Hi, I have been having some problems with blowing cats I believe this to be because of a too rich condition. I was checking the fuel pressure the wrong way and getting false readings it was at 65psi! Now it is set back to 50. Anyway, I am most likely going to hollow out my cat, so as not to blow any more and free up a few hp, but had some important questions. Firstly, if I leave the little AIR tube to it connected, will anything happen? I was thinking about just taking the belt off the smog pump. If I do this will I get any sensor readings, poor performance, or a confused ECM? I really am not concerened with Emissions, cause I can always just swap a good cat, and but the belt back on to pass inspection every year. And I am not concerened about the backpressure issue, due to my own experience. I once ran this car straight out of the Y pipe cause I was bringing it to a shop, and it ran considerably stronger than it ever has. Car ran 0-60 in 4.5 and burned the tires more than half the way there. Any help you guys have with this issue, and any other suggestions why my car might be running rich enough (or some other condition you can think of) to mess up a cat in just two weeks would be a big help. I also have a relocated MAT sensor, and bypassed the coolant to the throttle body, just put in a new O2 sensor as well. See profile for rest of car specs. I really want to get this car back to normal real soon. Thanks!

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87 GTA 350 L98
K&N filters, beefed up TH-700r4, Accel Manifold, Ported Plenum and Runners, Fuel Press. Regulator 49.5psi, air foil, modified MAF, SLP cold air box, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/160 thermostat, MSD 6AL and Blaster 3, B&M shift kit, Moser Ford 9in Rear with Richmond 3.50 and locker, Edlebrock TES headers and Cat Back, Poly suspension and Koni in the front

Fastest ET's
Stock-0-60 6.8, 1/4 15.0 @ 98
Best-0-60 4.7, 1/4 12.8 @ 112
Norm-0-60 5.2, 1/4 13.2 @ 108

[This message has been edited by KW87GTA (edited March 25, 2001).]

 

You can gut your cat and leave the AIR tube there and not have any problems. All the AIR does is inject O2 into the exhaust, so O2 into an empty cat won't do any harm. If you do gut your cat, remember to get a piece of 3" piping to slide into the hollow cat, if you leave it empty in the inside, it will creat massive turbulance and serious flow problems since the hot exhaust expands inside the cat and then has to compress down again to go through the rest of the exhaust. You can also remove your smog pump belt and you won't get any codes, I did that and the car runs great.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End

Current Mods: LT4 HOT Cam, Comp Cams 1.52:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to Come: 7.625" 10 Bolt with 3.42s and Accel TPI Intake Base