Well, i went to get the baby inspected today and...F. I went to a private place, and he said my emmissions were herendous. I was told to change the cat and i would pass. I have a 160 therm on there too, however...my question is this - recently i have felt a little lagging in my acceleration and even in idle. I figured it might be my plugs...changed them. Now i am starting to think that maybe it is my cat. can the cat steal power like that without actually being visibly crappy. I would have never guessed it was the cat had the guy not mentioned it. i always thought the most power loss was experienced when that bad boy actually fell off. can it be on its way out and still be robbing power?? thanks in advance.

 

Yep, if its broken up inside or melted from overheating, it could be plugging up your exhaust flow and killing power, and causing your emissions to be too high. Replace it with a new one.

------------------
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
317 RWHP, 418 RWTQ
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Member: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Definitely the catback...

The give-away is you're experiencing the loss in power at throttle AND having stumble at idle....add to the fact you didn't pass smog and the tech reccommended a new cat...

Put a nice High-Flow catback on if you have the money, they are really worth it!

-ONE2FLY



------------------
1990 IROC-Z Camaro

Artic White w/ Gold Decals, 305cid V8 TPI, 700R4 Auto w/ OD, 16" 1992 Z-28 rims (w/ white trim), Z-rated Extremos 245/50/16s (new), Power Options, T-Tops, Tinted Windows, Flowmaster Exhuast w/ High-Flow Cat-Back....

 

Go knock on your cat. If you hear any rattling around the boards inside are all smahed up. A clogged cat can steal power like you wouldn't believe. You'll start running a little hotter too. ONE2FLY is right too, if you want to use a cat, just get a high flow one rather than a stock replacement. The only time I'd recommend getting a stocker is if your only going to slap it on for emmissions only and then take off.

------------------
"Though I cruise through the valley of Rice I shall fear no turbo, for torque art with me."
--Cullan Hooley
-----
1985 IROC-Z w/T-tops, 305 out and 350 L98 TPI engine in, Hooker Super Comp Headers, 3" Hooker Super Comp Cat-Back, Dropped Cat, Rebuilt TH700R4 with Shift kit, 2,800RPM Torque Converter, 3.73 Richmond gears, Auburn posi differential, Accell SuperCoil, Accell 8mm racing wires, BBK AFPR, Homemade Ram-Air (thanks to askulte), MAF screens removed, Dropped A/C, Dropped A.I.R, TB coolant bypass, Hurst Dual-Gate Shifter, SLP Air Foil, K&N filters, Holley performance fuel pump, Spohn Subframe Connectors, Re-located Spohn Lower Control arms, LT1 cam, 150 shot of nitrous, and more to come.