[PreludeRob]

Would gutting the cat give huge power gains? I mean if I had an exhaust, and I gutted the cat, do you guys think it would give me like 10+ hp. Also, would it make my exhaust louder. I'm asking this because some day I plan on getting an exhaust, and I was thinking about gutting the cat. Of course I would have another cat that wasn't gutted to put back on when I had to do smog checks. What do you guys think?

 

[baked]

You're kidding right???

You'd be lucky to see ANY gains unless your car is HEAVILY (as in turbo) modified... not to mention, you're polluting my air.

 

[935DragLude]

Actually, you would see gains in power...but at the same time, your car would sound annoyingly loud...its a pretty nasty sound...

------------------
//935 Wiked Draggers
San Diego, CA
http://www.935draggers.com

 

[schwett]

what do i think? i think what baked thinks. i think if i had your address and you did that, i'd call the cops and have them arrest your selfish, polluting ass.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PreludeRob:
Would gutting the cat give huge power gains? I mean if I had an exhaust, and I gutted the cat, do you guys think it would give me like 10+ hp. Also, would it make my exhaust louder. I'm asking this because some day I plan on getting an exhaust, and I was thinking about gutting the cat. Of course I would have another cat that wasn't gutted to put back on when I had to do smog checks. What do you guys think?</font>

 

[marcucci]

This sounds like a sexual metaphor for "tearing it up." "Yeah, he sure gutted that cat."

I'd suggest getting a test pipe or making one yourself (or getting a local shop to). Having the empty cat will improve power over a "full" one, but having a straight piece of pipe will help even more (and quiet it down some). Having the expansion and contraction of exhaust gas going on will seriously impede flow. Even if you continue to run your muffler you should see some gain.

How much? Maybe 3-5 HP for a gutted cat, maybe another 3-5 for a straight pipe.

 

[aklucsarits]

Your car will smell *really* bad too... Not a good idea for 1-2hp...

Andrew

 

[Dr. James]

I think you guys are funny for *****ing about a gutted cat. Hell why don't call the cops on me too, as I have a Catless downpipe on my Supra. I guess I should go put the cat back on before I get in trouble. "Quit polluting my Air". Whatever. Scientists have already proven that Ozone replenishes itself. Don't worry your pretty little head. The Ozones' not going anywhere.

 

[VeeTec]

A Prelude with no cat burns cleaner than a SUV, like an Expedition or Suburban.

Funny how they haven't regulated those yet.

I guess its a big deal to you guys in California though, here in the southeast we don't compare to the smog you guys have to deal with. I hate getting stuck behind trucks and buses personally, now there is serious choking pollution. Also unregulated.

 

[99Prelude_LC]

you should also take into account the o2 sensor. My friend put a test pipe on his, its resonated so it doesn't sound like ass but his check engine light is always on now. Hes tried teh 8 ohm and 10 ohm resistor to no avail. Its one of those mods that from what i've seen/heard/smelled I wouldn't recomend on a bolt on prelude

 

[OvaDaLimiT]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by VeeTec:
A Prelude with no cat burns cleaner than a SUV, like an Expedition or Suburban.
</font>

I don't agree. A cat on average works well enough (minus during acceleration & warmup) to remove about 90% of the NO (main cause of smog, which reacts with VOC's & sunlight) produced by a combustion engine compared to a non-cat'd car. Of course, different cars burn different quantities of gas, efficiency, etc etc...but bottom line is a cat is way better than no cat. It's been calculated that about 50% of the smog produced by vehicles is cause by less than 10% of all the cars on the road, which either have removed cats or defective ones.

Diesel vehicles are a totally different story when you talk about trucks and stuff. And then there's boat motors...

I took a Environmental chem class before...and my prof was one of the top guys at Mobil, so he talked a lot about cars and gasoline and stuff...made the class interesting

Regardless, whether you want to remove ur cat or not is up to you...i have no say in it

 

[OvaDaLimiT]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dr. James:
Scientists have already proven that Ozone replenishes itself. Don't worry your pretty little head. The Ozones' not going anywhere.</font>

Also, Ozone down here is a whole different story than ozone up in the atmosphere...helps up there...hurts down here...

 

[mike2016]

99Prelude_LC , did your friend sucessfully fool the ECU? if so, how did he do that? THanks!!

------------------
-- No Tune, No Life --
Michael Li
-- 1997 Prelude 5spd--

 

[schwett]

it's good to see that in this day and age otherwise intelligent people are still capable of ignoring the greater good in order to satisfy their own personal desires...

please dr. james: are you seriously arguing that catalytic converters are unneccessary? it is a *well* documented fact that 10% of cars on the road cause 90% of the pollution, due to defective, modified, or nonexistent pollution control equipment. or perhaps we're taking after our "president."

and i'm not even sure that a prelude burns that much cleaner than an SUV in it's factory state. have you looked at the smog index posted on the car? in CA, it's pretty damn high compared to small and midsize SUVs...

 

[OvaDaLimiT]

10% cause a total of 90% of all pollution?? That's a little overestimating it...ur forgetting that cars aren't the only cause of pollution...second most significant are power plants, and even tree's give off chemicals that contribute to pollution...

 

[some canadian guy]

Sounds like the name of a bad porn flick.......

------------------
"drive fast, be yorself, and party till she's cute!

Originally posted by some canadian guy:
Like I said, Road trip - baseball bat

 

[Ludecrs]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by schwett:
it's good to see that in this day and age otherwise intelligent people are still capable of ignoring the greater good in order to satisfy their own personal desires...
please dr. james: are you seriously arguing that catalytic converters are unneccessary? it is a *well* documented fact that 10% of cars on the road cause 90% of the pollution, due to defective, modified, or nonexistent pollution control equipment. or perhaps we're taking after our "president."
</font>

You always impress me with your outlook.
I feel strongly about the environment and wouldn't want to cause it undue harm b/c of a mod that results in neglible gains.
In fact, Mr. Ludecrs and I have decided that when the Civic goes to Honda heaven, we're getting either an Insight or Prius.



------------------
-Rebecca
'00 5spd base Prelude
What tha dealio?!

 

[Pure Lude]

lets turn this into another hid argument schwett!

don't gut your cat, you won't get much from it. just get a high flow cat.

 

[smoothludey]

Pros and Cons of a gutted cat:
1. If you have a 5gen lude, don't even think about touching the cat unless you have done the resistor mod to the secondary O2 sensor so it won't trip a code (aka safety mode).
2. You are better off with a test (straight) pipe because a gutted cat creates exhaust flow turbulence detrimental to exhaust scavenging and therefore stealing power.
3. A gutted cat will give you the 3-5hp power increase.
4. Your exhaust will smell like last week's garbage and quite possibly lower the oxygen content in your system, killing brain cells and leaving you dumber every time you drive.
5. The pollution that you create is not significant considering all those turbo diesel semi's pumping more nasty into the air than our ludes will ever do in a lifetime. However, how clear is your conscience knowing that you contributed to polluting the environment?

 

[Mr.RiceAdvisor]

Man...That cat is pretty expensive man...I wouldn't do it. I would rather buy a test pipe..and put back the stock cat when its time for air care quality inspection

------------------
that ludes sweet but ur mamas tassstttyyy

You want Advice? ask your nearest RiceAdvisor

[email protected]

 

[schwett]

10% of cars on the road cause 90% of the pollution caused by cars. not total pollution including factories, aircraft, etc. do a quick search on the web and you'll find half a dozen studies by various groups that indicate this.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by OvaDaLimiT:
10% cause a total of 90% of all pollution?? That's a little overestimating it...ur forgetting that cars aren't the only cause of pollution...second most significant are power plants, and even tree's give off chemicals that contribute to pollution...</font>