Running Catless BUT for free! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Basemaro · 06-25-2012, 08:31 PM

Was wondering instead of purchasing the solo HFC which is like $700.00 for the lFX if i can just hollow out the stock cats. Same concept? Free mod? Would it work?

Rangore · 06-25-2012, 08:34 PM

Dunno

Nytemare · 06-25-2012, 08:39 PM

id like to know about this as well, and how could i do it?

nikos30 · 06-25-2012, 08:58 PM

really illegal in most states lol

Basemaro · 06-25-2012, 09:10 PM

Yea it is illegal but who the hell checks under the car and FL doesnt have inspection so we're in the green? Well its the same concept as running catless with a test pipe like a lot do.

Its somewhat an old school method i've heard people do on other vehicles. They gut the cat out. I guess by hammering a stick or w/e inside of it till the material starts to break out of it.

I have a cat sitting in my garage right now from my old mazda 3 i can test out. Not sure if it will be the same on the camaro though.

Once hollowed out it would almost act like a resonator. At least from what common sense is telling me. Just dont want to ruin a brand new car without asking a bit.

DarkneSS · 06-25-2012, 09:11 PM

Pain in the ass to even try. Youd have to cut them off to hollow them out too so you might as well just cut them off and replace them with straight pipes. Even a place like meineke could weld in some hollow replacement piping, then you can keep the cats in useable condition in case you want them in the future.

chicagobulls · 06-26-2012, 12:59 AM

Yeah This will create a tinny buzzing exhaust sound due to the large diameter pipe with nothing inside so it will echo buzzing sounds like a car with a broken cat.

lscamaro · 06-26-2012, 02:04 AM

Well are you doing it for performance or sound?

You should probably try posting in the LFX forum for better help.

For sound, then some of the above posters were correct. The hollow space will cause a tinny sound. I don't know how the LFX exhaust is. If it is the same as the LLT then the cats are simply bolted on and you don't have to cut anything. So you could essentially delete the rear cat for sound which a lot do.

If for performance than yea, you can do it. Illegal but yea it can be done. But if for performance then it might be better to just bolt on a straight pipe

Ventmaster · 06-26-2012, 09:01 AM

It will sound like crap. You will smell raw gas (remember these DI engines run rich). Performance improvement will be little to none due to poor flow characteristics. And would difficult to do as these modern cats are a stainless steel matrix welded in place (the old cats people gutted were a ceramic you could bust up and knock out the chunks).

Just IMHO, of course.

Goo · 06-26-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagobulls

Yeah This will create a tinny buzzing exhaust sound due to the large diameter pipe with nothing inside so it will echo buzzing sounds like a car with a broken cat.

This and it's A LOT harder than it sounds to break it all out...
...so I've heard...

formare · 06-26-2012, 01:10 PM

In short - it IS a federal offence to run the car without CATS. its a huge pain to hollow out factory cats and a lot of work. Much easier to replace with an off-road replacement straight pipe.

Even if you did replace with a stright pipe - im not sure you would notice any gain.

menendez1293 · 06-26-2012, 10:50 PM

I don't see much of a gain. Pluss the amount of rasp you will get out of a V6 will be horrible.

OOLIE · 06-26-2012, 11:00 PM

Magnaflow x pipe will help with rasp.

Basemaro · 06-27-2012, 12:04 AM

Definitely sounds like a no specially after reading that the cats are not ceramic any more and getting a 1.8l sound out of my 6 doesnt sound wise.

Solo performance HFC seems the perfect route. Every car i've eliminated cats in or HFC has increased power and throttle response. At least butt dyno says so.

For the sound i think its a bit worth it though.

lscamaro · 06-27-2012, 12:35 AM

For the sound just saw off the rear cat. It's pretty worthless. The O2 Sensors are before it anyway so it does nothing. Deleting the rear cat makes the car a little louder and only adds a little rasp. Might even help with performance.

It's what I'm doing this week. I have an extra set of cats to work with so I'll see how it is.

Amarr014 · 06-27-2012, 01:03 AM

My rear cats have been removed and replaced with a piece of pipe.... Much louder, and you get a lot of gurgling when you down shift and occasionally the loud pop... Idk about power but I feel like it helps some flow... I like it overall and cost me 30$ to have them cutoff n removed at the local (shall remain nameless) muffler shop

lscamaro · 06-27-2012, 02:21 AM

Did you get a lot of rasp? I have a fairly tame exhaust so I hoping that could cope with it a little better but I want mine a little louder.

