LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Cutting the cats

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Old Mar 6, 2024 | 09:43 PM
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Default Cutting the cats

does cutting the cats out on these cars do any good? I don't have to get it checked here so no big on that stuff.
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Old Mar 6, 2024 | 10:19 PM
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What year do you have ? 93-94 years did not have an o2 sensor after the cat. Id recommend gutting the cat instead. It frees up the exhaust, giving little more horsepower but it very much increases the sound of the exhaust and makes it sound better.
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 10:07 AM
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From: Jackstandican
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Gutted cats sound like a bucket of fried ********. Cut the cat, flange the ends, flange a straight pipe and bolt it up. Will sound much better, and yes, there will be a significant gain, however you will do much better to go long tube headers, Y-pipe into decent cat back system, or dual exhaust. If you have OBDII you will have to deactivate the rear O2's.
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 10:53 AM
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by SS RRR
Gutted cats sound like a bucket of fried ********. Cut the cat, flange the ends, flange a straight pipe and bolt it up. Will sound much better, and yes, there will be a significant gain, however you will do much better to go long tube headers, Y-pipe into decent cat back system, or dual exhaust. If you have OBDII you will have to deactivate the rear O2's.
I have a 97 ss. I have hooker shorties on there and I made the pipes coming off the shorties with 2.5" manderal bends going into dual High flow cats that merge with a manderal y pipe. As for the exhaust its the factory dual dual with factory resonators setup from SLP. The car has a very mellow sound. just wondering what the gain is from cutting those cats. I'm pretty decent with my welder so no big deal on making something.
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by SS RRR
Gutted cats sound like a bucket of fried ********.
.
.
.
.
... That IS my fetish, baby......
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 05:12 PM
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97 is OBD2 so if pulling the CATS and 02's you will need to program the PCM or CEL will remain on. No sure how fuel tables are affected without 02 data.

Modern hi flow CATS don't kill much, if any, power.

Export cars built factory did not have CATS.

If emissions is not a issue, long tube headers would be the most power improvement
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Old Mar 7, 2024 | 07:40 PM
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From: Jackstandican
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Originally Posted by stingr
I have a 97 ss. I have hooker shorties on there and I made the pipes coming off the shorties with 2.5" manderal bends going into dual High flow cats that merge with a manderal y pipe. As for the exhaust its the factory dual dual with factory resonators setup from SLP. The car has a very mellow sound. just wondering what the gain is from cutting those cats. I'm pretty decent with my welder so no big deal on making something.
If you already have high flow cats then the gain may be marginal especially if the engine itself is stock. SLP cat back systems are the best flowing and sound the best. If you're going to spend money on exhaust I'd get longtubes. Those will benefit you the most as well as a 3" mandrel bent y-pipe joined into the cat back system and do away with the cats. That way your exhaust is already done if you are in need to start building on the engine. Shorties are poop.
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Old Mar 8, 2024 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by ss rrr
gutted cats sound like a bucket of fried ********. Cut the cat, flange the ends, flange a straight pipe and bolt it up. Will sound much better, and yes, there will be a significant gain, however you will do much better to go long tube headers, y-pipe into decent cat back system, or dual exhaust. If you have obdii you will have to deactivate the rear o2's.
lmfao
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