gutting the catalytic

[bigjohn_17_98]

What is yalls advice on gutting the catalytic converter. i am not concerned about it being legal or not.
I realize it will be louder but what else will it effect? ie: gas mileage, hp, etc.

 

[Stephen S]

Don't do it!!!!
It's illegal!!
Opt for an aftermarket high-flow cat instead.
There was a thread just recently on here that discussed this topic. Do a search for it and you'll see what some members of this board think about it.

 

[Alec]

Even though you're not concerned with legality, it is very illegal to tamper with your catalytic converter. That being said, "hollowing" your cat can have very negative effects. The factory cat is designed to be high flow, and actually flows the same air as my headers and hiflow muffler. Hollowing out a modern cat usually has only negative effects. Noise, performance, and mileage usually suffer due to the loss of the tuning of the cat. If you really think your cat is restrictive on your exhaust, get an aftermarket "performance" cat. However, since your truck is less than 4 (or 5?) years old, it is still illegal to swap your cat unless is it proven defective or damaged.

 

[sink]

I'd go for an even more basic reason than these guys'. Legal or not. If you want the CAT out, you must not be concerned about emission inspection, where you would need your CAT's platinum guts as well as the appearance it is still there. That said, I'd never gut out a $200 piece of equipment when $20 worth of flanges, pipe, and weld could give you the ability to remove the CAT whole and put it back as necessary for whatever kind of temporary testing thing blows your skirt up.

 

[Ray Lobato]

The small amount of gain, if any does not out weigh the pollution that your truck would be putting out into the atmoshpere. I know it's just one truck, but what if everyone else did the same thing. Part of "Treading Rightly" is doing something right. Gutting your cat for the sake of getting better preformance IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT. Either get a hiflow cat or leave the one you have alone.

 

[jimbo74]

i agree keep the cat it will hurt performance becuase you will have to little backpressure and you car will run poorly and sound ricey