I googled this and came up with alot of folklore, but no one seems to know for sure if I can go without the cat here in Ohio. I have the "looks like dual exhaust" $280 bolt on flowmaster exhaust. The cat looks pretty unsubstantial anyway, I don't know if removing such litle restriction would even let me breath better anyway. Advice?

 

from ohio, still have ohio plates/registration. i tore mine out a long time ago. i even drove by the local cop with open headers(just once) one day after school a few years ago.

as long as you don't run around with open pipes/ no exhaust and making a fool of yourself no one will care. with that flowmaster cat-back no one will notice.

 

There are a few counties with no emissions checking. Find out if you are in one and you are in the clear. Also (thread jack) I have a test pipe I need to sell before I move. PM for more info. (thread jack over)

 

Its not a STATE LAW thing. Emmissions stuff if a FEDERAL LAW.

Can you get away with it... Ya for sure. as long as you dont have e-check.

 

thanks guys, I'm convinced - the cat has to go - soultron - I would but I got a guy that's gonna do it 30$ installed with part. Seems good to me. Since we're talking about pollution laws... I read a mention in an old post that said something about how you can remove the air pump to increase engine efficiency? Is that true? It was vague, I'll try and find it again tonight and link it here.

 

Should have no problems in Athens. I'd suggest taking the converter off and rodding it out, reinstall. Pretty easy job. The air pump uses about 2 horsepower and has nothing to do with efficiency. Puts air into the manifolds when the engine is cold to speed up the cat. heatup/reaction, then pumps into the middle of the converter to help the secondary reaction.

 

What would the best way be to bore out the converter? I'm totally into doing things as cheaply as possible - then I can do more

 

FWIW, I ran mine with an "off road" pipe for a while, then e-check was introduced in my area. I bought a high flow cat for emissions check purposes. The car ran better with the cat installed. There was actually a "seat-of-the-pants" difference. It felt much more responsive and torquey. I've left the cat installed and pitched my off road pipe.
Dave

 

agreed. the states don't make these laws just on if they want to enforce them or not.

also as others have said to just gut the cat out only way I would do that is if you put a pipe through it. at least that way it looks like a cat even yet gives you the performance of a straight pipe rather then the not as good performance of a empty gutted cat.