so i noticed the 3 cats on my vert an wanted to know if i can just get rid of them or just keep one and replace the other two with new pipes?
looking to replace all my piping and trying to find the best way to go about this.
let me know what ya think
thank you

 

Replacing just the first two cats will be of minimal benefit, and from what I know of California, you then won't pass emissions testing.

If you want to do this properly, replace the main cat with a high flow unit and the first two cats with a nice stainless packed resonator.

 

The precats are just for cold start emissions. As Aaron said, it's the main cat that counts as far as passing the sniffer test. The precats can be replaced, but you'll still have the possibility of failing the visual test in CA. Most smog tech don't know what they're looking for, or don't bother to check under the car at all, so I actually haven't had any trouble with it (w/ a main cat only). A header will be obviously aftermarket, and will pretty much guarantee you to fail the visual test, so that leaves downpipes and resonators as your only options. Racingbeat makes an NA downpipe that will bolt up to the stock exhaust manifold, but it will not completely reach the main cat. It comes up about 3 1/2" short, as it is intended for use with RB's presilencer. An exhaust shop can add in some pipe to make it fit, but you have to bring ONLY the pipe. If you try to get a shop to remove cats in CA, they will turn you away.

 

so is the main cat the first one or the last one?
i was actually thinking about getting the racingbeat heater and running a straight pipe to the main cat, will that work?

 

The main cat is the last one before the y-pipe. Like I said, a header is an instant fail on the visual portion of a CA smog test.

 

as you said they rarely do a visual test and the last smog i got threy didn't check underneath... so i might chance it idk yet.
by taking out the precats does that increase my power or hurt my car in any way?

 

A header is very clearly visible from the engine bay. They're almost all chrome plated and easily visible without going under the car. Take a look where the stock exhaust manifold is and you'll see why.

Precat removal frees up some power. They're just an exhaust restriction.

 

hmm yeah it is pretty easy to spot.... prolly will go with the down pipe like you said earlier