some autoX and probably a bit more drag racing! 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 353
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From: Elizabeth, NJ
First off let me say that if you plan on going LT's, ORY (no cats), and the GMMG, be prepared for rasp. I know from expierience. I had a Dynomax bullet welded in the I-pipe and there still is rasp (not nearly as bad as it was though). It sounds pretty good and it gets quite a few compliments. But I'm in the process of finding someone around NJ to make custom true duals for my car, most likely with dumps, but it's been hard. The reason for for the duals is for the better scavenging and better low and mid range power and torque. Plus it will shave some weight and sound alittle better too. 
If your going to go no cats, just wait untill your going to install the headers. I have QTP LT's and absolutely love them!! Just wish I had gotten them with the high velocity merge collectors though . QTP had a problem with the fitment of the Y-pipe at first, but that's been solved. It hangs a little low, I guess about 3-4" clearance on the Y and I pipe, and thats with stock height. I've had them on since about September and only scrapped twice, both on speed bumps. One I was going too fast and the other was a monster speed bump. If you have any questions about the setup or whatever feel free to PM me. Later man!!
If your going to go no cats, just wait untill your going to install the headers. I have QTP LT's and absolutely love them!! Just wish I had gotten them with the high velocity merge collectors though
. QTP had a problem with the fitment of the Y-pipe at first, but that's been solved. It hangs a little low, I guess about 3-4" clearance on the Y and I pipe, and thats with stock height. I've had them on since about September and only scrapped twice, both on speed bumps. One I was going too fast and the other was a monster speed bump. If you have any questions about the setup or whatever feel free to PM me. Later man!!