does gutting the cats affect the car's computer

i would like to know if gutting the cats on my 97 z28 would affect the computer and the way it runs..i heard that if you gut em on a 97 it wouldnt run right.

Not sure....it depends on if you have rear O2 sensors or not. By that, I mean after cat O2's.
I have them, kinda. I had mine removed.

there are O2 simulators that you can get. they send a signal to the ECM so it "thinks" it is getting a reading from the rear O2 sensor. if you remove the cat, you will either need to get a simulator or get the computer reflashed, or you'll get a code "catalyst efficiency below threshold", and the car will constantly run in open loop.

buy high flow cats instead. especially if you have to pass emissions. If you have to pass the sniffer test, gutting the cats and running sims will cause you to fail, not to mention its a felony on a car as new as yours.

a felony? wtf? never heard that before. its not a felony on a 94 is it?

my gm goodwrench mechanic gutted my high flow cat, told me he would pass it, and told me that it would still pass even tho it was gutted.

dont get a high flow cat, they are garbage in my opinion, i bought one, catco or something (they are all the same anyway) and i got maybe a 16th of a horsepower increase. once it was gutted after i got headers i got a massive increase, massive.

it is illegal to even replace your factory converter before 50,000 miles. tampering with your emissions is illegal thats why it wont pass inspection, the laws may change from location to location, but the last time i checked around here gutting the cat was a felony. I know for a fact no mechanic at my dealership where i worked would even concider gutting a persons cat and passing it for emissions.

once it was gutted after i got headers i got a massive increase, massive.
Yup, those 5 horse are huge. :rofl: