removal of 3rd cat...

[DavidT]

Is the 3rd cat bolted onto the exhaust, or does it have to be cut off? V8sho.com article made it sound like it is held on by bolts.
My question is: Can I just unbolt it, remove it, and clamp a piece of pipe in place of the cat? DIY, or does it need to go to the muffler shop... if so, what are the odds they will remove it for me?????

 

[SHOZ123]

It is bolted on in the front, welded in the back.

Do not ruin it as it is worth BIG BUCKS.

 

[DavidT]

will ANY muffler shop remove it then, or does it have to be done "another" way?

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I had mine removed by a redneck mechanic. I had mine removed along with the resonator. He cut the pipe just after the resonator and welded in a straight pipe (more or less). I still have the 3rd cat and resonator and I'll have a ****** welded on it so I can bolt it back in if I ever need to.

I also have the stock mufflers. It makes a bit more noise now but it's not overly noticeable. No drone on the highway or anything.

It only cost me $90 Canadian too.

 

[cartfan76]

I had my 3rd cat removed about a year ago. Noticed some more pickup during hte 3rd gear TC lockup. AFter getting Borla Mufflers installed, IMHO it sounds getter than the Borla Cat-back exhaust. Has a nice tastful drone at highway speeds, still super quiet at idle (when warmed up), but really makes its presence known when you step in the throttle.

 

[SHOZ123]

What I did was to have the muffler shop put in new bolts at the ******. Then I went home and took the new bolts out and cut the back end off with a sawzall. Then installed the sorry ass SHO Shop bypass pipe only to find out the ****** wouldn't match up at all. Had to weld a ****** to the bypass pipe then reinstalled using a clamp on the back end.

 

[mcgilles]

rust over time does a good job in making the thing one piece anyway, I tried recently, couldn't budge those bolts at all. used some liquid wrench, nothing. didn't try too long though, but I didn't want to waste hours on it

 

[Bryan C. King]

Cut it off and get rid of it! I love the sound of mine.....

 

[DavidT]

wait,
it looks like it is bolted on on one side AND clamped on the other. So why does it need to be cut off?

 

[SHOZ123]

Just try to remove it without cutting it off. I want to hear of your experience.

<small>[ August 20, 2003, 02:39 AM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[ES96SHO]

Yeah, I thought I was going to get mine off all by myself, but after using a propane torch for a while, it was evident I wouldn't get it off. I took it to the SHO Shop and it took them well over an hour and a lot of heat, but they finally got it. I don't really think there's that much performance difference, so not sure if it's really worth it...

 

[DavidT]

did it do anything to enhance the rumble of the v8 exhaust?

 

[Kevin Cook]

Yes, it is MUCH louder... I have no 3rd cat or resonator, w/ flowmaster 40 SS delta flows and it is badass.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

DavidT:
did it do anything to enhance the rumble of the v8 exhaust?

Cutting the 3rd cat and the resonator out didn't make much of a difference on my car. Bypassing the mufflers with the electric cut-out does though

 

[cartfan76]

I don't know about you guys, but my car definatly gained some HP on the high end when I had the 3rd cat removed. It pulled noticably harder through the 3rd gear TC lockup. Instead of starting to run out of steam at around 115-120, it now pulls like a champ to 125-130...just gotta lock out O/D and let that V8 spin like it's supposed to. thumb

 

[SHOtype]

I know that this is an "off road only" mod but what are the chances of it smogging. were did you get the electric bypass from, and how much. I need that v8 rumble.

 

[MarkieSHO]

Does this mod hurt your low end torque at all?
Cause i am more worried about 1/4 mile performance than overall top speed of my car.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

SHOtype:
I know that this is an "off road only" mod but what are the chances of it smogging. were did you get the electric bypass from, and how much. I need that v8 rumble.

I think it will pass e-testing without any problems. It passed last year by a LONG shot. I don't know how much of that is because of the 3rd cat.

The electric by-pass is from http://www.mccordcg.com/mpp/mpp.htm

Cost was $105. I bought the cut-out from Jeg's although you can get one included with the powerplate (and you might as well).

 

[SHOtype]

Thanks Ian this is the first mod that I am going to do as soon as I get my roommates SHO back together, and my cams welded.

 

[SHOWHAT9]

FWIW removed the innards to mine over 2 years ago and promptly went to IL emsiions to have it tested. Passed with flying colors. Changed the tone of my bullet muffs a little not much.