I've had an exhaust leak for awhile now, and am planning on getting all new pipe soon from the manifolds back. I was also thinking about doing a cat delete with spacers for the O2 sensors, but is this really illegal or do you just need it for emissions testing?

 

If you live in a state with no emmissions testing like Florida, then its legal to run no cat. If you're in a crap hole state like California, its a massive fine and illegal as all hell.

 

you run into 2 illegal situations.
1st off is emissions, some states don't require emissions test(minnesota for example) so ill never run into that problem.

2nd, is sounds there are sound regulations in all(?) states and depending on ur setup u may be pulled over for that.

however, using a REAL muffler(not a ricey cannon) and full exhaust piping you can usually get away without a ticket if a cop feels you have a real legit exhaust system. Though, if you have a real muffler and piping, borla setup for example, you shouldn't have noise issues because its still lowering the sound to a legal or near-legal point.

lastly, if you cna get a High-flow cat as oppose to a delete or test pipe, it will lower the sound a tad more plus most cops cant argue the sound/setup with a legit muffler, plus not driving like an *** hat in town will avoid all of this.

 

States can vary their emissions regs to be tougher than federal mandates but not to ease them. Whether or not your state tests emissions at inspection time, you are required by federal law to run cats. It is illegal to delete them in any state. However, living in a lax state that doesn't smog-sniff makes it easier to get away with deleting them. But you are required by federal law to run them.

 

ahh so with what devil says, if you can spend the money, go High-Flow cat as opposed to a test pipe/delete, to avoid any conflict.

 

Yeah, get a HFC. I was going to say that it's federally illegal, too, but ITD beat me to it. It also makes you an inconsiderate ***. I've driven behind far too many bad-smelling cars because people think deleting their cat is acceptable. They're lucky that I don't vandalize things, as are HID kit people. They would be the first two groups I would go for if that were my thing.

 

dragonrage-

i agree with you on cars without cats.. they do become a lil stinky... NOT

Im sorry but i ran with gutted cats before and i didnt notice a diff. besides powergains. and a few decibles louder maybe...

but i agree with high flows... they just go to crap in a year or so.. ever notice the warranty on em?? not long at all

 

Okay, I don't care what the opinion of the person IN the car is. They DO smell terrible, and it's a well known FACT.

 

actually i can pass emissions with no cat.... but can't pass a safety as they do a visual inspection for cats and just do an ob2 test for emissions

 

and where do you live? and yea you can always get an illegal smog..

Dragonrage

i am in the drivers seat. but i worked on those 'half cars' with no cat no exhaust and i can say it wasnt bad. (maybe it was just me gettin loaded of emissions huh) and really, if the car was smelling that bad. im sure someting else is wrong..