Cutting out Catalytic Converters
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Teching In
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Cutting out Catalytic Converters I have a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6. I am wondering if anyone has had their catalytic converters cut out and run just straight pipes. The guy I talked to at the exhaust shop said that he could do this for 240$, including the O2 simulators that would need to be put on so the SES light would not come on.
However, he said if I had a performance muffler, that my exhaust, post catalytic converter removal, would be somewhat louder and that I would hear a deceleration popping. I don't think I would like this popping noise he is talking about. At this point, my only options are to either have them cut out or pay to have the converter replaced, which is more expensive. I can't afford a new exhaust system (e.g. Borla).
I'm curious if anyone has any experience or knowledge on this subject. Thanks.
However, he said if I had a performance muffler, that my exhaust, post catalytic converter removal, would be somewhat louder and that I would hear a deceleration popping. I don't think I would like this popping noise he is talking about. At this point, my only options are to either have them cut out or pay to have the converter replaced, which is more expensive. I can't afford a new exhaust system (e.g. Borla).
I'm curious if anyone has any experience or knowledge on this subject. Thanks.
My brother just took off his cats, took a crow bar and stabbed the insides of them until all the cat material broke up and fell out and then reinstalled them and bought 02 simulators for I think $40?
This thread says GM warranties the cats for 10years/120k miles, maybe check with your dealership:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...converter.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...converter.html
Thread Starter
Teching In
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This thread says GM warranties the cats for 10years/120k miles, maybe check with your dealership:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...converter.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...converter.html
For $240 you can buy brand new Mufflex tubes that
are a straight bolt-in, and keep your intact cats for
just-in-case. Or an annual drive to the inspection
station.
For the price of a long drill bit, a mini prybar and an
hour, you can bust out the bricks. The gutted shell
will be a bit "boomy" around 2KRPM but no rasp if you
dress some of the sharps you will find at the inlet
with a ball stone / burr and die grinder (or drill). This
will stand up to casual undercar inspection though
a smart trooper with infrared could notice its non-
functionality (It musta got old and blown out, yer
Honor!).
Check your local car club scene for someone who'll
kill the codes for beer.
Decel popping depends on tune more than pipe.
If you went for some kind of obnoxious exhaust like
a Loudmouth, yeah, catless will add to the obnoxious.
One with a real muffler, not so much.
are a straight bolt-in, and keep your intact cats for
just-in-case. Or an annual drive to the inspection
station.
For the price of a long drill bit, a mini prybar and an
hour, you can bust out the bricks. The gutted shell
will be a bit "boomy" around 2KRPM but no rasp if you
dress some of the sharps you will find at the inlet
with a ball stone / burr and die grinder (or drill). This
will stand up to casual undercar inspection though
a smart trooper with infrared could notice its non-
functionality (It musta got old and blown out, yer
Honor!).
Check your local car club scene for someone who'll
kill the codes for beer.
Decel popping depends on tune more than pipe.
If you went for some kind of obnoxious exhaust like
a Loudmouth, yeah, catless will add to the obnoxious.
One with a real muffler, not so much.
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Teching In
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go LT headers or leave it alone. 
yes on platinum Yes there is platinum, palladium, and cerium in our converters. What was that in reference to? As long as there not falling apart they are worth 25 to 35 a piece at a scrap recycling plant.
For about the same price, you can get a clean bolt on install here:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-88028/
OR save for some LTs and new ORY and a Frost mail tune, will be worth it in the long run.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-88028/
OR save for some LTs and new ORY and a Frost mail tune, will be worth it in the long run.
I hollowed out a pair of cats before, didn't notice any difference.
Then I cut the flanges off the cats, measured the angle of the bends to go from stock manifolds to an edelbrock ORY. Two pieces of bent 3" pipe cost $20, I welded the flanges on.
With a stock muffler it had a very noticable increase in off idle torque but sounded like ****.
Went with pacesetter headers, sounds better, the low end torque was less.
Later I did the rest of the exhaust.
Then I cut the flanges off the cats, measured the angle of the bends to go from stock manifolds to an edelbrock ORY. Two pieces of bent 3" pipe cost $20, I welded the flanges on.
With a stock muffler it had a very noticable increase in off idle torque but sounded like ****.
Went with pacesetter headers, sounds better, the low end torque was less.
Later I did the rest of the exhaust.
Last edited by Jays_SSZ28; Jan 30, 2018 at 08:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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That is exactly what I was wondering. I won't be cutting them out then! I guess I'll save my money to try some of the suggestions listed above.
For about the same price, you can get a clean bolt on install here:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-88028/
OR save for some LTs and new ORY and a Frost mail tune, will be worth it in the long run.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-88028/
OR save for some LTs and new ORY and a Frost mail tune, will be worth it in the long run.
http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...oducts_id=2460
or another option:
http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...oducts_id=1099