Exhaust Question

Are there any advantages to cutting off your catalytic converter or is it better to replace it with a racing kind of some sort?

Thanks,
William T. Thompson

get a test pipe or a flex pipe. but keep the stock cat for emissions if you need it. it allows more exhaust flow.

Actually I bought a '95 Honda Civic from a friend who had the cat. converter cut off. I was just wondering what exactly this does for the car performance wise? Better gas mileage? Harder on the motor? I've heard a lot of rumors and just wanted to try and clear things up a bit.

Thanks,
William T. Thompson

well it allows more exhaust flow and your exhaust will be louder. it is way better than the stock cat.

So its safe to assume that since the cat. converter is cut off there is no point in pointing one back on? Even a racing one?

Thanks,
William T. Thompson

do you have a cat-back exhaust? it's fine the way it is.

I'm gathering information on an engine swap right now and was just trying to figure out everything that would need to be done money wise and I was trying to figure out if not having one was a big deal. I had heard that not haven a cat. causes strain on your motor so if I'm gonna spend the money on swaping out to get a new one I don't wanna screw it up.

Thanks,
William T. Thompson

a test pipe, flex pipe or racing cat will not put strain on your motor. your engine needs to breath properly. the more air it takes in the more you want to get out.

This is somewhat off the subject, but what is the difference between a test pipe and a flex pipe...Is the flex pipe this ones that you can bend to whatever form you need, but it is still a straight-through pipe?

Thanks for tolerating my piggyback question.

Originally posted by B16 SiRII
This is somewhat off the subject, but what is the difference between a test pipe and a flex pipe...Is the flex pipe this ones that you can bend to whatever form you need, but it is still a straight-through pipe?

Thanks for tolerating my piggyback question.

here is an example of a flex pipe. it's like braided wire.

http://store6.yimg.com/I/newedgeperformance_1730_762477

both the test pipe and flex pipe are straight through. when you bolt on more hp. the flex pipe will bend a little when your engine block moves.

check wid your local dmv... the catalytic converter is for emission purposes... it removes contaminants from the exhaust gases... so not havin one may make your car illegal to drive...

Originally posted by JuMBoBeaTS
check wid your local dmv... the catalytic converter is for emission purposes... it removes contaminants from the exhaust gases... so not havin one may make your car illegal to drive...

yes the stock cat is for emission purposes but for more flow use a cat with straight through design. i haven't had any problems with the law yet and i've had a test pipe on for more than 3 years. when emission time comes. bolt on the stock cat. that's no big deal.

Here in FL we dont have inspection and I still want to take off my cat. Any idea about how much HP or how much more pull I can gain by removing the cat?

Originally posted by sageuvagony
Here in FL we dont have inspection and I still want to take off my cat. Any idea about how much HP or how much more pull I can gain by removing the cat?

none!
save a tree and keep your cat. your not gonna see any great gains unless your motor is built-up. even then your not gonna get any better gains than your normal exhust.
the only thing your gonna do is make your car stink and be loud.