I went to a local shop, the guy can do my exhaust for $280. He will be using stainless pipes, a flowmaster muffler with dual exits. He will also replace the catalyc converter with some pipe, anyone heard of this? I really didn't ask for too many details since I just wanted to know how much for the work but everything will be new ofcourse. If not I'm gonna have to make a trip to mexico

It depends on what kind of setup he's going to put in. If he's going to crimp bend 2" pipes into a rusted out Flowmaster, then $280 is absolutely not a good deal. If he's going to radius bend some 3" or 2.5" pipes into a decent muffler and seal it up real nice, then $280 sounds alright. Shop around first though. And make sure you see some of their work, or get a recommendation from a friend.

Replacing the catalytic convertor with a straight pipe is a federal offense and I find it hard to believe that any shop on the up and up would do that job. I have been to some shady hole in the wall muffler shops that wouldn't touch that job. Simply becuse it's not just your butt if that gets noticed, but the tech's and the shop's too.

The shops in my area are more than happy to cut your cat's away as long as you sign a waver stating that the cat was misssing prior to entering the shop. Regardless of whether they were or not. These are big name businesses too.

I aked the guy if it was legal and he said yes. Like I said, I didn't ask too many details but I'll give him a call back and ask him to give me details on what he would place the cat with. But I think I'm just going to shop around for an aftermarket cat and a muffler then find someone to do the work. I'm not in such a big hurry though.

The guy lied. It is NOT legal. There are no exceptions. As with all emissions equipment they are required by federal law. That's not to say you can't get away with a lot of stuff, but of all the things you CAN get away with (in the case of testing), I'd put removing the cat at the bottom of the list. In my experience even if you come in to the shop without a cat they are obligated to put one on if they work on the vehicle. The restriction cause by a high flow is next to nill. So there's very little reason to not simply go with a high flow cat.

Yeah there's no power loss really with a high flow cat. At most 1-2 hp. I will modify mine to hold high-flows when testing comes around, but at the moment I run catless simply because I like the sound and smell.

quit crying....

Wow, that's awesome man. Real mature.

Unfortunately that's the kind of people these cars are associated with. I agree with you, IMO taking off a cat is for the lowest of all pieces of trash.

I dunno about that, I think that it is more local issue than at a federal level. Like maybe state by state or even more local, like in PA where it's county by county based on population and industry in each county.

I could be wrong though.

In PA we have a series of title options ranging from regular to classic,collectible,antique etc. Some vehicles titled as classic and similar are considered limited use and by proxy emissions exempt even on a visual inspection.

The first level of exemption comes at classic title status and a car is eligible at 15 years old. Maybe his car meets a similar criteria and his laws are similar too.

The setup I'm installing on my car this weekend doesnt have a cat on it. Its got a resonator in its place. We're gonna buy exhaust flanges and hook them up to the cat and the resonator so that I can swap the cat in when its time to take the car for testing.

Why would someone not want a high flow cat? Because a piece of pipe is a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

Your telling me that not everyone has a money tree.

I have a straight pipe and I am not a low peice of trash, but whatever, just thought I'de put my two cents in because I didn't appreciate that comment.

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yea sure..... why don't you go drive a sunfire......

Just becuase a lot of white trash like to drive f-bodies doesn't mean I'm going to get a different car.

Sorry to offend anyone/everyone although I stick by my statement.

so you are white trash????? do you have a m ullet???? all i was saying is that putting a straight pipe where the cat goes does not make you white trash.... that means you are not spending as much money.... i have an idea... shove a straight pipe through the middle of the cat.... make both parties happy....
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why is m ullet blanked out as a bad word????

