trbomike

Getting ready to pull the trigger and order some headers for my 06.. still debating on the fuel smell some talk about when not running cats. I got thinking about my previous cars with no cat, My Buick GN, SRT4.. I don't remember fuel smells with them. Is this LS specific? is it reeeeally that bad? Help me decide.

LuckySam

I was concerned about it before I went no cats, it's actually no problem at all.

Girthrockwel

I'm in for the responses. Been trying to decide the same thing.

Bruze

I'm old and when I was hotrodding they hadn't invented CCs yet, so I'm totally out of touch with anything.

My question: How do you pass inspection without them?

njedwardz

I have cats behind my Pfadt LT's and still smell quite a bit if I come to a stoplight after running hard. I'd imagine it's quite a bit stronger without cats.

I don't mind, and honestly I never smell anything if I'm just cruising around town. I actually kinda like the smell. Lets me know I'm making up for all the environmental damage the hybrids are doing

ProfessorDeath

Because these days they just hook up an OBD I I reader and search for codes. If you properly install O2 sensor simulators, no problem.

Me personally? I'll spend the extra bucks on high-flow cats. I don't like the smell and I don't like the hissing sound cat-less cars tend to make at wide open throttle.

Girthrockwel

We don't get inspected in Alabama.

Ahzuz

I had a catless mustang 5.0L and let me Tell u it smelled like a boat WOT all the time. The sound was worth it tought, the gf didnt like the smell at all Hahaha

NormWild

No smell here

Bruze

Eh, okay, I assumed all the states had to check emissions.

mikeCsix

From the responses, the high globe cats may get overwhelmed at wot. For me, its an easy decision. If the car is off road, no cats needed. If its on the road, the should be installed, they help with air quality. I can smell an old car or pickup from quit a distance. All that means is you are breathing unburned fuel and byproduct, just like we did in the '60's.

push

If I wanted every little bit of power or was running FI I would go catless. But given I drive the car a bunch with my better half I opted for cats. With my cam there is a bit of overlap and it still smells a little bit with the windows down if I'm backing up, but it's not nearly as bad as if it were catless.

raspyc6

Do the cats. That said, you will start smelling increased exhaust over time. I have LG long tubes, their x-pipe and their hi-flow cats. I have been told over time the little bit of CC material that is in there begins to burn away; I never looked to verify the same but it smells (literally) like that statement might be true.

tennblkc6

go with cats and be done with it. I started out catless and the smell really isn't bad. but I added them mostly to cut down on drone...it was a plus that they helped with the slight smell.

SUB VETTE

With the hi-flow design of most cats sold by the leading header manufacturers you are not going to lose much, if any, power by using them and the smell reduction is worth it.