DJ ATOMIX · 06-27-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lscamaro

Did you get a lot of rasp? I have a fairly tame exhaust so I hoping that could cope with it a little better but I want mine a little louder.

If your worried about rasp, swap out the stock h-pipe for a magnaflow resonated x-pipe. 99.99% of your rasp will be gone! The only down side to doing this is all that high end noise goes with it. You are left with only lower exhaust notes.

Shaun

DJ ATOMIX · 06-27-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lscamaro

For the sound just saw off the rear cat. It's pretty worthless. The O2 Sensors are before it anyway so it does nothing. Deleting the rear cat makes the car a little louder and only adds a little rasp. Might even help with performance.

It's what I'm doing this week. I have an extra set of cats to work with so I'll see how it is.

Let me know how this goes. You got me wanting to do this now as well. I have several questions for you after you get this mod done.

First and most important question, is there honestly a gain in exhaust note volume from doing this?

What kind of exhaust note, more highs? Deeper lows? Pops from decellerating?

Have you noticed a gas odour after doing this?

Did you report a CEL from doing this even thou its after the sensor?

Photos of the original piece if you still have it? I'm really curious as to why we have two pieces to our cats. I've always known we've had two cat pieces but why is the question i guess.

Sorry for all the questions but I'm now considering this after reading your posts.

Shaun

DJ ATOMIX · 06-27-2012, 12:08 PM

I tried googling our stock cats and trying to figure out what the differance is between the small cats at the back and the larger cats closer to the headers... with no luck of course.

I'm gonna take a guess and say the small cats have something to do with noise dampining?

Shaun

Ventmaster · 06-27-2012, 12:28 PM

Your back cats convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide...

Front cats deal with forms of nitrogen that create "smog".

lscamaro · 06-27-2012, 01:37 PM

Interesting, I didn't know that was there purposes.

I was debating either removing the rear cats for sound or creating my own high flow cat by using the rear small cat and placing that where the larger cat is. Figured it wouldn't be that hard and it might increase performance since the smaller one has less restriction and flows better. Still debating

DJ ATOMIX · 07-01-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lscamaro

Interesting, I didn't know that was there purposes.

I was debating either removing the rear cats for sound or creating my own high flow cat by using the rear small cat and placing that where the larger cat is. Figured it wouldn't be that hard and it might increase performance since the smaller one has less restriction and flows better. Still debating

Did you end up removing the rear cats? I'm on the fence right now and could pull the trigger anyday now. Also, I'm wondering if going from 2.25" pipe from the hpipe/xpipe to 2.5" all the way to the back would make the car deeper toned yet?

Shaun

lscamaro · 07-01-2012, 06:09 PM

No, haven't done it. My car is currently getting its new hid and colorshift halos right now so its taken apart in my garage lol.

Will soon, might take the extra cats Tuesday to go try it

DJ ATOMIX · 07-01-2012, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lscamaro

No, haven't done it. My car is currently getting its new hid and colorshift halos right now so its taken apart in my garage lol.

Will soon, might take the extra cats Tuesday to go try it

Perfect, keep us posted! Scrming today verified that you will get more volume from doing this.

Shaun

06-25-2012, 08:31 PM	#1
Basemaro Drives: 2012 M6 Cocaine White Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WPB Posts: 44	Running Catless BUT for free! Was wondering instead of purchasing the solo HFC which is like $700.00 for the lFX if i can just hollow out the stock cats. Same concept? Free mod? Would it work?

06-25-2012, 08:34 PM	#2
Rangore Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT Cyber Gray Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,947	Dunno __________________ Current: 2010 Camaro 2LT - Current Mods: EGA on left and right windows - Solo CAT Back - Black CAI - Black Carbon Fiber Bow-tie Vinyl - Switchback LED Turn Signal bulbs - HOD Headlight bulbs - Aqua interior LED bulb No longer owned: 1993 Camaro Z-28

06-25-2012, 08:39 PM	#3
Nytemare Quick 6 Drives: 2010 camaro ls v6 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Myrtle Beach SC/ Greenville NC Posts: 240 View My Garage	id like to know about this as well, and how could i do it? __________________

06-25-2012, 08:58 PM	#4
nikos30 HT5 EastSide Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ/PA Posts: 1,363 View My Garage	really illegal in most states lol __________________

