To do a side exit exhaust. Bad idea?

I HAVE to keep the cat, so please don't tell me to just get rid of it. This is a street car & I'm not keen on violating Federal Law by removing it. Nor will I gut it, so don't go there either.

I already have a bullet muffler that I can use, so my idea was just put it directly behind the converter, then the exit off to the side, just in front of the rear tire.

Just wasn't sure (and doubt there is) any problem with the muffler & cat butted up against each other. Cause the cat to run a tad hotter? It is a bullet muffler, so there isn't much restriction in it.

 

If you're so keen on not violating laws, then why not just keep the stock style exhaust? That "bullet" muffler of yours isn't legal in most states anyway. A ton of states specifiy that you're not allowed to modify your exhaust in such a manner that amplifies noise.

I used to be the same way, but I got over it and bought myself an offroad X pipe. There are people out there committing way more serious crimes that affect people now. Not killing polar bears 400 years from now.

Anyhow, it should be just fine if you take that route. Catalytic converters work best when warm, so I doubt the little bit of heat that a muffler accumulates would bother it. They're typically way hotter when at opperating temperature than a muffler.

 

You may have that kind of problem where you live, but in 6 years & 3 different counties, my car has passed both emissions & non-emissions State Inspections. I'm planning on using the muffler that is on there now, which resides under the rear seat/floorboard area, moving it forward, then putting on a turnout. So it is 100% legal in MY State/area. I've even run with NO muffler & just the cat, and still passed. Per Texas State Inspection requirements:

"20.15 Exhaust System. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with muffler in good working order and in constant operation. Muffler defined: Muffler is a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and/or turbine wheels for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from a diesel engine, both of which are effective in reducing noise."

So the cat qualifies as a "muffler". Let's see anyone argue that a cat doesn't reduce noise. Even an Inspector can't argue that fact & has to concede that a cat qualifies as a "muffler". Been there, done that....And won.

But thanks. I just wanted to make sure there weren't any issues than I might encounter, that I hadn't thought about.

And yes, by what I just said that means that I could eliminate the muffler entirely & just do a turn-out form the cat. But I still prefer the muffler sound change.