Is it safe to gut out my catalytic converter in my 3.1 Grand Am Gt?

Question

My Grand am is a 1997 model. Will this cause my check engine light to come on? Will i gain any horsepower or torque? Will i get worse gas mileage? Will it be extremely loud?

Answer 1

Don't do it amigo ! You are knowingly making a federally required smog device in opperable , tampering with a smog device, and altering a smog device. all of the above are punishable by hefty fines not to mention the fact that the next time you have to smog it you'll have to buy another cat to get it to pass smog.

Answer 2

Yes, it will because if you gut out your catalytic converter, it will cause your O2 sensors to malfunction causing your check engine light to stay on. Here where I live they dont have emissions so if you can get away with it go for it. It will give you better gas mileage and power. Thats only if your O2 sensors are not in the way.

Answer 3

you probly wont notice a big difference in noise because your muffler will take care of that, you should get a little power but not much from a 3.1, the check engine light will only come on if you mess up your O2 sensor, gas mileage might increase, but you will fail state emmisions

Answer 4

You cant really "gut" it. What you need to do is buy a section of exhaust pipe and cut it in and clamp it where the cat. converter used to be. You may want to check though if it is legal in your state. Some states require the use of a cat. converter (smog states). Here is a map of smog states http://www.dmv.org/smog-check.php

You may also have to drill a hole in the exhaust pipe for your downstream oxygen sensor. It is easier though just to buy a performance cat. Should give you anywhere from 10-20 horsepower...

Answer 5

If you dont have any oxygen sensors directly on the cat it shouldnt turn the light on, you may lose a little low end power but youll gain mid/top end, and yes, it will be louder

Answer 6

simply take a sharp object and poke a hole in the bottom of it and a bunch of black pellets will come out. this will give your car more horse power and burn less gas. the muffler is responsible for noise reduction. california instituted the catalytic converter in the 60`s to reduce ozone pollution. with the advance in cleaner oils , their is no need to have them.

Answer 7

its illegal and will not give you more power or make the car louder. It may mess up your sensors and cause engine light to come on

Answer 8

It's not good for the air quality, period. You won't gain any measurable performance, and if you did it in my neighborhood, I would turn your butt in to the EPA.

Answer 9

isnt that illegal?