You might want to go back to middle school and retake your reading comprehension classes becuase nowhere did I say that every third gen owner was white trash. I guess it's my mistake for assuming you could understand that I was implying that cars should have working catalytic converters- so no, a straight pipe through the cat is just as stupid.

first off...removing the cat & operating the vehicle on a public road/highway is a federal crime-in all the states-if any of you care to find out do a search for "the federal clean air act"
it's something along the lines... all the emissions equiptment that came on your car during the year it was manufactured must remain in place & working properly.
secondly...who cares if joe blow wants to run without a cat...it'll be his problem if he gets caught. i know because i take that chance. in my book the loss of 1-2 hp=less horsepower(feel free to check my math but im fairly certain its correct).
i dont mean to offend any one but really-is it that important that you gotta call each other names-seems stupid to me...but what i know i am a reckless, cat-less law breaking fool!

I agree that the fed probably has a law against it, much like the maximum speed limit of 65, but we all know states which have posted 70MPH interstates. I still think this is one of those unfunded mandate laws that can't be enforced unless the federal gov't shells out to pay for enforcement.

So I still say that enforcement is a local level crime, albeit state or county.

do you have an emissions program in Pa?

you did say alot of people who drive third gens are white trash....

I believe speed limits are allowed to go as high as 75mph, not 65.

States do not over rule the EPA. States may not test for emissions but the equipment is put on the cars at the factory because of federal mandate. Anyways, that's the end of that for me. I was just offering some advice. I wouldn't call anyone trash for removing a cat, heck I've considered it myself. But for all the hassle involved, you can get a high flow cat for under $50 and you lose minimal horsepower...might as well do it and stay legal (and clean).

i have a cutout in place of my cat converter am i white trash.....?

is someone going to call me out for taking my emmisions equipment off of my car...?

i mean get real guys why does it matter to you if they take it off. i took mine off not b/c of the hp loss but b/c i needed a place to put the cutout that was within reach and i hated all the space the emmisions stuff took up in the engine bay. where im from we dont have emmisions testing so i was not worried about it. i cant believe you guys are acting like a bunch of little girls about what someone that you dont even know has done to their car thats about rediculous.

Ok, so if you do something illegal now you are trash??? Ok Mr' Perefect all high and mighty, I guess you have never ever done a thing wrong in your life?? I hope you don't use areosol cans, don't smoke, you know what for that matter don't drive at all because that all causes pollution, big whoopty doo. I don't care how much you stand by what you said, you are WRONG. Like I said I have a straight pipe and I am NOT trash, I know I may not have been a part of the original subject but it pisses me off to see such ignorance, you can't call anyone trash without knowing them. I also know that I am just a new member, not to mention the fact that I am a girl so nobody probabyl really cares what I have to say anyway, but I don't care, I am not going to sit here and read this without saying anything. Calling someone trash because something they have done to their car is just plain stupid. Saying it is something you would not do is one thing, saying someone else is wrong or calling them names just because you disagree with it is another.

Am I the only one here without a cat??? And while we're ont eh subject I ALSO plan on getting the catalytic converter taken off my Berlinetta, so then I'll have tow straight pipes OH MY GOSH call the cops so they can throw me in jail.

Ok I am done with my hissy fit.

you can't fix stupid

LOL I guess you're right.

On topic please.

Well I've decided that i'm going to just replace the cat because it's clogged and wait for the other stuff later on. I'm going to purchase the cat online on ebay and get someone to weld it. I saw one for $55, oh and free shipping! eBay Motors: Eastern Catalytic Converter 93 94 95 Chevy Camaro S10 (item 110006115447 end time Aug-06-06 09:45:51 PDT) .Good deal right? Thanks for you opinions.

....Actually I found some universal Catco and Magnaflow cats and Summit for about the same price or a few dollars more so maybe i'll just get one of those. I've read the thread on exhaust and read catco was a good cat. But I noticed they have a 14 inch cat and a 12 3/4 inch cat, the 14inch being a bit more expensive though, is the 14inch better for the car? Thanks

I'm running 3" mandrel bent, was put on for me for $125 bucks from where the cat should be back to the muffler. Flowmasters will probably run about $70 bucks and the tailpipes should be about another 30-40 so with tax $280 is probably pretty good.