Hey fellas,
Went into a muffler shop and decided to take off my cats, resonator, and put an H-pipe.

Wondering if there would be any performance gains

sound clip to come...

 

Minimal if any.

But curious to hear what it sounds like! I have been toying with the idea of doing a mid pipe but don't want to change the tone of my current exhaust. Just want it louder.

 

Any update?

 

removing the cats is a federal offense just FYI.


I put long tube headers and went catless on a prior vehicle, I got pulled over by the California Highway Patrol, who refereed the car.


the CHP officer took a mirror on a pole and looked under the vehicle, saw the headers and removed cats, cited me and impounded it:


the current fine for removing the cats is $2750.


not trying to be a Debbie downer, just giving you an FYI, California has no tolerance for EPA violations, if the CHP believe you have modified the smog systems they will impound your vehicle.

if you don't agree to a search of the motor/undercarriage they will impound you and get a warrant, if you agree and they find something they will impound it.

 

Won't this cause excessive heat on the exhaust valves and/or guides thus causing premature failure?

 

no it shouldn't the exhaust is still flowing through the system, if anything I would think it would reduce the heat because the exhaust gases are not being slowed or trapped at the converter while they are catalyzed, they are free to flow out the exhaust system at full force.


you won't pass smog or even come close by removing the cats, you will fail the visual and the tail pipe test. But that only matters if you are selling the vehicle or you hit the 7 year mark when the first smog test is required.