Eliminating Catalytic Converters

[ColoradoSilverado]

Is it possible to eliminate my Converters and just replace them with straight pieces of pipe ? Yes, I know it's illegal but my county doesn't require emission testing.

Bert

[knogoodidleft]

anything is possible, what year/model, im pretty sure there welded on so you will have to cut them off. If your trying to reduce backpressure and still got the stock manifolds on I would advise you to replace them with some long tube headers.

[MT-2500]

If 1980 or newer any car that is operated on a federal highway is required to have a cat.

Removing the cat can cause engine running problems.

[silverado122775]

The newer cars with Comps use the readings from the o2 sensors before and after the cat. you will run into issues

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by ColoradoSilverado

Is it possible to eliminate my Converters and just replace them with straight pieces of pipe ? Yes, I know it's illegal but my county doesn't require emission testing.
Bert

Originally Posted by MT-2500

If 1980 or newer any car that is operated on a federal highway is required to have a cat.

Removing the cat can cause engine running problems.

MT is correct, while your county may not require emission testing, Federal law prohibits the removal of a catalytic converter, even by yourself. And last time I knew Federal law supersedes all local and state laws. I looked online for the text of the law,( it was the Clean Air Act of 1990) and came across this:http://autoparts.lifetips.com/cat/61...sions-control/

[vortecman]

have any of yall ever been to a tractor pull? to see all the smoke these trucks and tractors are putting up into the air is amazing! how come THAT is legal, but my truck would pollute too much without those cats?

[silverado122775]

First of all Diesel burn cleaner than Gas.
Second, if everybody took there cat off, then THAT would cause a problem. Society is trying to clean the air, not make it worse

[ColoradoSilverado]

The only reason I want to take them off is because they rattle like a yar of coins everytime I accelerate. New ones are expensive except the universal ones from Autozone that go for $59 a piece. Anyone ever used these ?
It's a 2000, 5.3
Bert

[silverado122775]

Those should be fine.. you may only need to replace one of them. I highly doubt both cats are bad.

[ColoradoSilverado]

Originally Posted by silverado122775

Those should be fine.. you may only need to replace one of them. I highly doubt both cats are bad.

No, it's both of them that rattle.

Bert

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ColoradoSilverado

No, it's both of them that rattle.

Bert

Cats are covered under the 8 year 80k emissions warranty and Calf may be more.
Also some are covered under a recalls.
If both are bad you may have a bad batch.
Call the 800 customer service no in your owners manual.
Good Luck
MT

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

MT is correct, while your county may not require emission testing, Federal law prohibits the removal of a catalytic converter, even by yourself. And last time I knew Federal law supersedes all local and state laws. I looked online for the text of the law,( it was the Clean Air Act of 1990) and came across this:http://autoparts.lifetips.com/cat/61...sions-control/

Here is a couple more links to the epa 1990 clean air stuff.
MT

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/title2.html#iia

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caa203.txt

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caa205.txt

[Evansamms]

I've got almost an identical truck (2000 5.3, 4x4, longbox, ext cab, (not Z71 though)), my right cat started poppin a code about 1000kms after the replacement limit. I picked up two magnaflow s/steel ones of ebay for 140 delivered. of course i had to take the y-pipe out, and weld them in .. ..but it wasnt that bad. Cheapest i could find cats here (halifax, nova scotia), was 140 each for "whitebox specials". Figured i was better off with the magnaflows.

Evan

[vortecman]

even highflow cats will make your second o2 sensors send errors, won't they?

[dirtdriver11]

i was getting the po430 code also, i gutted both cats out and still have the problem. both o2 sensors are new on bank 2