2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

removing cats, do or don't?

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Old May 15, 2004 | 11:37 AM
  #26  
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don't breathe the stuff that comes out, carcinogens
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Old May 15, 2004 | 11:40 AM
  #27  
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loose the cats if you can, made a huge improvement on my car and i had bonew highflow, i never felt the car with the tock cats i can't imagine the diff it'll make
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Old May 15, 2004 | 12:26 PM
  #28  
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Re: removing cats, do or don't?

Originally posted by boogerboy
I was thinking about removing the cats on my automaical 88 gxl, Should i only remove the precats? or both? or should i leave well enough alone, I have access to a pipe bender, welder, and probally anything else except a cnc shop (that would kick if i did though). im starting with the free mods to the car first, then as money builds up, a tranny swap is commin.
thanks for all the help!
clay
You could make a custom header, or you can pick up a pacesetter that will bolt to your stock cat. When you remove your cat you will lose a lot of low end torque (which can really suck since you have an automatic) then your 5/6 ports wont work right and you will have no high end power either. For now though, you can gut your two presilencers for a little to nothing gain and it wont affect your emissions. I suggest gutting or replacing with a straight pipe, the main cat, when you are converting to a 5-speed.
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Old May 15, 2004 | 12:50 PM
  #29  
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i have a 91 n/a automatic i am going to be taking off the cats but i dont know what to put in its place i dont want to mess with the 5th 6th ports will 1 bonez high flow cat work and replace the second cat with a straight pipe
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Old May 15, 2004 | 12:51 PM
  #30  
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i have a 91 n/a automatic i am going to be taking off the cats but i dont know what to put in its place i dont want to mess with the 5th 6th ports will 1 bonez high flow cat work and replace the second cat with a straight pipe please answer some one that knows the for sure answer
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Old May 15, 2004 | 02:46 PM
  #31  
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My car sounds really good with a straight pipe, and not to loud.
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Old May 15, 2004 | 03:46 PM
  #32  
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did you replace both cats with a straight pipe or just 1 also did you have any engine mods or problems with your 5th 6th ports opening
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Old May 15, 2004 | 08:57 PM
  #33  
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Originally posted by DEZERTE
how do you "gut" a cat? (please dont make feline jokes )
I did mine by cutting one side off, pounding all the crap out, and welding it shut again, That was easier for me...later
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Old May 16, 2004 | 10:24 AM
  #34  
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would 1 high flow cat make the 5th 6th ports work and put a straight pipe for the 2nd cat
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Old May 16, 2004 | 01:52 PM
  #35  
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Originally posted by uRizen
Lol, that would be pretty bad ***, but I wouldn't want to get char marks on my bumper or end up setting some punk *** kid that happened to be walking by on fire.
why wouldnt i? get infront of some punk as ricer at night and simply rev it. he wont wanna eff with me after that.
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Old May 16, 2004 | 04:20 PM
  #36  
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Originally posted by 91mazdarx7
did you replace both cats with a straight pipe or just 1 also did you have any engine mods or problems with your 5th 6th ports opening
I have a S5 with the port sleeves removed for better top end, streetport, and a racing beat header to true duals with straight pipes to the HKS muffler sections and it sounds beautiful. I suffer no low end what so ever infact I have an lsd and I can't stop spinning in first and I always go sideways in 2nd! It's not to loud at all sounds quiet infact until I open the throttle up. I think it's because of the quality of the HKS 50mm mufflers...they're solid you can't tap on them and hear a noise, it's like knocking on a rock! I also get very long and nice flames coming out at night as well.
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Old May 16, 2004 | 08:54 PM
  #37  
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i got a stock s5 n/a can i replace the first cat with a high flow one and replace the second one with a straight pipe i wont suffer any problems with my 5th 6th ports or anything
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Old May 17, 2004 | 09:38 PM
  #38  
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hmm, basically. but i have had rb headers, presilencer and catback, and im very very pleased with it. my car runs a small bit on the rich side of things, so the exhaust smells extra sweet and if i punch it a little bit and it happens to be night time, i can see the flash in the rear view of the '***** of fire' that come out of the pipes...someone described them as sort of molten looking ***** of gaseous fire...love it. oh, and its incredibly loud...if the windows are down it rings in my ears and people flick me off when i go past...its pretty amusing. but the whole racing beat exhaust will open up the airflow very nicely in the fc, and i havent had any problem with the 5th/6th ports not opening.
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Old May 17, 2004 | 09:56 PM
  #39  
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yea i know the whole exhaust would be great but it would only be for alittle bit because im doing a tII swap so since its stock it would be better to have a high flow cat and a straight pipe for the second cat THIS WOULDNT GIVE ME ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PORTS OPENING RIGHT? ........... also i know the heat would destroy a high flow cat but i forget where to get a high flow cat made for rotary engines can i get a link to buy one
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Old May 17, 2004 | 10:15 PM
  #40  
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I removed my primary cat. and replaced it with a stock pipe from a S5, gutted the secondary cat. and gutted the main cat. The exhaust is stock except for the gutted cats. With gutted cats. and no mufflers, just the Y-pipe, the car was LOUD. The secondaries open fine, but I routed the air pipe back to the main cat. since I retained it after gutting it. To gut my cats I just used a decent sized sledge, and a crow bar, a tire iron, and whatever else was long enough to jam down in there to remove the ceramic, or whatever is in them. I replaced all the gaskets, and used silicone sealer too. If you stock exhaust is in decent shape, this is probably the cheapest thing to do...
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Old May 17, 2004 | 10:22 PM
  #41  
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so theres 3 cats all together
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Old May 18, 2004 | 09:39 AM
  #42  
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Ok, so by gutting the cats, you aren't loosing back pressure? If this is the case, I was kidna thinking maybe removing the first pre-cat, gutting the second, and adding a silencer in place of the main cat might be the way to go. I don't want to drive the neighbors nuts, but after some consideration, flame shooting wackiness sounds great to me.
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Old May 18, 2004 | 10:11 AM
  #43  
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I used to have straight pipe all the way back on my 87 N/A. I just wanted to try it, and let me tell you...it is LOUD and it sounds like ***. Its not even a nice loud sound...its more like a huge gargling fart at lower RPM's, and it sounds like a pencil sharpener on crack at redline. 2 days later I put the exhaust back on.

-Joe
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Old May 18, 2004 | 10:18 AM
  #44  
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lol @ pencil sharpener on crack. Does gutting the cats basically have the same effect as just putting a straight section there, or do they cause turbulance and deaden sound still?

Last edited by uRizen; May 18, 2004 at 10:26 AM.
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Old May 18, 2004 | 11:40 AM
  #45  
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No, it doesnt. Its not a even good shape for flow. Just make a streight pipe and bolt it on, seriously. Dont destroy a perfectly good cat!


PS: Hey, just mail me your good cat and I'll mail you a streightpipe the same lenth, hows that?
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Old May 18, 2004 | 07:55 PM
  #46  
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so just 1 high flow cat will be enough for back pressure and not worry about the ports not opening and replace the other 2 cats with straight pipes? please answer quick thanks

Nate
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Old May 18, 2004 | 08:48 PM
  #47  
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doooooooo ittttt
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Old May 18, 2004 | 08:55 PM
  #48  
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ok thanks everyone but where do i find the high flow cat made specifically for the rotary engines and which cat should i replace for the high flow cat on the closest to the manifold the middle one or the rear one
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Old May 18, 2004 | 09:18 PM
  #49  
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On the punching out a cat. No pun intended, I'm just wasted right now. I used a drill and one of those paddle bits. The ones that are flat for making big holes in wood.
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Old May 19, 2004 | 03:14 PM
  #50  
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ok thanks everyone but where do i find the high flow cat made specifically for the rotary engines and which cat should i replace for the high flow cat on the closest to the manifold the middle one or the rear one
anyone?
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