Kooks off road vs high flow cats - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

KickerZ71 · 11-08-2017, 07:20 PM

Is there a major sound difference between the 2? Pros and cons of each.

Shutudwn · 11-08-2017, 07:41 PM

I can't speak specifically for Kooks but I had Solo hf cats and switched to BBK off road pipes. It's way louder, in a good way. If you have to worry about emissions or inspection then keep the cats. As long as you have mufflers the sound isn't too outrageous.

You will also need a tune to take of the check engine light, assuming you don't have headers.

mdean2011 · 11-09-2017, 12:41 AM

No emissions in Iowa. Ditched original cats for off road pipes with LT headers. Sound difference in incredible. Tune out the rear O2's and youre good to go.

KickerZ71 · 11-09-2017, 04:59 AM

I’m running the solo Mach XC, is for a convertible.

Reichler · 11-09-2017, 11:40 AM

I've had both. Sound difference is pretty minor. It's louder catless, but only at WOT, and only slightly louder. The more noticeable difference is the tone, which is a bit raspier without cats, and the smell.

MarylandSpeed · 11-09-2017, 12:52 PM

They sound and perform basically the same. The smell is maybe the only difference. That depends on tune though. My experience has been people look at off road to save money, then use the other possible things (louder/more power) to justify.

KickerZ71 · 11-09-2017, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed

They sound and perform basically the same. The smell is maybe the only difference. That depends on tune though. My experience has been people look at off road to save money, then use the other possible things (louder/more power) to justify.

Honest answer thank you!

pyroguy · 11-09-2017, 05:25 PM

High flow cats take some of the rasp out of the sound of the exhaust. There's negligible performance difference and catless midpipes smell of unburned fuel. As Maryland Speed said, often times people go with off road pipes to save money over high flow cats.

acammer · 11-09-2017, 08:31 PM

Biggest sound related difference is rasp - your cackles and pops will be "sharper" catless than even with a highflow cat. Overall volume is pretty similar, but there is a definite difference in tone.

frankwjr · 11-09-2017, 10:38 PM

I can get mine to do some fairly loud backfires/decel pops that'll make peeps duck and cover...lulz...

KickerZ71 · 11-10-2017, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankwjr

I can get mine to do some fairly loud backfires/decel pops that'll make peeps duck and cover...lulz...

LOL

christianchevell · 11-10-2017, 08:12 AM

One little tidbit of information though; shops can be fined 10,000$ per occasion of removing cats on a car so equipped and you may of course find some who does it but I guarantee you if you ever get a exhaust fix it ticket for being too loud and have to retrofit in cats afterward the smell you tolerate and the thought in your mind of the money saved not getting high flow cats...well that will be overcome most likely with some money for the ticket.... If it ever happens, and the cost of adding them in if not having to return to stock in some places, I am lucky they allow headers in Oregon for stock exhaust replacement.

Many alter their cars with the muffler delete also which can in some places be illegal as its all in the law. Old cars I always did just a collector flange to the exhaust, some places make their "off road " pipe to resemble a high flow cat...and that would be to fake out a cop getting nosey..... being that I am old yes I have been pulled over several times over the decades with varied cars with headers.....I always had mufflers though and made the exhaust go behind the rear axle.....And if necessary used Monza tips. Rasp and smell both go up with out cats, legality goes up with them and fresh air...

JMT · 08-27-2018, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shutudwn

I can't speak specifically for Kooks but I had Solo hf cats and switched to BBK off road pipes. It's way louder, in a good way. If you have to worry about emissions or inspection then keep the cats. As long as you have mufflers the sound isn't too outrageous.

You will also need a tune to take of the check engine light, assuming you don't have headers.

I have ran Solo high flow for 50k on my Camaro, switching back to stock today as there was no noticeable difference and are really meant for off road use. Glad i tried them. My C7 will stay stock with the npp.

pyroguy · 08-27-2018, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMT

I have ran Solo high flow for 50k on my Camaro, switching back to stock today as there was no noticeable difference and are really meant for off road use. Glad i tried them. My C7 will stay stock with the npp.

