jonparks

I am taking my 2014 stingray in to get a set of long tube headers and a tune. Should I keep the Cats?

ss2z06

It’s a personal preference. Some people keep cats because of the smell without. Personally I like the smell. Also, depends on where you live and smog regulations. Power wise if those are the only mods it won’t make much of a difference.

Dcasole

Keep the cats , Thank me later when you don't smell.like you just mowed the lawn when you drive it 😉

GSCE#456

I am catless and have a convertible. The smell is not as bad as some people will lead you to believe. Can you smell burnt fuel- sure, but it’s minimal unless you’re sitting in the garage with the car running.

Internets_Ninja

Definitely keep the cats. You aren't losing any performance at your level and you will be thankful you don't have exhaust fumes rolling back into the car.

GSCE#456

True statement. If you do go down the supercharged path that is when you risk burning up your cats from the increased heat.

Dcasole

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^
One person's tolerance level to the gas smell could be different from another, but one thing you can absolutly be sure of is a car without cats smells worse than a car with cats

I have high flow cats and I still smell gas on cold startup in the garage because the aftermarket cats do not heat up as fast because the they are in the mid pipe and are farther downstream than the OEM postion but once they are hot , I have zero smell

Dave

Travlee

i dont have cats, and running ethanol... that is more noticeable to me than when i was running 93

Internets_Ninja

I have cats and I am run e60-e72. Anything below E70 and the smell isn't pleasant on cold start or even when its raining. When it rains it cools the cats off enough that I smell the fumes in the car with the windows down or the AC on. If I press the recirculation button that cuts off the fumes in the AC. But bottom line, as someone who has had multiple cars with Catless headers and multiple with Catted headers, I'll never go Catless again unless its a full blown race car. Nothing is more miserable that smelling raw fuel in the car while driving it and subsequently having to wash your clothes because you smell like a garage too. E70 actually smells pleasant but I don't think sniffing ethanol fumes is that great either.

Horsefly

I went with long tubes without cats & have NO ISSUES with odors/smell in the cab. It can be a bit rough in the garage with the car idling, but sheesh....it's in a garage with walls and sitting still. I have never, ever had exhaust fumes in my cab when I have been out driving & that includes in town with stop lights. Oh, yea....I burn corn gas too.

Go with what makes you more comfortable, as I would/could recommend going either way!

GSCE#456

I agree with you and I drive a convertible too!

aklim

Question: Do you have emissions testing where you are?

Internets_Ninja

lol I don't believe some of the claims at all

GSCE#456

I’m in Texas and they do emissions testing, but with my tune it wasn’t a problem. Just had it inspected yesterday. All good!

Dcasole

Emissions testing done now in most states only test your emissions system thru the OBD port so as long as you have the rear O2's set to "Not Report " , dont have any CEL's and the drive cycle testing reports as complete you pass .
When I lived in NJ and VA , they also tested with a sniffer in the tail pipe , that's when you can run into trouble.
With my 70 454 Chevelle I had to remove the vacuum advance line , turn the idle up to 1,200 , retard the timing 6 degrees and lean the idle circuit to the verge of missing on the Holley 780 ... Once I passed I reversed everything
With the advent of computer controlled systems I am not sure how you trick the sniffer test if you fail

I now live in GA and they only test the OBD so I never had a problem since moving here

IVOZO6

I have had two C5 Z06's with Headers, off road Xpipe and no cats. Throw some race gas in tank from time to time and it smells like heaven!
I just got my C7 GS and headers coming soon. Already got rid of secondary cats.
I grew up with Sunoco 260. Cats were not invented yet...

Ghostnotes

If its tuned correctly, you wont notice the smell..

aklim

If you start the car, back up and drive off any smells are not noticeable.

GN Sport user

If you install a X pipe with out the cats will you need to do a new tune? No other mods done.

Dcasole

Nope..... no tune needed with just the Xpipe
Dave