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YACT: Anyone install a "Test Pipe" & remove the Catalyic Converter?

Analog

Analog

Lifer
I have an '89 Blazer 4x4 (full size w/350 V8) that is a rust bucket, but I want to use it for off-road use and plowing around the farm (its not licensed any longer for on-road use).

Since I like to "tinker", I thought about cutting off the Cat and putting in a "test pipe". Anyone ever do this?

Is it as basic as cutting it off and putting a piece of pipe in?

thx.

BTW, I believe it is legal, as long is it is not used on public roads.
 
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
I have an '89 Blazer 4x4 (full size w/350 V8) that is a rust bucket, but I want to use it for off-road use and plowing around the farm (its not licensed any longer for on-road use).

Since I like to "tinker", I thought about cutting off the Cat and putting in a "test pipe". Anyone ever do this?

Is it as basic as cutting it off and putting a piece of pipe in?

thx.

BTW, I believe it is legal, as long is it is not used on public roads.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
I had it done on my '98 blazer, all that was done was to cut the cat off and put a straight piece of pipe in.

Nothing to it really.

 
i believe that a lot of people that are "performance minded" do this. Usually doesn't involved cutting, just unbolt the cat section of the pipe and attach a bolt on.

Just make sure you passed your states's emissions testing before you do this.
 
Those talking 1996 and newer vehicles would have had a check engine light come on and possibly poorer performance.

OBDII computers read before and after the CAT and adjust accordingly.

There are easy ways to defeat the problems, but it's not just a hack and weld job like older cars.

 
I haven't had cats on my Mustang for like 9 years now, and it's my daily driver. It all depends on who inspects it and whether or not you have emissions testing...
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
I haven't had cats on my Mustang for like 9 years now, and it's my daily driver. It all depends on who inspects it and whether or not you have emissions testing...
Click to expand...

Still FEDERALLY ILLEGAL in all 50 states whether you have inspections or not for any street driven vehicle.

People steal music and videos all the time too, just because they are getting away with it, doesn't mean it's ok.

That said I am willing to bet your cat-free mustang is less a smog machine than some of these 70's-80's hoopie's moving down the highway.
 
I once worked at a muffler shop, so yeah I've done it.

When the boss tried to screw me over I told him I had been keeping a record of all the cars/trucks he had told me to do this too.

I straightened RIGHT UP after that. 🙂

(BTW I was bluffing 😉 )

(edit) Knocking the guts out of the cat is probably the best in most cases since then if someone looks at the exhaust it LOOKS copacetic!
 
Originally posted by: RgrPark
i believe that a lot of people that are "performance minded" do this. Usually doesn't involved cutting, just unbolt the cat section of the pipe and attach a bolt on.

Just make sure you passed your states's emissions testing before you do this.
Click to expand...

Trying to unbolt any exhaust related bolts on a 16 year old Michigan vehicle is not going to work 😉
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: RgrPark
i believe that a lot of people that are "performance minded" do this. Usually doesn't involved cutting, just unbolt the cat section of the pipe and attach a bolt on.

Just make sure you passed your states's emissions testing before you do this.
Click to expand...

Trying to unbolt any exhaust related bolts on a 16 year old Michigan vehicle is not going to work 😉
Click to expand...

Take a torch to the bolts until they are cherry red and they will usually come right off.
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: RgrPark
i believe that a lot of people that are "performance minded" do this. Usually doesn't involved cutting, just unbolt the cat section of the pipe and attach a bolt on.

Just make sure you passed your states's emissions testing before you do this.
Click to expand...

Trying to unbolt any exhaust related bolts on a 16 year old Michigan vehicle is not going to work 😉
Click to expand...

Take a torch to the bolts until they are cherry red and they will usually come right off.
Click to expand...

Never had any luck, even with a torch. I usually end up cutting the bolts.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: RgrPark
i believe that a lot of people that are "performance minded" do this. Usually doesn't involved cutting, just unbolt the cat section of the pipe and attach a bolt on.

