JimmyJuneau
1/2 ton status
Can I remove my catalytic converter on my 85 K5? I dont have to smog the truck. I am wondering if I remove it if it will affect anything else.
CK5
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cat
- Thread starter JimmyJuneau
- Start date
lectric80
3/4 ton status
Legally it is against federal law to change anything involved in the emissions systems of any vehicle originally equipped with that equipment.
That being said, I haven't had a cat on mine since I bought it. Most muffler shops will not remove it, but if it just happens to fall off, they will usually put a piece of pipe in for you. As far as engine effects, it really shouldn't negatively effect the engine on an 85.
That being said, I haven't had a cat on mine since I bought it. Most muffler shops will not remove it, but if it just happens to fall off, they will usually put a piece of pipe in for you. As far as engine effects, it really shouldn't negatively effect the engine on an 85.
No, won't hurt anything on an '85. If it's the stock pellet type, removal will probably increase performance. If it's a replacement monolith style, you are wasting time and money removing it. (not to mention violating federal law of course)
Is there a reason you want to pull it? If it isn't hurting anything leave it on.
vortec
1/2 ton status
x2
my 82 had a pellet-type and the po took all the catalyst pellets out. i stuck a monolithic in to pass emissions and now it performs the same, sounds better.
if you do mess with it, removing the pellets is a safer bet if they do visual inspection. they do here.
readymix
3/4 ton status
Al Gore will cry....
Don't be mean and make him cry
Don't be mean and make him cry
Most shops I've dealt with will balk at the $10K fine for doing it.
JimmyJuneau
1/2 ton status
I want to take it off because I am installing a new muffler.
Dabba
1/2 ton status
i would like mine off simply because im not passing emissions anyway. The big question for me and you is does it increase engine performance in any way? If not, forget it. Why do you need it off for a new muffeler? Unless someone fubar'd your exhaust you shouldnt need it off
lectric80
3/4 ton status
The only way a cat removal will improve performance is if the cat is seriously plugged up. But the same gain can be had just by replacing it with a new cat, and you don't have any danger of legal ramifications.
Cowboy_80
1/2 ton status
x2
I hate cats and all that they stand for, but you're not loosing power from it being there, unless it's broken. Your exhaust might sound better w/o it, but that's like thinking that stickers give you ponies.
My friends dad had an '88 IFS truck, removed the muffler, left the cat, sounded really good actually.
You hate cleaner air?
As an aside:
I just read a couple articles about catalytic theft skyrocketing. They're easy to steal, virtually untraceable, and contain platinum and rhodium. The prices for these metals is at an unprecedented high, so thieves are getting $100-$200 each for them from scrappers. Guys will go in and clean out dealer lots (especially truck/SUV lots) with a cordless reciprocating saw at night.
Cowboy_80
1/2 ton status
I believe in tune-ups...
This is true. It's happened out this way often enough. Not really much you can do to stop it though.
So do I. A catalytic converter on a properly tuned engine will, however, decrease nasty emissions...and you said yourself that it doesn't cost any power. If you don't believe me, pull a cat off an in-tune fuel injected engine and try to pass a sniffer test for that model year. You will fail.
x2! A working cat on a well tuned engine removes something like 95% of the HC, CO, and NOX emissions as compared to the same engine with no cat. Their effectiveness drops off the further out of tune you are. But unless your engine runs like crap or your cats are totally trashed, your exhaust is always cleaner with the cat than without.
