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"How can I reduce the performance impact of the Catalytic Converter on a high flow exhaust system?"
Corvette C6R Laguna - not everyone needs cats!
Many of us remember when, in many of our eyes, the emissions regulations finally killed off the American Muscle Car. This was not entirely a bad thing though. Back in those days you would not believe the amount of smog that settled into the congested areas of our country (like in LA). If a conscious effort was not made to improve upon the negative effects of our dependence on fossil fuels, you can only imagine what things would be like now with the ever increasing population (of vehicles).
Cat design basics - edu.dudley.gov.uk
The good news to the automotive performance enthusiast (and nearly everyone else) was that our country was now committed to making a real effort to not allow reckless excess, in regards to emitting pollutants, and burning excessive amounts of fuel.
This is NOT a forum on "thinking Green", but to be conscious of making some kind of effort towards being kind to our planet is always favorable. The author spends far more time walking and riding bicycles than he does behind the wheel of a car, but to each his own.
Cateran Catalytic Converter Schematic - redbackmufflers.com
That being said, the great news about the implementation of emissions controls, was that technology would be forced to adapt, and improve our vehicles, within a set of new and evolving limits, or rules. There was talk about the end of the muscle cars, back in those days, but most of us knew that a new and improved muscle car was on the horizon before the first era ever ended.
Those new days are now here, and the American Muscle cars are back with a vengeance!
Corvette Horsepower Catalytic Converter Assemblies Photo - gmhightechperformance.com
* GM High-Tech Performance magazine has an excellent article on bumping up the horsepower on the new Z06, which includes the catalytic converter install, as pictures above.
In regards to adding an aftermarket exhaust system to a Corvette, we are talking about very nice performance improvements when adding aftermarket exhaust systems, which should include high flow cats for maximum performance.
Kooks High Flow Metallic Catalytic Converters - 3 inch 05-07 LS2
Even though the catalytic converters, or "cats", have a power robbing effect on the system, the aftermarket exhaust system as a whole system, is going to have power benefits that far outweigh any negative effects of the cats.
Aftermarket high performance cats can reduce this loss, mainly through installing a more expensive and efficient Cat system. Also, let it be know that there are off-road catalytic converters that were not designed for legal operation on the highways.
As mentioned in a previous article, some of these performance cats are said to create only a three horsepower loss.
Also, many aftermarket cats are designed to be part of a specific exhaust system, and will not just bolt on to either the stock, or somebody else's kit.
SLP High-Flow Catalytic Converters 05-08 C6 - slponline.com
SLP C6 High-Flow Off-Road Catalytic Converter chart - slponline.com
First, what exactly do catalytic converters do? Well, basically they chemically change the leftover emissions, from the combustion in your engine, into less-destructive compounds.
Detailed information on how they work can be found at Meineke and HowStuffWorks.
Precious Metals inside of Cats
Another fact is that catalytic converters are prized among thieves for the platinum, palladium and rhodium found within them. They are pretty easy to remove, and can fetch up to about $200 US apiece at a scrap yard. Perhaps another good thing about the Corvette is that it is so low to the ground that they are less likely to be a prime target for this kind of theft. Also, certain cats are known to be more valuable than others because of the higher quantities of precious metals found within.
Cats always seemed bothersome to us in the beginning, and it seemed like it would be nice if there was a good way to do away with them (like installing "test pipes"). After learning more about cats we actually appreciate their presence on the vehicle. Besides, test pipes only add a few horsepower, require computer calibrations (bad or removed cats are required to throw an OBD-II code on your computer), are illegal, and create greater amounts of pollution, but ultimately the choice is yours.
Test Pipe for imports -skunk2.com
The United States is scheduled for another round of environmental implementations that will begin in a few years, which will include increased MPG standards. With science on our side, there will be good results for nearly everyone, including the automobile performance aficionados. Fuel conservation and less pollution can go hand in hand with enjoyable motoring.
Cats have come up in quite a few instances in our aftermarket exhaust systems articles, but that is because they are an integral part of building a responsible street performance vehicle. This will be about it in regard to cats for now.
______ Video not working? Click page and Hit the F5 key to refresh _____
Chevrolet Corvette catalytic converter videos:
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“Really exciting” Catalytic converter OBD-II Trouble Code video
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Thieves Target (steal) Catalytic Converters videos
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They're Stealing Catalytic Converters videos
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Catalytic Converter Scrap Processing
[ref] gmhightechperformance.com, slponline.com, redbackmufflers.com, wikipedia.org, meineke.com, howstuffworks.com, autobloggreen.com
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