Just make sure you passed your states's emissions testing before you do this.
Click to expand...

Trying to unbolt any exhaust related bolts on a 16 year old Michigan vehicle is not going to work 😉
Click to expand...

Take a torch to the bolts until they are cherry red and they will usually come right off.
Click to expand...

Never had any luck, even with a torch. I usually end up cutting the bolts.
Click to expand...


I took the stock exhaust off my 1964 Valiant last year,
the bolts at the manifold's to the Y pipe unbolted!! :Q😎

One muffler clamp broke,LOL.

I then took it to Midas,and had Dual exhaust put on,sounds much better,
with Dual turbo mufflers.🙂
 
Even if it is legal, I don't see why you would do that. You'll increase emissions by hundreds of percentage points, for a miniscule amount of horsepower. People have no damn morals anymore.
 
I drove around with a test pipe for a while and it was horrible. My exhaust sounded like a crappy buzzing fart can and my car smelled like ass everywhere I went. So I put my cat back on. Not worth it. Especially since you are polluting 100x more.
 
Originally posted by: Shawn
I drove around with a test pipe for a while and it was horrible. My exhaust sounded like a crappy buzzing fart can and my car smelled like ass everywhere I went. So I put my cat back on. Not worth it. Especially since you are polluting 100x more.
Click to expand...


I thought cats make your car smell like rotten eggs.
 
I did with my 91 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4, it just has a straight aluminum pipe where the cat used to be, it doesn't sound bad at all with my flowmaster, also get some tube headers for max flow.
My truck isn't tagged either, and it is for off road use only, hope you plan on swapping out that crappy IFS front end, that is what I'm working on right now.
 
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Originally posted by: Shawn
I drove around with a test pipe for a while and it was horrible. My exhaust sounded like a crappy buzzing fart can and my car smelled like ass everywhere I went. So I put my cat back on. Not worth it. Especially since you are polluting 100x more.
Click to expand...


I thought cats make your car smell like rotten eggs.
Click to expand...

No, they burn off that smell.
 
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Originally posted by: Shawn
I drove around with a test pipe for a while and it was horrible. My exhaust sounded like a crappy buzzing fart can and my car smelled like ass everywhere I went. So I put my cat back on. Not worth it. Especially since you are polluting 100x more.
Click to expand...


I thought cats make your car smell like rotten eggs.
Click to expand...

you'd think someone would've noticed by now?
 
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Even if it is legal, I don't see why you would do that. You'll increase emissions by hundreds of percentage points, for a miniscule amount of horsepower. People have no damn morals anymore.
Click to expand...

You also must not realize that if the car is running properly and in tune, it will run cleaner and more efficient without cats. Cats increase backpressure, and are there to compensate for people who never do any tune ups on their cars, or care how they run.

I've had my car on an emissions machine before and after I had removed the cats. I did better on all but one reading without cats. I get better gas mileage as well.

This has nothing to do with "morals"...

:roll:
 
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Insane3D
I haven't had cats on my Mustang for like 9 years now, and it's my daily driver. It all depends on who inspects it and whether or not you have emissions testing...
Click to expand...

Still FEDERALLY ILLEGAL in all 50 states whether you have inspections or not for any street driven vehicle.

People steal music and videos all the time too, just because they are getting away with it, doesn't mean it's ok.

That said I am willing to bet your cat-free mustang is less a smog machine than some of these 70's-80's hoopie's moving down the highway.
Click to expand...


Technically illegal yes, but I haven't had any FBI agents looking under my car recently...😛

 
I know it's not for street use, but I will add this anyways.
In Oregon, newer cars with OBDII only has to pass a plug-in computer read out test. So if the sensor readings can be defeated by using signal injector. Pre-1996 and post 1981(I think...) cars get tested by gas probe in the tail pipe on a dyno and there's really no way to fool that test.
 
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