Question about bike haulers? (Truck)

Originally posted by spl170_btc
A friend of mine would like to know weather or not his trucks computer system will be effected if he removes the catalitic converter from the exaust system. His pickup (I am sorry to say) is a 95 Chev 1500 Z71. Does anyone know of a downside to doing this?

Thank you very much.

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The downside in many cities would be the inability to pass mandatory emission tests. Which in turn would lead to the inability to register the vehicle.

Chevys are the best what are you talking about. I hopr that you do not like a fix or repair daily truck.:p

I know on smaller engines(4 cyl), the cat converter is needed for proper backpressure on the motor. Without it, the motor won't make enough low end torque. I'm not real sure about the V-8's. Talk to a custom muffler shop. They may recommend removing the cat and putting a true dual exhaust with flowmasters or similar muffler. Although the previous poster had a point about passing emissions tests. Some muffler shops can't legally remove them, but they may tell you how you can do it. I know in Louisiana there is no emissions test when you get your yearly inspection sticker, they don't check anything except insurance and registration.

I'm thinking it's like a five digit fine for ANY exhaust shop in the U.S. to get caught removing emissions components. In fact, some of them won't even work on a vehicle once the cats have been removed.

Originally posted by junkjeeps
I know in Louisiana there is no emissions test when you get your yearly inspection sticker, they don't check anything except insurance and registration.

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they just did away with yearly inspections here (okla.). i was quite surprised.

last year, i was with a guy when he got pulled over by a local cop for having an expired sticker. the cop said "i'm not interested in padding the highway patrol's retirement fund" (that's where the fines go) and let him go.

The 96 and up engines have 4 oxygen sensors so doing this will cause a check engine light. Prior to 96 the TBI engines have at least one Oxygen sensor. The key is making sure you don't mess with anything upstream of this oxygen sensor. look on the exhaust pipe for a spark plug type thing with wiring leading to it. That's your oxygen sensor and it tells your engine how much fuel to deliver prior to 96. As long as the oxy sensor is not a part of the catalytic convertor and that it is mounted towards the engine .. you can do it. It will make the exhaust louder, you will fail an emmisions test, and you may have to do the work yourself, but it won't hurt anything.

I prefer to leave them in as long as they are not plugged,an exhaust shop can test it to see if it's plugged usually for free. They don't hurt anything and help keep the brown stuff out of the air.

I would not remove it. The next question is why would you want to? What gain would you get? If its a power issueI beleive that there are several companies that make a full aftermarket system from the header back. They make exclent horsepower. The replace you converter with a high flow one that is not as restrictive as the stock and the headers accept all the O2 sensors. They are a bit pricey, but you will be all legal.