You can't tell a difference between high flow cats and stock cats? Maybe it's just a V8 thing, but I'm absolutely floored that you couldn't tell a difference. Update us after going back stock and let us know if you'd just gotten used to the difference or if there really wasn't anything different in your experience.

11-08-2017, 07:20 PM	#1
KickerZ71 Drives: Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 261	Kooks off road vs high flow cats Is there a major sound difference between the 2? Pros and cons of each.

11-09-2017, 05:25 PM	#8
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,918 View My Garage	High flow cats take some of the rasp out of the sound of the exhaust. There's negligible performance difference and catless midpipes smell of unburned fuel. As Maryland Speed said, often times people go with off road pipes to save money over high flow cats. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

11-09-2017, 08:31 PM	#9
acammer GPI Sales Consultant Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS SGM Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Weedsport, NY Posts: 2,794 View My Garage	Biggest sound related difference is rasp - your cackles and pops will be "sharper" catless than even with a highflow cat. Overall volume is pretty similar, but there is a definite difference in tone. __________________ GPI Max Package 2.0: Brodix BR7 heads/GPI porting, MAX3 cam, ST2116LSR, BSR Max Lift rockers, LS7 LSXR with 103mm TB, Vararam OTR, Mcleod RXT, G-Force/Strange 9" IRS setup with 4.63 gear. 551whp, 11.1@124mph. *Got a question about a GPI product? Feel free to shoot me a message!*

11-09-2017, 10:38 PM	#10
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	I can get mine to do some fairly loud backfires/decel pops that'll make peeps duck and cover...lulz... __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

11-10-2017, 08:12 AM	#12
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	One little tidbit of information though; shops can be fined 10,000$ per occasion of removing cats on a car so equipped and you may of course find some who does it but I guarantee you if you ever get a exhaust fix it ticket for being too loud and have to retrofit in cats afterward the smell you tolerate and the thought in your mind of the money saved not getting high flow cats...well that will be overcome most likely with some money for the ticket.... If it ever happens, and the cost of adding them in if not having to return to stock in some places, I am lucky they allow headers in Oregon for stock exhaust replacement. Many alter their cars with the muffler delete also which can in some places be illegal as its all in the law. Old cars I always did just a collector flange to the exhaust, some places make their "off road " pipe to resemble a high flow cat...and that would be to fake out a cop getting nosey..... being that I am old yes I have been pulled over several times over the decades with varied cars with headers.....I always had mufflers though and made the exhaust go behind the rear axle.....And if necessary used Monza tips. Rasp and smell both go up with out cats, legality goes up with them and fresh air... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

11-08-2017, 07:41 PM	#2
Shutudwn Drives: 2004 Ford Mustang Cobra Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Quebec, CA Posts: 107	I can't speak specifically for Kooks but I had Solo hf cats and switched to BBK off road pipes. It's way louder, in a good way. If you have to worry about emissions or inspection then keep the cats. As long as you have mufflers the sound isn't too outrageous. You will also need a tune to take of the check engine light, assuming you don't have headers.

11-09-2017, 12:41 AM	#3
mdean2011 Drives: 2010 Camaro2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Iowa Posts: 44	No emissions in Iowa. Ditched original cats for off road pipes with LT headers. Sound difference in incredible. Tune out the rear O2's and youre good to go.

11-09-2017, 04:59 AM	#4
KickerZ71 Drives: Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 261	I’m running the solo Mach XC, is for a convertible.

11-09-2017, 11:40 AM	#5
Reichler Drives: 2004 GTO & 2005 GTO Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 303	I've had both. Sound difference is pretty minor. It's louder catless, but only at WOT, and only slightly louder. The more noticeable difference is the tone, which is a bit raspier without cats, and the smell.

11-09-2017, 12:52 PM	#6
MarylandSpeed Account Suspended Drives: 2012 ZL1 & 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,378	They sound and perform basically the same. The smell is maybe the only difference. That depends on tune though. My experience has been people look at off road to save money, then use the other possible things (louder/more power) to justify.