Gutted 3rd cat?

C

camthman

New member
Living in CA sucks sometimes in Life, and catalytic converters are just one of the reasons...

I need to keep the 3rd cat (have to)  It just has to "be there"

I am thinking about just being stealth and gutting the 3rd cat so It looks as though if its there. Exhaust places wont even WORK on a car that doesn't have cats on it. Stupid.

I would normally just weld it all up myself, However I now life in an apartment without my welder...

Just curious if anyone has done it.  Thanks.
 
It is not something I have heard of anyone doing on this platform. I know people have done it on mustangs, etc. with the normal front cats, so I am sure it can be done, but may be a significant pain in the rear end.

I would try and find a "high flow" replacement (since there are two types of "high flows" the ones that are actually Catalytic Converts, and the ones that are just a case with no packing)

That said, on my car with a 3rd cat in place, and no front cats, it is clearly catless on startup based on exhaust smell, you can smell the gasoline fumes in the exhaust just a tad. Not sure that would be an issue for you.

Do you plan to leave the front cats alone?
 
In CA it has to be the OEM.  So I don't care about the smell.  I have catless DP's.  I just want to get that 3rd cat out. At this point it is the bottleneck.

No one will touch my car with a 10 foot pole. If it involves at Catalytic converter they sh*t a brick.

I have gutted cats a few times myself, however this one would be difficult...

I can always just throw the stock DP's back on for emissions and it will pass as long as the 3rd cat LOOKS like its there... ;)

 
Got it. You may want to post your mods in your signature so that everyone knows.

I say keep your options open, and try to find a used OE catback/replacement third cat to gut, so you have the original one for use in case you need it (never know if regulations/testing could change).

Other option, and possibly easier, cut out the third cat yourself, which I assume you have to do to gut it anyway.
Put exhaust clamps on both ends of it, either weld your own setup, or use the kind that come with an axleback.
For your regular use/non emissions testing, clamp in/bolt in a set of straight pipes.
For emissions testing replace the third cat.

That is what I plan to do with mine, since shops here will not cut it out and replace it without keeping it and legally can not delete it. This way, the shop is in the clear, since all he is doing is making an "off-road/race-use only" exhaust piece for my car, but putting the stock cat back in.

Hope that helps you out.
 
Thanks for the advise man.

Ya I have some things to think about.  If I just had all my tools and lift this wouldnt be such an issue.. ;(

 
Why does it have to be there? It wont throw a CEL and putting a section of straight pipe in looks near identical after a bit of us. Not sure how they would know it was supposed to have 3 cats on each side.
 
I hollowed mine out a few years ago.
sound is only slightly louder and the exhaust smell didn't change much.
PPE cats work well and cut down on fumes.
 
Josephm said:
Why does it have to be there? It wont throw a CEL and putting a section of straight pipe in looks near identical after a bit of us. Not sure how they would know it was supposed to have 3 cats on each side.
Click to expand...

Because its CA... way more strict out here.  Plus the area I live is more strict.  When you ask them to do the job they think you are trying to trick them into doing is so you can catch them and shut their business down.  Its more common than you think...
 
Its actually federally illegal to touch the 3rd cat in every state...but its never really enforced because it would have to be an FBI agent to cite you lol
 
AJP turbo said:
Its actually federally illegal to touch the 3rd cat in every state...but its never really enforced because it would have to be an FBI agent to cite you lol
Click to expand...

I must be FBI then... lol

Maybe next time I shouldn't go to the exhaust place wearing my suit and ID badge... ha
 
Most smog shops in Cali will NOT check under the cars if car passes readiness test. They don't know if your car is supposed to have a 3rd cat or not. If you go to a SMOG ONLY SHOP then yes they visually check EVERYTHING as they have random inspections done by state officials.

I think most of others in Cali including myself tear out the 3rd cat and install X-pipe. Smog stations MAY glance and see "something" in place and pass over it. Assume its a cat? But at the same time, not ALL cars have a third cat and thus will not require them to look too hard. SO back to the readiness test.

As I stated to you in a PM, your bigger issue maybe a muffler shop releasing the cats to you. There are some carcinogenic gases that gets released from them making them a hazard. So store them in a place of VERY LITTLE human occupancy. Outside where they can be ventilated. Don't know how potent the release is but why risk it.
 
In the past I have never had this problem... I think they want to keep the cats so they can recycle them and make some money HONESTY.

But you are probably correct with most smog places.

Check your PMS DX

Dxlnt1 said:
Most smog shops in Cali will NOT check under the cars if car passes readiness test. They don't know if your car is supposed to have a 3rd cat or not. If you go to a SMOG ONLY SHOP then yes they visually check EVERYTHING as they have random inspections done by state officials.

I think most of others in Cali including myself tear out the 3rd cat and install X-pipe. Smog stations MAY glance and see "something" in place and pass over it. Assume its a cat? But at the same time, not ALL cars have a third cat and thus will not require them to look too hard. SO back to the readiness test.

As I stated to you in a PM, your bigger issue maybe a muffler shop releasing the cats to you. There are some carcinogenic gases that gets released from them making them a hazard. So store them in a place of VERY LITTLE human occupancy. Outside where they can be ventilated. Don't know how potent the release is but why risk it.
Click to expand...
 
camthman said:
In the past I have never had this problem... I think they want to keep the cats so they can recycle them and make some money HONESTY.

But you are probably correct with most smog places.

Check your PMS DX

Dxlnt1 said:
Most smog shops in Cali will NOT check under the cars if car passes readiness test. They don't know if your car is supposed to have a 3rd cat or not. If you go to a SMOG ONLY SHOP then yes they visually check EVERYTHING as they have random inspections done by state officials.

I think most of others in Cali including myself tear out the 3rd cat and install X-pipe. Smog stations MAY glance and see "something" in place and pass over it. Assume its a cat? But at the same time, not ALL cars have a third cat and thus will not require them to look too hard. SO back to the readiness test.

As I stated to you in a PM, your bigger issue maybe a muffler shop releasing the cats to you. There are some carcinogenic gases that gets released from them making them a hazard. So store them in a place of VERY LITTLE human occupancy. Outside where they can be ventilated. Don't know how potent the release is but why risk it.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Did you just say I have P.M.S.? lol
 
Gotta get that money.  Good ole CA.

By the way.  That article from Kern County is my home town, so thats funny to see.
 
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