Cats or No Cats? Need some input.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Earth
Cats or No Cats? Need some input. Car is an '02 Z28 and is my daily driver for six months out of the year. Since I currently live in Michigan it does not undergo visual inspection or emission testing every year, so originally I was set on getting an ORY. However with the job market the way it is my location could change in the near future. Now I'm leaning towards getting a catted y-pipe, but still plan on ditching the AIR. I'm torn because of the extra cost of a catted y-pipe and friends of mine have had issues with aftermarket cats in the past. What are your thoughts?
And how is the smell of a vehicle without cats? Is it comparable to a 4 stroke dirt bike, jetski, 4-wheeler, etc. or worse?
Finally, if I do decide on getting a catted y-pipe I was looking at American Racing 1 7/8" LT's. How are the cats that they use on their y-pipes? Anyone have or hear of any issues with them?
And how is the smell of a vehicle without cats? Is it comparable to a 4 stroke dirt bike, jetski, 4-wheeler, etc. or worse?
Finally, if I do decide on getting a catted y-pipe I was looking at American Racing 1 7/8" LT's. How are the cats that they use on their y-pipes? Anyone have or hear of any issues with them?
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From: The dirty taint of the country. ...Los Angeles
You should be fine. You'd probably be hardpressed if you moved to CA or NJ. But you can always find someone in either state that could "help" you pass. Ive bee CATless for 5 years or more. ..
... Doesn't smell bad. I hardly ever notice anymore.
... Doesn't smell bad. I hardly ever notice anymore.
IMO, smell should be the least of your concerns. The low risk of a 'possible' aftermarket cat problem will never out way the sound of *** that only a catless Y can make. Stick with the better brand of header/Y manufacturer's and your cat failure risk should be decreased. Sound is of course subjective....but then again, I would challenge anyone to convince me that rasp and deceleration "popping" is cool. Lol, for the 5 extra hp, no thanks.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 113
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From: ATX
Unless you are planing some serious internals, stick with cats. Less problems all around. I have had it both ways, and the potential benefit from running an ORY vs the emmissions hassles dont balance. Find some good quality race cats and you have no worries.
i went catless since we have no emissions here..but in your case id go catted since you might deal with emissions. i hate welding cutting bla bla every year! my car doesnt smell bad at all unless u stick ur nose to the tip
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Mac mid lengths, cat-less Y (well, gutted hi flows), and a flowmaster merge. I have absolutely no rasp or popping. I can tell you with a slightly rich tune and a cam it'll smell. I have a basement garage and I have to pull it, if I back in the hvac unit pulls the fumes in and smells the ENTIRE house up for 30 min.
I'd probably go with some good flowing metallic cats if I had it to do over again. Should help with the smell and not lose too much power.
I'd probably go with some good flowing metallic cats if I had it to do over again. Should help with the smell and not lose too much power.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
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My vote is go with cats because they are sooo much better than dogs LOL. But seriously guys I have tru-duals with no cats and a cam. I have 0 fuel smell at all. I have really never smelled fuel with any car that didn't have cats. Maybe I'm just immune to the fuel smell. Oh btw my car is on a nitrous tune too running pretty much 11.3-11.5 on motor all the time and noone has ever said "your car stinks" just my .02
Eh. To me, it is worth it to run cats. Virtually no loss in performance, no inspection hassles and helps the PC aspect of our hobby.
FWIW, my 2000 Z28 with a 382/nitrous engine had no cats and you definitely smelled like "car" after driving it...
FWIW, my 2000 Z28 with a 382/nitrous engine had no cats and you definitely smelled like "car" after driving it...
I have a top end kit and a bunch of bolt ons. I have an appt. to get my exhaust redone on Sat. With the off-road Y-pipe + Headers and no cat the sound is rediculous.... I can't even drive it in the mornings do to the sound. It is VERY "Poppy" and with the 3800 stall stays in that range most of the time. I am getting it swapped out with a H-Pipe and true duals to hopefully resolve it. If not ill add resonators .
Cliff notes: I vote keep the cats with a Y-Pipe
Cliff notes: I vote keep the cats with a Y-Pipe
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 389
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From: NB Canada
i drove mine 1 days with no cats, almost got tiketed(loud) and i smelled like exauste fumes, made us sick from fumes when working around it, put cats and mutch better, i did like the sound with the cam 236-242 in my 402, sounded like a drag car on the streets. cats brought the sound down to a tollerable level.
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Launching!
Joined: Mar 2010
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