Will cutting cats help or hurt
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Copley, OH
Will cutting cats help or hurt
It will make very little or no difference in performance or fuel economy with an otherwise stock engine. It will pollute the air, cause your truck to fail inspection if your state requires them and make you subject to a $10,000 federal fine if caught. Other than that, no problem.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Will cutting cats help or hurt
Originally posted by Mike67
What if the truck did not have them when you bought it?? still get a fine?
What if the truck did not have them when you bought it?? still get a fine?
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Joined: May 2003
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From: South Dakota
Will cutting cats help or hurt
As I understand it, if the vehicle came with from the factory they are required.
On a good note, if the vehicle has over 50,000 miles(I think that's the cutoff) or damaged cats then they can be replaced. If you replace them with the highflow models and leave off the muffler this can produce pretty good sound without being so loud to get a ticket. The Camaro did this from the factory for a couple of years if I remember right.
The major issue is passing the 'sniffer' test if required in your state. I would check with a local exhuast specialist and see. In a 'sniffer' state I would find a shop with exhuast measuring equipment and get friendly with them and test your truck before hand to get it up to par.
On a good note, if the vehicle has over 50,000 miles(I think that's the cutoff) or damaged cats then they can be replaced. If you replace them with the highflow models and leave off the muffler this can produce pretty good sound without being so loud to get a ticket. The Camaro did this from the factory for a couple of years if I remember right.
The major issue is passing the 'sniffer' test if required in your state. I would check with a local exhuast specialist and see. In a 'sniffer' state I would find a shop with exhuast measuring equipment and get friendly with them and test your truck before hand to get it up to par.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Will cutting cats help or hurt
I cut both cats off my 84 and it made a huge difference in power and sound. I did'nt notice any difference in gas mileage though.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: MN
Will cutting cats help or hurt
I cut off my 2nd cat and replaced it with a pipe connecting my cherry bomb and stock tailpipe. It sounds AWESOME! a friend sad it sounds like a Cummins Turbo Diesel, and I couldn't agree more. It is pretty loud inside the cab though, but that means the stero goes up even louder. Of course i live in MN and no sniffer tests yet. I havent noticed any gas milage or hp difference.
1986 F-150 w/ Big 6, all stock engine
1986 F-150 w/ Big 6, all stock engine
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Coal Region
interesting thing here, in my auto class we learned how to use the sniffer machine and about emissions. we were required to test a vehicle of our choice and i used mine. its a 93 effie 300/auto, 1st cat into 2.5" pipe w/ flowmaster 40 and a turndown, no 2nd cat. it also has a crane cam and k&n drop in filter. i hooked it up to the machine and it passed with flying colors.
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