hollowing out a catalytic converter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 01-14-2001, 12:24 AM
JDm's Avatar
JDm
JDm is offline
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Westlake Hills in Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post hollowing out a catalytic converter

There is a place here in town where they will hollow out your catalytic converters, my question is what kind of horsepower gains will i see if i had this done to my truck. also Why does my truck have 4 catalytic converters on it?

thanks
JDm

------------------



1999 F150 REG.CAB BLACK 2WD SPORT 4.2 LITER V6
  • FLOWMASTER SERIES 40 DUAL EXHUAST
  • K&N Filter Injection Performance Kit
  • MANIKS GRILLE GUARD
  • PIONEER DEH-P4000 CD PLAYER
  • 4 PIONEER 3WAY SPEAKERS
  • MTX THUNDERFORM SUBWOOFER BOX
  • 2 10 INCH MTX THUNDER6000 SUBWOOFER
  • Kenwood 818 mono-subwoofer AMPLIFIER
  • WET OKOLE black and charcoal seat covers
  • SPIDERGEAR BED WEB
  • PROCOMP HEADLIGHT & TAILLIGHT BLACKOUTS
  • 1.75 INCH COIL SPACERS(gave me 3 inches of overall lift).
  • 3 INCH BODY LIFT
  • 33x12.50R16(305/70r16) PROCOMP MUDDERS
  • 16x8 AMERICAN RACING BAJA RIMS
  • RAM AIR(home made)
  • HELLWIG REAR ANTI-SWAYBAR
  • ENERGY SUSPENSION FRONT ANTI-SWAY BAR BUSHINGS
  • Cobra 9200 Radar detector
  • Pro Rally Projecter beam Lights
  • Performance 55 watt Back-up lights
  • Performance Window Tint 25%in front and 5% in rear
  • 4 100w stainless KC-Hilites
  • Clear Corners
  • Altezza Euro Tail-lights
  • Wishlist-Superchip, Powertrax locker, 3inch spindles, and more KC Daylighters

-------------

-------------
My Movie is at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/MM?u=...7-970543941002
JDm02@excite.com


Familys list of cars
  • Y2K Chevy Corvette(355hp)
  • Y2K Explorer Sport(215hp)
  • 99 F150 XL Sport(230hp)
  • 97 Expedition XLT(220hp)
  • 93 SHO(225hp)
 
  #2  
Old 01-15-2001, 06:09 PM
2wd Sport's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: winnipeg,manitoba,canada
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

You should get a 0-5 hp gain, and a louder exhaust note!
 
  #3  
Old 01-21-2001, 09:51 PM
DropAFord's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Arlington,Tx. USA
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wink

its best to now some 1 at an inspection station b4 gutting them since it won't pass with out them. On the other hand it sounds bad A..
 
  #4  
Old 01-22-2001, 03:47 PM
Superchips_Distributor's Avatar
Former Sponsor
Join Date: Mar 1998
Location: Virginia
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Post

Hi JDm,

Hogging out your cats on a basically stock(meaning not supercharged, or otherwise heavily modified) motor will change the tone of your exhaust, but it won't net you any appreciable power gains.

It's true that years ago, from 1975 thru the late 80's, catalytic converters *were* a significant source of restriction, but that isn't the case anymore. Some nice instrumented tests were done a couple years ago that show today's cats product maybe 2-2.5 psi backpressure at most, and no appreciable power gains are seen unless the motor has been heavily modified, nitrous, ported heads, or supercharged, etc.

You have a multi-stage converter system in many vehicles today for cleaner tailpipe emissions and to keep the flow rate up for better torque, etc., so due to it being highly illegal to remove those cats, and the fact that they are not robbing you of any appreciable amount of power, we do not recommend that you remove them, and we do not remove them from any of our vehicles.

Also, if you do hog them out, you may start getting a check engine light, as you have both upstream and downstream O2 sensors, and the downstream unit is there specifically to monitor catalytic converter effectiveness. A custom program can be done to help with that in some cases, but we still do not recommend doing that. If you feel you must improve catalytic converter flow, we suggest that you install aftermarket high-flow units.

Good luck!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 01-22-2001).]
 
  #5  
Old 01-22-2001, 07:15 PM
Bill Bateman's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

There's a $10,000 fine if you get caught. That would be an expensive 5 hp if you ask me.
 



Quick Reply: hollowing out a catalytic converter



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:36 AM.