View Poll Results: Whatcha Runnin' with?
Stock Cats
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1
1.16%
No Cats
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50
58.14%
Aftermarket cats
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35
40.70%
Voters: 86. You may not vote on this poll
Going Pacesetter - to cat or not to cat
#23
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It really comes down to your emissions test. Does your state do a visual check or not. If so, then unless you plan on paying extra for something shady, you'll need cats. They're not that bad as far as power loss. Talking a few wheel hp, if that. If there is no visual check, then go ahead without them, and expeirment with different bullet mufflers to see which you like the best.
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Originally Posted by EchoMirage
It really comes down to your emissions test. Does your state do a visual check or not. If so, then unless you plan on paying extra for something shady, you'll need cats. They're not that bad as far as power loss. Talking a few wheel hp, if that. If there is no visual check, then go ahead without them, and expeirment with different bullet mufflers to see which you like the best.
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A K&N filter will give you 2rwhp, so will losing a few pounds yourself or out of the car. Depending on your state's emissions, 2rwhp less and going through a state inspection for free is better then saving 2hp and paying $250+ for a fudged inspection, and hoping you or he doesn't get caught.
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Thanks everyone for the honest opinions. Obviously there's no right or wrong answer on cats. It's a matter of preference. I want to improve my exhaust in all aspects so I'm willing to accept a slightly smaller power gain to not have the rasp and odor I'd have without cats. My car is a DD so I'm willing to pay a little more to have what I want. I'll save for future mods for more power. Next will probably be heads and cam some time down the road. Thanks again everyone.
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Originally Posted by ryanfx
every post that state to get rid of cats have such logic filled reason behind them.
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If it's a daily driver I would recommend the cats. I have the same LTs your looking at installing and went without cats for about 3 moths until I put on random tech cats. Thought the car sounded pretty cool at first without the cats but was pretty raspy and the drone got pretty bad especially on longer trips. Didn't notice any change in power at all and the feeling of being legal, the lack of rasp and lack of drone was nice. If you don't care about the car being emissions legal maybe go without cats at first and see how you like it.
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If it's a daily driver then do the cats. I ran my 96 SS with the Pacesetter longtubes without cats for about a month then added a pair of 3" cats. There's no real power loss and it keeps you closer to being legal. In NJ they do a visual inspection for the emission's stuff so you need something that looks like a cat(s). It's still not 100% legal with longtubes though because you end up changing the location of the driver's side cat. But most inspectors won't know.
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i've had them on my car with exhaust setups and then took them off to go along with a few exhaust setups. i know that i will never put them back on the car... sounds too muffled with them on.
#35
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Originally Posted by Janko98Z
I'm willing to accept a slightly smaller power gain to not have the rasp and odor I'd have without cats. My car is a DD so I'm willing to pay a little more to have what I want.
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FWIW my TSP catted y didn't fit at all. Luckily my muffler shop was kind enough to build me a y for no additional price. And I kept the cats and haven't looked back.
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Originally Posted by Urban Legend
Especially the dude that said, "cats are gay."
WTF are they thinking?
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#40
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Originally Posted by staringback05
it will be very loud compared to a car with cats....it will smell a bit more to
I put the TSP catted-y on though. It fit like CRAP but it really quited the car down, and the smell was gone, which was my main complaint.