Cat Delete Pipe vs Cat Back Exhaust
#1
Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '19
Cat Delete Pipe vs Cat Back Exhaust
Just curious what others think about these 2 choices, pros and cons. Everything I have read about the cat delete pipes has been very positive, the only negative is some minor fuel smell at times. For about 4-$500, (yes, there are more expensive ones, but why spend more for basically the same 2 pieces of pipe) you gain at least 25 HP and get the sound of an aftermarket exhaust. Really no negatives on cat back exhausts either, but at 2-3x the price is it worth it for a little more HP? My thought is that people go aftermarket exhaust mostly because of the better sound, which is also is accomplished with the cat delete pipes.
Also, how difficult would it be to install the cat delete pipes? Do you need to remove the bumper? Thanks.
Also, how difficult would it be to install the cat delete pipes? Do you need to remove the bumper? Thanks.
Last edited by C7Me; 10-01-2022 at 10:55 AM.
#2
Burning Brakes
If you do anything with the cats, do hi-flow cats. Cat delete will most likely through codes. Check out 2m fabrication.
#3
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I always caution this. Removing the Cats or otherwise messing with the emissions systems is a Federal Crime. If you live in a state where they do emissions testing or other inspections, you may well fail.
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#4
Racer
#5
Instructor
You think if f high flow cats would provide a legal exhaust and provide a significant power gain GM would offer that as an option. I think they have an arrangement with BORLA that is very spendy (I think it must be GM installed) and I believe it offers a power gain. Maybe someone can correct me or add to this info. As far as the loud factor goes I admit I do look when I hear it but for me I got over that a long time ago. I will be checking out the turbo and supercharging systems that are being developed.
#7
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Roll The Dice
Void your warranty, fail emissions, ruin your resale, fry your engine. Do these seem like risks worth taking to gain 25 hp?
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#9
Racer
#10
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Some states do a visual and the inspectors know what to look for. That is why you may fail.
#11
Ditto to what others have said about the smell. Plus these hp gains are HIGHLY exaggerated.
#12
Drifting
Removing the cats will also increase black residue from unburnt gasses to form around your exhaust pipes and on the car. No big deal if you clean it often but honestly, high-flow cats are the way to go these days. Why risk added headaches in the future? Any horsepower gains or losses between using high-flow cats or straight pipes won’t matter and will largely be exaggerated and imagined. Just get high-flow cats.
#14
You think if f high flow cats would provide a legal exhaust and provide a significant power gain GM would offer that as an option. I think they have an arrangement with BORLA that is very spendy (I think it must be GM installed) and I believe it offers a power gain. Maybe someone can correct me or add to this info. As far as the loud factor goes I admit I do look when I hear it but for me I got over that a long time ago. I will be checking out the turbo and supercharging systems that are being developed.
#15
Wrong. See above.
#16
Racer
I assume you're talking about the C7. Two differences: the C7 has 4 cats, and the x-pipe only removes the two smaller ones, leaving the main ones. The the C7 only monitors the main cats, so the OBDC system doesn't know the other two are gone. The C8 only has two cats, and they are monitored.
Wrong. See above.
Wrong. See above.
I was being sarcastic
#17
Le Mans Master
Removing the cats will also increase black residue from unburnt gasses to form around your exhaust pipes and on the car. No big deal if you clean it often but honestly, high-flow cats are the way to go these days. Why risk added headaches in the future? Any horsepower gains or losses between using high-flow cats or straight pipes won’t matter and will largely be exaggerated and imagined. Just get high-flow cats.
One of the misconceptions of the decade - catless will produce big HP. On an N/A engine like this 5 hp if you're lucky. I have been working on a popular 4.0L bi turbo platform for the last couple of years. Catless pipes are the rage because misleading marketing has these guys thinking they're going to make big HP gains when in reality, even on the FI platform 8 hp, maybe, eliminating CATS.
CATS engineering has come a very long way since they were first introduced on ICE engines. Very much not worth the cost to eliminate them, then in some states (CA) they will catch it in an emissions inspection. With a new car you might have a couple of years, then be scrambling to get CATS put back in in CA and soon to be other states too.
#18
Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '19
#19
According to the manufacturers of these pipes, you are wrong on all accounts, except maybe the emissions, but that varies by state. Any added HP is just a bonus, so that is very low on the list. I'm looking for a better sound like everyone else and don't want to spend 3-$5k on a cat back system. Performance to $ doesn't add up for me. Thanks everyone for the replies.
I can guarantee you that if you have an engine problem, GM will look at those cat delete pipes and say "oh, so sad, too bad." Probably if you have any drivetrain issue. "Oh, your mods exceeded the designed HP, any issues are because of that." Might want to watch the video below.
And it is a clear violation of federal law to remove the cats. Maybe in some states you'll get away with it, but any state that requires an inspection is going to catch it as soon as they fire up the car and smell the exhaust, then fail you.
The manufacturers say everything is hunky dory. If it's on the internet, it must be true, right? LOL.
#20
Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '19
And manufacturers NEVER exaggerate the benefits and minimize or ignore the negatives, right?
I can guarantee you that if you have an engine problem, GM will look at those cat delete pipes and say "oh, so sad, too bad." Probably if you have any drivetrain issue. "Oh, your mods exceeded the designed HP, any issues are because of that." Might want to watch the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYBjfsxzJ9s
And it is a clear violation of federal law to remove the cats. Maybe in some states you'll get away with it, but any state that requires an inspection is going to catch it as soon as they fire up the car and smell the exhaust, then fail you.
The manufacturers say everything is hunky dory. If it's on the internet, it must be true, right? LOL.
I can guarantee you that if you have an engine problem, GM will look at those cat delete pipes and say "oh, so sad, too bad." Probably if you have any drivetrain issue. "Oh, your mods exceeded the designed HP, any issues are because of that." Might want to watch the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYBjfsxzJ9s
And it is a clear violation of federal law to remove the cats. Maybe in some states you'll get away with it, but any state that requires an inspection is going to catch it as soon as they fire up the car and smell the exhaust, then fail you.
The manufacturers say everything is hunky dory. If it's on the internet, it must be true, right? LOL.
”The manufacturers say everything is hunky dory. If it's on the internet, it must be true, right? LOL.”
Does this go for GM also when they tell you everything is fine with the trans and the wheel cracking issue with the C7 GS and Z06 wheels?? They said it was a non issue.🙄