cat cutting
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
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cat cutting
considering cutting the rear cat off my 01 ranger(4.0). but im worried 'bout losing back pressure. will the other cat substain enough that i dont lose torque? i think doing this will make my gibson catback system louder and give alittle more getty up. watcha think? thanks guys?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
Cut off the tailpipe it's way better then removing a cat. I had the same problem with my truck and i cut the tailpipe off and it gave me that exact sound i wanted. Plus at anytime you can stick it back on for about $10 at the muffler shop without and reconstruction.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 117
From: Virginia
I don't know the exact setup of your year, but removing the cat on any emissions controlled vehicle is against federal law. Aside from that, most modern cats flow very well and removing them will only hurt performance.
Also, it is possible you are not even looking at a cat. Many vehicles come with resonators that look like cats. The purpose is to reduce exhaust noise without seriously impacting performance.
You are better off following jimw411's suggestion.
Also, it is possible you are not even looking at a cat. Many vehicles come with resonators that look like cats. The purpose is to reduce exhaust noise without seriously impacting performance.
You are better off following jimw411's suggestion.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 966
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From: Hudson Florida.
I did it just after the point where the pipe is fitted onto the muffler. that way if I desire to put a pipe back on later, I can simply have it fitted on and just go like that. the sound is pretty good. but I've got a 2.3L 4 cyl.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Hudson Florida.
I got the sound to a decent point where it doesnt sound like stock, but is also not too loud either. it by no means sounds like a V8, but its not an 8 cyl, so I dont expect it. I tried some other alternatives, but they generally sounded more like a massive sound system in the truck, and did nothing but cause me a headache.
The idle sound is a deeper tone, and slightly louder than stock, but not more than about 30 db more.
The idle sound is a deeper tone, and slightly louder than stock, but not more than about 30 db more.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
It gives you a nice throaty sound. It's deeper on idle and makes the exaust audible but it somewhat fades away on the highway so that you can hardly hear it. I also have a 78 silverado with stock manifolds and a single 3inch high flow exaust with a flowmaster and a tailpipe and that chevy is still louder then the ranger everthough the pipe is cut. I cut the tailpipe on mine about an inch away from the muffler outlet so it's easy to weld it back on for smog. The muffler has a hanger welded to it so that isn't an issue. The hanger for the tailpipe will pop right off with a shot of wd40 and a pair of channel locks. A saw zall is the best thing to cut it with but if you dont have one you can used a hacksaw like i had to do, it just takes a while.
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2005
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im thankful 4 suggestions but cutting the tail pipe? no way..i just bought a cat back system(300bucks)!(gibson)anyway.. ford uses 2 cats so as long as keep 1 its still legal,right? but anyway.. ru saying that cutting the cat wontget me more sound?or getty up? man.. i was really hoping every1 would say"man it works great,do it"... well..such is life huh! LOL
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
If you even touch one of the cats you will void all your warranty's and also will have to replace the entire 5 cat y-pipe to pass smog because it's against the law to remove any cats or install a used cat even if it came from the truck. That pipe you'll have to replace is at least $1000. If your dead set on the cat thing go all or nothing. Pull off the y pipe and replace it with a bolt on straight pipe. Thats the only way you can cheaply do that cat removel. Also, you will have to do the entire thing on your own or find a super shady muffler shop. FYI, if the hihgway patrol or any other police agency pulls you over for loud exaust the first thing they will do is look under it and see if you did anything illegal. I wouldn't risk the fine.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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Federal law basically states that all emissions controlled devices installed at the factory have to be kept the same, unless the manufacturer comes out with a "better" component.
Cutting the rear cat off will turn on your check engine light (catalytic performance code), be illegal, possibly cause driveability problems, and won't make very much difference on the exhaust noise. Believe me, it's just not worth it.
BUT if you do insist on doing it, just replace all the cats with straight pipe. Just don't come crying to us when you either get a fine, or have to spend thousands on replacing it all yet again.
Cutting the rear cat off will turn on your check engine light (catalytic performance code), be illegal, possibly cause driveability problems, and won't make very much difference on the exhaust noise. Believe me, it's just not worth it.
BUT if you do insist on doing it, just replace all the cats with straight pipe. Just don't come crying to us when you either get a fine, or have to spend thousands on replacing it all yet again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
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From: Eastern WA
While it's true that there's basically nothing to be gained by removing todays free flowing converters, there is something else to think about. If you live in or near an area that does emission testing, smart used car buyers (and the # is growing) do emission system visuals and also take them in for testing/inspection prior to purchase. Emissions problems (removed/altered equipment) get thrown back at the seller, a nice price adjustment is made to reflect the cost of repairs, or the prospective buyer walks on the deal. Where you live and exactly how testing is done would be smart to look into before hacking into it. Where I'm at, having an emission test done before putting the sellit sign on it is a nice thing to do; showing a prospective buyer the results of passing the test relieve a buyer of emission concerns.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Oct 28, 2005 at 05:29 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
California is super strict about smog. However, at the begining of the year they changed it so that you don't have to smog your vehicle for the first 6 years for registration renewel. If you sell it, it's exempt for only 4 years. You still have to smog all vehicles that are newer then 1976 every 2 years or if you sell it. They basically hate old cars, and figure most people with new cars dont jack with them or freak out when the check engine light comes on and run to the dealer to get it fixed right away.