Is it really worth taking the emissions stuff off the engine? Will I gain more than a better look at the block?
Thanks,
Steve

 

If the emissions equipment is working then you might as well leave it on. If it starts to fail and the laws in your area would not require your year Camaro to be emissions checked then I would remove it. Case in point: When my cat converter plugged itself, I removed it. You also will need to be able to reflash the PROM if you remove some of these items and do not want a check engine light.

 

This thread is on the V6 forum, so assuming you're talking about a 3.1L v6? Not much smog equipment to begin with, just a digital EGR valve, a very basic smog pump blowing air into the cat, and the cat itself. Every 6cyl thirdgen I've owned has had the cat already gone, and the carpet melted to the floor under the passenger's seat. If it's still there, watch to see if it glows red, or otherwise puts out a buttload of heat. If it's already been replaced, it's probably fine. If it's been gutted, it's probably fine. If it's gone, make sure there aren't any exhaust leaks (Like a galvanized fence post rammed into the Y-pipe and intermediate pipe and retained with two crappy spot welds and some bailing wire... That's an exhaust leak) and its fine. Personally I wouldn't gut or straight pipe the cat on a V6 because it'll usually make the exhaust sound like *** incarnate. Pip farting on a snare drum, kinds of awful.

Nothing to be gained removing the smog pump, it's not as much of a parasitic drag as people act. Same with the digital EGR, unless it bursts into flames (they are somewhat known to burst into flames) I'd leave it alone. In fact, most 3.1Ls are probably best left alone.