06-25-2012, 09:11 PM	#6
DarkneSS Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Yonkers, New York Posts: 3,085	Pain in the ass to even try. Youd have to cut them off to hollow them out too so you might as well just cut them off and replace them with straight pipes. Even a place like meineke could weld in some hollow replacement piping, then you can keep the cats in useable condition in case you want them in the future. __________________

06-25-2012, 09:10 PM	#5
Basemaro Drives: 2012 M6 Cocaine White Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WPB Posts: 44	Yea it is illegal but who the hell checks under the car and FL doesnt have inspection so we're in the green? Well its the same concept as running catless with a test pipe like a lot do. Its somewhat an old school method i've heard people do on other vehicles. They gut the cat out. I guess by hammering a stick or w/e inside of it till the material starts to break out of it. I have a cat sitting in my garage right now from my old mazda 3 i can test out. Not sure if it will be the same on the camaro though. Once hollowed out it would almost act like a resonator. At least from what common sense is telling me. Just dont want to ruin a brand new car without asking a bit.

06-26-2012, 12:59 AM	#7
chicagobulls I got that Justin Beiber Drives: 2010 Camaro V6 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 889	Yeah This will create a tinny buzzing exhaust sound due to the large diameter pipe with nothing inside so it will echo buzzing sounds like a car with a broken cat. __________________ Straight Pipes - Resonator Delete - Eagle Eyes - Injen Cold Air Intake - LED License Plate Lights - Custom Rally Stripes -GM RS/SS Spoiler - LED Dome Lights - 21" GM Rims - SS Front Fascia Conversion- Technostalgia Afterburner Tailights with condensation on one

06-26-2012, 02:04 AM	#8
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5,409	Well are you doing it for performance or sound? You should probably try posting in the LFX forum for better help. For sound, then some of the above posters were correct. The hollow space will cause a tinny sound. I don't know how the LFX exhaust is. If it is the same as the LLT then the cats are simply bolted on and you don't have to cut anything. So you could essentially delete the rear cat for sound which a lot do. If for performance than yea, you can do it. Illegal but yea it can be done. But if for performance then it might be better to just bolt on a straight pipe __________________ Current Mods: Vararam \| Borla ProXS Custom Axle-Back \| Mace 25mm Insulator \| MACE Ported Intake Manifold \| And a few other things Click here to visit my Build Thread!

06-26-2012, 09:01 AM	#9
Ventmaster Drives: 2010 Camaro RS 1LT M6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 1,076	It will sound like crap. You will smell raw gas (remember these DI engines run rich). Performance improvement will be little to none due to poor flow characteristics. And would difficult to do as these modern cats are a stainless steel matrix welded in place (the old cats people gutted were a ceramic you could bust up and knock out the chunks). Just IMHO, of course. __________________ Airaid CAI, Rx ported TB, Mace ported IM, JBA shorty headers, Richmond 3.73, Borla touring axleback, Hurst short throw, NH-SS fix, IDEALG clutch m/c, SS struts/springs, Spohn trailing arms, Pfadt Racing sways, Pedders radius arm & rear subframe bushing inserts, 2LT gauge pkg.TSW Nurburgs. IPF S/C

06-26-2012, 01:10 PM	#11
formare Suspension by Pedders Drives: Synergy Edition 13.71@102 1.95 60' Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN) Posts: 1,914 View My Garage	In short - it IS a federal offence to run the car without CATS. its a huge pain to hollow out factory cats and a lot of work. Much easier to replace with an off-road replacement straight pipe. Even if you did replace with a stright pipe - im not sure you would notice any gain. __________________ My first Love. She was called "Miss Carriage" (still cry when I think about her) 383, Muncie 4 speed, custom linkage mated to hurst short throw shifter.

06-26-2012, 10:50 PM	#12
menendez1293 Emerald Coast Camaros Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS M6 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 3,429 View My Garage	I don't see much of a gain. Pluss the amount of rasp you will get out of a V6 will be horrible. __________________ Proud owner of litho #179 Click Picture for Build Thread

06-26-2012, 11:00 PM	#13
OOLIE Drives: 2011 LS Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: FL Posts: 1,693	Magnaflow x pipe will help with rasp. __________________

06-27-2012, 12:04 AM	#14
Basemaro Drives: 2012 M6 Cocaine White Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WPB Posts: 44	Definitely sounds like a no specially after reading that the cats are not ceramic any more and getting a 1.8l sound out of my 6 doesnt sound wise. Solo performance HFC seems the perfect route. Every car i've eliminated cats in or HFC has increased power and throttle response. At least butt dyno says so. For the sound i think its a bit worth it though.

