Catalytic Converters

Cadiman1983 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-18-08, 06:44 PM

I'm sure this has been covered, but I've been out of the loop for a long time due to work. Here in GA they don't do emissions testing, so I was thinking I could just pull the cats and run straight pipes. Has anyone done this on the 3.2L? Any problems? Where did you get the straight pipes?

Thanks for any help.

YuraB · #2 (**permalink**) 03-18-08, 10:57 PM

I would get preformence cats instead like one member did here. U gain horsepower, dont polute, and keep some back pressure.

Cadiman1983 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-18-08, 11:10 PM

Well can anyone tell me what the inlet/outlet sizes are for the cats on the 3.2L?

pietroraimondi · #4 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadiman1983

Well can anyone tell me what the inlet/outlet sizes are for the cats on the 3.2L?

The inside diameter is 2.25"

nopi08 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 10:03 AM

They do emissions testing in GA, just not everywhere yet and its possible that the whole state might go into emissions testing in the next couple years according to the news since the air quality reports have been horrible.

sosgood · #6 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 02:07 PM

On the same subject, anyone know of a place that sells high flow cats for my 04 with the 3.6vvt? Are they direct fits or do they require mods?
Thanks

odysseus · #7 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 02:22 PM

If you've looked closely at the shape of the CTS cats, they are not universal. they have about a 45 degree bend at the bottom. With that said, it shouldn't be difficult to have some custom ends welded on (or cut them off your current cats) and have them installed on new high flow universal cats. In a modern car, you're not gonna see any performance increase from removing the cats alone.

sosgood · #8 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 02:45 PM

I understand that new cats wont do much alone but is it worth it is you follow it up with an exhaust system or in your opinion is it not worth it?

odysseus · #9 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 08:36 PM

On the 3.2, going from the stock single exhaust to a Borla dual exhaust is good for around 15rwhp. Replacing the cats with high flow ones may add a few HP, but the bottleneck is the exhaust manifolds. There are no headers for the 3.2L available. It would be wise to extrude-hone the exhaust manifolds first, port match them, then have them jet-hot coated, then fabricate the intake and exit for some high flow cats. That may gain you an extra 10-15 HP on top of the Borla.

Cadiman1983 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 09:36 PM

How much would that work to the exhaust manifolds cost?

dkozloski · #11 (**permalink**) 03-19-08, 11:37 PM

Removing the CATs is a federal crime. It's a federal crime to sell a car with the emissions systems tinkered with. It's a federal crime to operate a car that you know the emissions systems have been tinkered with.

Cadiman1983 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-20-08, 12:00 AM

Its technically a federal crime to alter your vehicle in any manor. Yet everyone on this forum and pretty much anybody with a car has modified it. So whats your point?

dkozloski · #13 (**permalink**) 03-20-08, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadiman1983

Its technically a federal crime to alter your vehicle in any manor. Yet everyone on this forum and pretty much anybody with a car has modified it. So whats your point?

If you mod the emissions system of your car you have to put it back like it was before you sell it. The next owner can come back at you if you don't tell them. Who needs the hassle?
Prove to me that it's a crime to mod your car in general or you're full of BS.