Cat or No Cat?

[xSojooxShotzx]

Well...

I feel kidna stupid for asking this... but I'm not sure that my car has a catalytic converter. I was shopping for exhausts online, and it seems that if you have a downpipe, then you dont have a catalytic converter. I looked into my bay, and I noticed that the car came with a downpipe. So, does that mean, no cat? I haven't had a chance to look under the car, but if there isn't one, where can I get a good hi-flow catalytic converter for cheap?

Thanks!
Howie~

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

If you have a cat, its a big hunkin piece of metyal in between your downpipe and catback

However dont get a high flow cat. dont even waste your money.

Go to your local mineke or muffler shop, have them make a test pipe.

A straight piece of pipe with flanges on each end to bolt through.....yuo dont need a cat, but keep your stock in case you have emissions

BTW some kits let you keep your stock cat ....my APexi DP didnt however`

 

[xSojooxShotzx]

A test pipe? What is that anyways? I live in Alaska though, and the emissions laws are very similar to California's. Damn tree huggers! So, I have to go under the car and check to see if I have a cat or not? How much would a cat cost if I did buy one?

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

a test pipe is just a straight thru pipe that doesnt restrict anything. T ake it off, when you get your emissions crap done, pu tyour cat back on. That easy

as soon as you look under it you shoudl be able to tell

 

[Eric_7810]

I had a test pipe when I had my 3" turbo back made, right after I had a new white paint job done, if you have a nice paint job, put a hi flow cat on, unless you want a black patch on your bumper from all the sh*t that comes from your exhaust. Normally you can get one for around 80 bucks, I was able to get away with a test pipe b/c Michigan doesnt have emission laws, but your state does and you throw a test pipe on your screwed.

 

[nightracer91]

The downpipe is just the pipe that connects the turbo to the rest of the exhaust. Under the engine. If there hasn't been any other exhast work done, i.e. cat-back, then the cat should still be there. If you do do exhaust work, go with the high-flow cat, that way you pass emissions and get high performance.

 

[Whiplash]

I agree with 97GS-TSpyder. Just have them make you a test pipe, so when you need emissions done you can bolt it right up and take it off as needed.

 

[sccrAdidas15]

they may make you a test pipe, but most shops won't install one for you b/c they can get a 10,000 dollar fine if caught, I wanted one for my car but they said they wouldn't do it so i just went with a 3" magnaflow CAT, really there's not that much difference from a high flow CAT and test pipe unless your car is for all racing purposes.

 

[turbodsm87]

get a test pipe for your car or if you are hand with a weilder you can take off yor old cat and cut it open. once it is cut open clean the cat out so it is empty, then the test pipe you had made and weild it in the cat then weild the cat back closed. this way it looks like you have a cat on your car but really it is a straight through pipe inside of your cat

 

[GVR4592]

get a test pipe for your car or if you are hand with a weilder you can take off yor old cat and cut it open. once it is cut open clean the cat out so it is empty, then the test pipe you had made and weild it in the cat then weild the cat back closed. this way it looks like you have a cat on your car but really it is a straight through pipe inside of your cat

Why go through all of that trouble when you could just knock the inside of the cat out with a steel pipe? It would also be a pretty big restriction if he's upgrading the exhaust to a larger size than stock.

 

[RWKustoms]

get a test pipe for your car or if you are hand with a weilder you can take off yor old cat and cut it open. once it is cut open clean the cat out so it is empty, then the test pipe you had made and weild it in the cat then weild the cat back closed. this way it looks like you have a cat on your car but really it is a straight through pipe inside of your cat

The shit some of you guys come up with. . Just do what most of the guys are telling you. First find out if you have a cat or not. If you have a stock cat and you want less restriction have a test pipe made to take the place of the cat so that you can put the cat back so you wont fail emissions. Luckily here in FL we don't have emissions so I was able to get a cat eliminator downpipe connected straight to my catback exhaust.

 

[2DaTrakNow]

........I was able to get away with a test pipe b/c Michigan doesnt have emission laws, but your state does and you throw a test pipe on your screwed.

We dont have emission laws yet. Ive heard from several cops(relatives) that the state is trying to work on it. I just hope you didnt jinx us!!!

 

[GVR4592]

We dont have emission laws yet. Ive heard from several cops(relatives) that the state is trying to work on it. I just hope you didnt jinx us!!!

It's going to happen in every state at some point. My state is adopting the same laws that California has by 2012. It sucks, but there are ways around it.

 

[xSojooxShotzx]

Man,

I hate emissions laws... Apparently, the 1996 Eagle Talons have OBD-II sensor readiness problems. I've tried doing it on my own, following the stupid TSB's posted online, but it doesn't work. Now, I have to pay like 300 dollars just for a stupid sticker. BAH! I don't have a catalytic converter though. It's just straight piped all the way through. Any suggestions on the best hi-flow cat? Something that's the biggest bang for the buck

Howie~

 

[fastass59]

If you have a 2g and you take off the cat will it mess up the fuel demand since your messing with the readings from the rear o2 sensor?

 

[DSMark]

Naw i don't like cats, i say get a dog.

 

[ilikespeeding]

If you have a 2g and you take off the cat will it mess up the fuel demand since your messing with the readings from the rear o2 sensor?

The rear 02 has no engine managment influence.

Oh, and I want to throw in the tampering with emission systems is a federal crime.

 

[DSMark]

If you have a 2g and you take off the cat will it mess up the fuel demand since your messing with the readings from the rear o2 sensor?

Nope. We have 2 o2 sensors on our cars, basically the one after the cat is just to see if your cat is still good or not. When you get a test pipe and you leave your o2 sensor hanging you might get a check engine light, but it doesn't really effect anything, and if it bothers you, you have two choices. A. Reqiure it from under the passenger seat and you can look up how to do that on vfaq or B. get an o2 simulator for 50 bucks on slowboy or ebay.

 

[2bclutch]

I have an Apexi N'1 Exhaust with a straight through pipe. It will leave black marks right above the exhaust pipe on your bumper, but that stuff comes off with just water being sprayed on it. I also saw on an Option video when they replaced an Apexi through pipe with an Apexi High flow Cat it only lost 6-7 hp.