06-27-2012, 12:35 AM	#15
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5,409	For the sound just saw off the rear cat. It's pretty worthless. The O2 Sensors are before it anyway so it does nothing. Deleting the rear cat makes the car a little louder and only adds a little rasp. Might even help with performance. It's what I'm doing this week. I have an extra set of cats to work with so I'll see how it is. __________________ Current Mods: Vararam \| Borla ProXS Custom Axle-Back \| Mace 25mm Insulator \| MACE Ported Intake Manifold \| And a few other things Click here to visit my Build Thread!

06-27-2012, 01:03 AM	#16
Amarr014 BAD BEE Drives: very fast! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Daytona Posts: 693 View My Garage	My rear cats have been removed and replaced with a piece of pipe.... Much louder, and you get a lot of gurgling when you down shift and occasionally the loud pop... Idk about power but I feel like it helps some flow... I like it overall and cost me 30$ to have them cutoff n removed at the local (shall remain nameless) muffler shop __________________ 2011 V6 LS M6 \| straight piped \| HIDs \| Injen CAI\| 75 Shot NX nitrous\|Trifecta Tune\|RX ported TB,IM and matched heads, Isolator\| RX Catch Can \| AAC Red Halos \| AAC Red interior lighting \| Red bowties \| 15% tint \| Tinted Tails \| SS wheels and tires \| SS tips\| Cat delete\| Arc audio 10's\| subthump box\|Scosche&kenwood\|

06-27-2012, 02:21 AM	#17
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5,409	Did you get a lot of rasp? I have a fairly tame exhaust so I hoping that could cope with it a little better but I want mine a little louder. __________________ Current Mods: Vararam \| Borla ProXS Custom Axle-Back \| Mace 25mm Insulator \| MACE Ported Intake Manifold \| And a few other things Click here to visit my Build Thread!

06-27-2012, 12:08 PM	#20
DJ ATOMIX << CRAZY BEE >> Drives: 400HP 2LT/RS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alberta Posts: 921	I tried googling our stock cats and trying to figure out what the differance is between the small cats at the back and the larger cats closer to the headers... with no luck of course. I'm gonna take a guess and say the small cats have something to do with noise dampining? Shaun __________________ CRAZY BEE - IOM 2LT/RS (more) Cosmetic Mods - 23 \| Performance Mods - 13 ROTO-FAB CAI - DT HEADERS - MRT1 EXHAUST - RES DEL - R-CATS DEL - MAGNAFLOW RES X-PIPE - PHASE CAM FULL ADM KIT - PORTED IM - PORTED TB - PORTED CH - BLACK 3/8 ISOLATOR - TRIFECTA TUNED

06-27-2012, 12:28 PM	#21
Ventmaster Drives: 2010 Camaro RS 1LT M6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 1,076	Your back cats convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide... Front cats deal with forms of nitrogen that create "smog". __________________ Airaid CAI, Rx ported TB, Mace ported IM, JBA shorty headers, Richmond 3.73, Borla touring axleback, Hurst short throw, NH-SS fix, IDEALG clutch m/c, SS struts/springs, Spohn trailing arms, Pfadt Racing sways, Pedders radius arm & rear subframe bushing inserts, 2LT gauge pkg.TSW Nurburgs. IPF S/C

06-27-2012, 01:37 PM	#22
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5,409	Interesting, I didn't know that was there purposes. I was debating either removing the rear cats for sound or creating my own high flow cat by using the rear small cat and placing that where the larger cat is. Figured it wouldn't be that hard and it might increase performance since the smaller one has less restriction and flows better. Still debating __________________ Current Mods: Vararam \| Borla ProXS Custom Axle-Back \| Mace 25mm Insulator \| MACE Ported Intake Manifold \| And a few other things Click here to visit my Build Thread!

07-01-2012, 06:09 PM	#24
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5,409	No, haven't done it. My car is currently getting its new hid and colorshift halos right now so its taken apart in my garage lol. Will soon, might take the extra cats Tuesday to go try it __________________ Current Mods: Vararam \| Borla ProXS Custom Axle-Back \| Mace 25mm Insulator \| MACE Ported Intake Manifold \| And a few other things Click here to visit my Build Thread!