I've been reading the stickies and there is a lot there to wrap you mind around. I get how going to a shorter overall exhaust length can hurt your low end torque. What about just removing the cat and installing a pipe in its place? The overall exhaust length would still be the same as stock.

For the record, I will put a high-flow cat in eventually, but don't have the money right now and my car still has the original factory cat and muffler. I think they are old and plugged and contributing to my car being sluggish. I know cats can be pretty cheap, but I have about 10 things that are "pretty cheap" ahead of them in line for my money.

So anyway, low end torque is really the most important to me. I have a 350 TBI w/auto that won't even turn the tires over without using the brake.

So any reason not to remove the cat? Thanks.

 

well before i sold my 87 formula my exhaust setup was headmen headers in to a y pipe then in the cats place was a 3 inch pipe out to the exhaust. with know cat i notice the car sounded alittle more aggresive. smell like crap at stops and i had better pick up after 2 gear. this was my result on my 350TPI. I have a gta now and I am keeping the cat on. I did not notice a loss on the low end. but from a tbi to a tpi I say you may notice abit.

 

Removing the cat and putting in a pipe is going to cost you just as much as putting in a high-flow aftermarket cat (unless you're doing the removal work yourself).

I hate to say it, but yes you will notice a difference after removing it, because stock factory cats are horrible for performance. But you will gain just as much with an aftermarket cat, and the law says you have to leave your cat on there, so I would recommend just putting a new cat on it.

 

I am going to do myself. For the time being I will just unbolt the 3-bolt flanges on either side of the cat, pull the cat out, the cut on either side of the cat, buy a test pipe at the parts store and put it in with clamps. Shouldn't cost much.

I'll get a cat in a year or so probably, mainly for the smell since I have a vert, but for now that 18 year old cat is killing me and the car needs too much else done to it, both in upgrades and maintenance.