I heard its a good idea to cut out the catalytic converter for better mileage. New York doesn't make my car pass emissions, so i don't think it would be a problem. Is this something that's worth doing?

thanks!

 

depends on how the car runs with it. Technically it's still illegal to take one off w/o replacing it if your came with it.

 

Sam , in NY if your car is more than 25 years old,no emissions,no equipment check, so get rid of the cat.

 

i hate that law. after 25 (maybe a little differant in other places) years, they say "oh, no more emissions tests." but then they say it is illegal to tamper with anything emissions.

i say go for it.

 

Heh...I know I don't have to pass emmissions in NY, but even if I did, i have a guy what will pass anyone no matter what haha.

So I guess I'll give it a shot. Can i just gut the thing and put it back, or should I put a piece of straight pipe?

 

I would just get some type of straight pipe made and installed. If you ever feel the need to change it back, you still have the cat!

 

BULL CRAP!!!! High flow cats flow better, cost little and keep you legal. You have done other performance mods right? so it really isn't mileage you are looking for, it is performance right? Forget it. There are street legal cars running single digits with cats. Leave it alone.

 

nope....no performance mods on my slant 6. just looking for a little better mileage! If anything, it can't HURT to get rid of it.....?

 

Well I wont hurt but it probably wont help gain MPG, unless its on verge of stopping up...JMO

 

X2

Nothing to be gained. You can just kill resale value, and make it illegal. will you get caught? maybe not but why go there.

 

its legal here though

 

Exactly. So i feel like i should at least TRY it haha

 

Nope. The federal gvt says you cannot modify emissions systems. regardless of your local enforcement, you cannot remove a cat.

 

Just remember don't tell.

 

Look into a cheap aftermarket replacement by Dynomax or Summit to help with performance/gas mileage if you are concerned with the law. I would cut it off and leave an open pipe, but here in NC emisions laws are never enforced

 

thats the law i hate. they say oh ya you dont even have to have one anymore were not going to check! but if you change anything your still in trouble.

 

TAKE UM OFF! I mean a little slant six is going to really have to work hard to push a four door dart so i mean theres not much your going to be able to do for increase MPG

 

I agree with Crazy. I would leave it alone. If you are set on doing it, then cut it out, put a straight pipe in and save the original so you can put it back if you need/want to.

 

cats from the 70's/early eighties were not known for their high flow rates.
I would remove the cat temporarily and replace it with the pipe. However, dont drive into any other states that look at this kind of stuff. It's true NY wont mess with ya but Mass. might. Replace the cat with a high flow unit at some time. The feds dont drive around looking at cars from the 70's to see if they have a cat or not but some states do. I dont worry about such things out here in the midwest but.

 

Not any more they are checking to see if the cats are there or not. The emission testing is on OBDII but the older cars and trucks all their emission equipment has to be on the vehicle.Doesn't matter if it works or not.

 

A trick that we do is cut and peel the shell of the cat and wrap it back over a straight pipe. When you face the welds to the floor of the car, knowone will ever know. This can only be done with certian cats though due to the various shapes and materials, and internals. My friends and I have done this with cats and mufflers

 

It's illegal to take off.
That law is rarely enforced.
It won't make your performance/mileage any worse.
It might make the car harder to sell.

That's really all you need to know. The decision is yours, taking all that into account. I know what I would do but that's me.

 

isn't that the same as just knocking the guts out of it and putting it back?

 

Yes or driving a straight pipe through with enough on the ends to cut off to weld it back on with.

 

Its not going to affect the resale of the car. Save the caty and if u dont like the results then put it back on. I dont understand why people are ranting and raving about legality issus, it may be ilegal in certain places but so is reving your motor to loud and spinning your back tires but im sure evreyone here has done that.

 

Knocked the guts out of the cat this morning. It sounds a little different, not sure about anything else yet.

 

as long as your happy thats what its about Im kinda mad we cut and scraped evreything out of my 75 4 door dart I would have had a ton of parts for you.... that car was in great condition

 

That's not nice!

 

yo. i need this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9ufhkmagJ4

 

Those flamethrowers ignite the unburned exhaust gas, so you would have to get rid of your catalytic converter for those to work.