Cat Removal
Cat Removal
Ok, i understand that on a stock 88 305 tpi it might cause a slight gain of maybe 3 hp.
However i was wondering if it would be worth putting a high flow cat in now that i have done the following
1/ the free mods
2/Good set of Headers
3/Hooker cat back system
4/Slp runners
5/Edelbrock tpi base intake.
Now as far as the current cat converter, all i know is that it is old. It does not get red so it is not clogged however that is not to say that is free flowing
So, any feedback is very much appreciated.
However i was wondering if it would be worth putting a high flow cat in now that i have done the following
1/ the free mods
2/Good set of Headers
3/Hooker cat back system
4/Slp runners
5/Edelbrock tpi base intake.
Now as far as the current cat converter, all i know is that it is old. It does not get red so it is not clogged however that is not to say that is free flowing

So, any feedback is very much appreciated.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: Vortec 355
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: GM Axles and GM 3.73
my car with the old L69 305 in it went from a 15.9 to a 14.7 from just deleting the catalytic converter......when i posted this a lot of people thought i was lying....but i posted the time slip to show the truth.....and then i was told my car was a freak and that those gains are not usual.......here is the 14.7 timeslip again....
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Car: 1985 iroc
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: auto
Your car is def not normal. You can't gain that time just by removing the cat. Everyone would know about it, and it would be the first upgrade everyone would make. Congrats on having a frankenmonster though!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 10,950
Likes: 26
From: Orange, SoCal
Car: 1990 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 355 TPI siamesed runners
Transmission: Tremec T56
Axle/Gears: 12-Bolt 3.73
Re: Cat Removal
Originally posted by sam
Ok, i understand that on a stock 88 305 tpi it might cause a slight gain of maybe 3 hp.
However i was wondering if it would be worth putting a high flow cat in now that i have done the following
1/ the free mods
2/Good set of Headers
3/Hooker cat back system
4/Slp runners
5/Edelbrock tpi base intake.
Ok, i understand that on a stock 88 305 tpi it might cause a slight gain of maybe 3 hp.
However i was wondering if it would be worth putting a high flow cat in now that i have done the following
1/ the free mods
2/Good set of Headers
3/Hooker cat back system
4/Slp runners
5/Edelbrock tpi base intake.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: K.C. Mo.
Car: '89 GTA 9,000 MILES
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Originally posted by EPAisGAY
No...
A high flow Pipe....
No...
A high flow Pipe....
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: K.C. Mo.
Car: '89 GTA 9,000 MILES
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Originally posted by Mlanzo
Is it a good idea to just gut my stock cat?
Is it a good idea to just gut my stock cat?
Bill
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Car: 1985 iroc
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: auto
Originally posted by Jetmeck
If your state has visual inspections for emission control then yes gut it. Some say to run a pipe through it but to me it wasn't worth the trouble. Theoretically it would flow better with the pipe through it. I removed the rear pipe from the cat and used a long drill bit and sucked the crap out with a shop vac or blow it out by starting the car. Get it ALL out. You could remove the cat and beat on it with a piece of rebar or something but my way is easier, I have done it both ways.
Bill
If your state has visual inspections for emission control then yes gut it. Some say to run a pipe through it but to me it wasn't worth the trouble. Theoretically it would flow better with the pipe through it. I removed the rear pipe from the cat and used a long drill bit and sucked the crap out with a shop vac or blow it out by starting the car. Get it ALL out. You could remove the cat and beat on it with a piece of rebar or something but my way is easier, I have done it both ways.
Bill
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: K.C. Mo.
Car: '89 GTA 9,000 MILES
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Another good thing about using the long drill bit is you don't have to cut the air pump tube that dumps into the cat. Besides the factory squeezes the crap out of the front ypipe to cat connections to the point you have to heat with a torch and wiggle it off. Go the easy way with the bit, I had a bit left over when I built my house, the electrician or the alarm guys were using it and it looked like it would be handy some day so it got misplaced so to speak. ...lol
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: Vortec 355
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: GM Axles and GM 3.73
i also did the drill bit when i gutted mine and it made it REAL easy!! drilled the crap outta it and strated it up and reved it up.....hopefully you dont break any of the bolts! good luck!
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,388
Likes: 2
From: Caldwell,ID
Car: 2005 BMW 545i
Engine: 4.4L N62B44
Transmission: 6spd auto
Axle/Gears: Rotating
Originally posted by MattW
my car with the old L69 305 in it went from a 15.9 to a 14.7 from just deleting the catalytic converter......when i posted this a lot of people thought i was lying....but i posted the time slip to show the truth.....and then i was told my car was a freak and that those gains are not usual.......here is the 14.7 timeslip again....
my car with the old L69 305 in it went from a 15.9 to a 14.7 from just deleting the catalytic converter......when i posted this a lot of people thought i was lying....but i posted the time slip to show the truth.....and then i was told my car was a freak and that those gains are not usual.......here is the 14.7 timeslip again....
aren't the l69's already in the low 15 high 14 second range as is if the car is in good running shape and has a good driver?
it seems like most of what happened is you went from lg4 performance to l69 performance :P
also could be other factors like weather traction at the strip from one day to the next or maybe the driver just SUCKED on that first run
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,388
Likes: 2
From: Caldwell,ID
Car: 2005 BMW 545i
Engine: 4.4L N62B44
Transmission: 6spd auto
Axle/Gears: Rotating
all the cars I own that came with a cat have had it removed. thank *** for no visual inspection here in caldwell, idaho. if I Was going to leave the cat on I would run a straight pipe through it myself due to the better flow that would be gained as such vs just the open chamber of the cat.
not good for the enviroment though but my mazda never was good for the envrioment anyway I don't think
and having the stock thermal reactor and 3 cats on my little 1.3L was never good for performance so it had to go. guess I will be off to plant a tree now to help make up for my difference
not good for the enviroment though but my mazda never was good for the envrioment anyway I don't think
and having the stock thermal reactor and 3 cats on my little 1.3L was never good for performance so it had to go. guess I will be off to plant a tree now to help make up for my difference Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: K.C. Mo.
Car: '89 GTA 9,000 MILES
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Originally posted by rx7speed
all the cars I own that came with a cat have had it removed. thank *** for no visual inspection here in caldwell, idaho. if I Was going to leave the cat on I would run a straight pipe through it myself due to the better flow that would be gained as such vs just the open chamber of the cat.
not good for the enviroment though but my mazda never was good for the envrioment anyway I don't think
and having the stock thermal reactor and 3 cats on my little 1.3L was never good for performance so it had to go. guess I will be off to plant a tree now to help make up for my difference
all the cars I own that came with a cat have had it removed. thank *** for no visual inspection here in caldwell, idaho. if I Was going to leave the cat on I would run a straight pipe through it myself due to the better flow that would be gained as such vs just the open chamber of the cat.
not good for the enviroment though but my mazda never was good for the envrioment anyway I don't think
and having the stock thermal reactor and 3 cats on my little 1.3L was never good for performance so it had to go. guess I will be off to plant a tree now to help make up for my difference they started from rolling 60, stupid on the BMW guys part because the RX-7 turbos are well spooled at highway speeds.
My friend nailed his RX-7 by 100 we now longer could even see the BMW .
We had a few on his dumass that night. lol . I hate ricers but the RX-7 was a monster and there are tons of extra hp which can be
bolted on with an upgraded turbo and chip tuning. Much like our 20th Anniversary TA with the 3.8 turbo which is comparable in power to the RX-7 and OBVIOUSLY better looking.I keep telling my friend about them, he don't believe, someone have a 20th TA I could borrow to kick his ***....LOL
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,088
Likes: 125
From: SALEM, NH
Car: '88 Formula
Engine: LC9
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.89 9"
Originally posted by MattW
my car with the old L69 305 in it went from a 15.9 to a 14.7 from just deleting the catalytic converter......when i posted this a lot of people thought i was lying....but i posted the time slip to show the truth.....and then i was told my car was a freak and that those gains are not usual.......here is the 14.7 timeslip again....
my car with the old L69 305 in it went from a 15.9 to a 14.7 from just deleting the catalytic converter......when i posted this a lot of people thought i was lying....but i posted the time slip to show the truth.....and then i was told my car was a freak and that those gains are not usual.......here is the 14.7 timeslip again....

