Alight. Set aside the killing of kittens comments for a moment. we can get back to that. we're going to talk about CATAYLITIC bits for the next few minutes. I'm sure this has been talked about too. I'm limited in the amount of time that I get to spend on the computers, since well, we dont have a lot of time between training and stuff right now anyways. I'm going to be back in MN for a week or so this summer, and want to remove every single cat from my exhaust, while leaving it stock, and for the most part...quiet. Now obviously depending on where I'm headed, I cant do that. (if my duty station is in cali) but that being said, if I'm going to NC, im GUTTING EVERYTHING, at least...that I can get away with. How have people done this in the past? what has been your best method? I dont mind a small increase in noise, I just dont want any droning. I'm sure TehMIX knows about the california exhaust laws. Are they pretty hard to get around? Does anyone else know about the exhaust laws out there? I hear they are strict. muahahaha Im going to be a hellion. :laugh:
from what i have experienced, they do get louder anyways... but we used a long bar basically and punched the living **** out of it, or, we also just split the case, replaced it with a straight pipe and put the case back over it.
a lot of times you can hear backfiring and stuff from inside the empty cats, i'd suggest avoiding it if you can and just replacing the downpipe cat, main cat with a catless downpipe.
I just did the downpipe. Did most of it with a long drill, then screw driver, then a long wire brush with a drill. Not too bad, couple of hours. It helps to clamp it and have a good light to see inside so you dont hurt the sides.
FYI, if you move to CA, avo makes a number of CARB legal high-flows for subarus. Oh and if you are in an inspection area (basically everywhere with people), the laws are extremely strict with serious consequences if you're caught. Running cat-less is looked for and prosecuted. Do people get away with it? Yes, though most of these people have CATs or swap them in for SMOG checks. Many illegal mods may not get caught, but running catless will get caught. Oh and basically every engine mod is "emissions related" and therefore regulated. Cobb-access port? Illegal (won't carch it though). CAI? Better be carb approved. Turbo? Nope. However, everything past teh last cat/02 sesnor is fair game. Cat backs are legal as long as they comply with noise laws. Also, if you're in the military, check laws regarding where you can register a car. You may not have to register in CA and save yourself big headaches. However, I would encourage running with a cat. High-flows are relatively cheap and make a huge difference for emissions (and not just tree hugger crap, they are a massive improvement). Also, running without a cat is a federal crime and illegal in every state, DC, and territories.
Cat Guts Just did this myself. Up and downpipe. Uppipe took a bit longer since it required some drilling/grinding since the cat is fused to the side walls and the downpipe cats just took some pounding with a bent piece of rebar and some pliers to pull out the mesh backing/ends. And some cursing when you get a big chunk loose that won't come out the pipe without further drilling/pounding. Uppipe-http://webpages.charter.net/baraboo_halls/auto/wrx/up/uppipe_fix.html Downpipe-http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3880&highlight=gutting+downpipe Oh and wear a mask
lmao tim12232 was running around cali with no cats on his wrx for a year or two, he sold the car :laugh:
Have fun with the cats. Give your self a little time, but yeah, there's a lot of drilling, stabbing, beating involved, lol. One's a ceramic, one's a metal substrate. The ceramic one is a little easier. The metal one can be annoying because pieces stay around the outside you've got to work off. (small demel type grinder helps. I too would suggest just running high flow cats. They just aren't that restrictive when you start looking at the low cell count metal substrate ones. Car Sound has some nice, high flowing ones for ya(5995X). If you do need to address emissions, you might consider doubling up on a set of cats by tossing two in a row. A second one's not going to make anything worse, cept your wallet. If you find the stock setup starting to get a little noisy, just swap out mufflers for something quieter.
alright, good to go. high flows it is. I need to stay legal. Im not one to jack with the environment if I can avoid it either, so I agree with the viewpoints on that. Thanks for the input gents.
arent the materials used in the cat REALLY dangerous to inhale? and im even talking about just getting a little bit in your lungs.
^yup. Carbon masks are the way I've gone in the past. Just working on exhaust its not a bad idea to get a mask over your mouth.