I'd be interested to see what MPH increase you got, if any. Thats more directly related to HP.
-- Joe
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: Vortec 355
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: GM Axles and GM 3.73

The top two are from when i just had the K&N air filter and the hooker cat-back.....top right was when my car had vapor lock issues because the stock cooling fan doesnt kick on til 220!!...but i soon fixed that
.....The bottom two were after i gutted the cat......bottom right is my 14.7 but u just cant read it.....but i do remember it being at 92mph......
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 1
From: Brighton, CO
Car: '72 Chevy Nova
Engine: Solid roller 355
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 8.5" 10-bolt 3.73 Posi
holy crap, +8 mph in the quarter!!!
I'd be willing to bet you had the clogged cat from hell.
I'd be willing to bet you had the clogged cat from hell.
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Lillington,N.C.
Car: 84Z28
Engine: 0.030 over 10.25:1 dart heads 350
Transmission: T 5 W.C. now
Axle/Gears: 3.73:1
looks to me like a traction issue in the first run...you got a full second faster on your 330 ft times......it's your story tell it like you want.......I'd have to see it.......doesn't matter much you now run better with more horse power.........
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Car: 1985 iroc
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: auto
Well, sorry to change the subject a lil bit but, I ordered a new hiflow cat from Catco, or so they say. A few people from this site told me to drill out the stuff in it, so I did. Hiflow my @$$!!!! That friggin thing was like a behive! I tried to blow air using my mouth through a small piece, and I almost passed out. I can see how easy ot is to get a cat clogged!
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
Car: 91 T/A, 79 T/A
Engine: 305 TPI, '68 350 Olds SC'ed
Transmission: 700r4, 350 Streetfighter
Axle/Gears: stock, 3.42
Alright, I want to cut off my cat(s). Do I need to worry about any O2 sensors at all? If so, would a resistor work to bypass it?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post








