I am planning on gutting my cat out and was just wondering how the exhaust sounds without it and if there is any gain as far as hp goes. Just going to replace the cat with a straight 21" exhaust pipe.

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1987 GT (Canadian)

Honestly, I don't remember what my car sounded like with the cat so I can't tell you if it sounds different. I imagine it would though. Mine has a low tone to it and is louder than the average car.

In both the 4 and the 6 the note doesn't really change alot (i.e. not "ricey" sounding), but the overall volume increases.

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Mike
Ocala, Florida
'86 2M4

Yeah, I just wanted to know if it sounded really high pitched when I cut the cat off. Its not super loud is it? Just a louder and somewhat deeper. What kind of hp gains would I get by getting rid of the cat?

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1987 GT (Canadian)

quote Originally posted by Rare87GT: Yeah, I just wanted to know if it sounded really high pitched when I cut the cat off. Its not super loud is it? Just a louder and somewhat deeper. What kind of hp gains would I get by getting rid of the cat?

It's LOUD (kind of obnoxous without a decent muffler). As for horsepower, from all I've seen around here (depending on who's posting) you'll lose a huge amount of horsepower and torque or gain a little, I didn't notice too big a loss in the SE that I used to have or in my 2M4.

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Mike
Ocala, Florida
'86 2M4

Lose HP? I will lose HP by cutting the cat off?

I didn't notice a huge power difference when I changed and put a straight pipe in. It did have a very loud low growl, which was cool for me, but the power increase was minimal.
It was loud enough that you could hear me coming from way down the street, but I also have other mods which may have contributed to that.

Ok so its definitely not super loud, just little more deeper tone. I just didn't know if it was going to sound like a high pitched honda when I got on the gas. What would a Borla exhaust sound like on a Fiero?

You will loose some low end torque and gain some top end horsepower, but not enough to make that the reason to cut off the converter. The exhaust is be louder and a bit more "hollow" of a sound. Not ricey at all, but I didn't care for it after living with it for a few months like that. It sounded great at idle, but not so hot revved up or when gearing down for engine braking. When I put on a hi-flow cat, I noticed NO change in the car's performance by my a$$ometer. So any performance difference is not very noticeable either way.

if you have no emishions in your town. i would take it off. its just one less thing to think about if your car isn't running right. (cloged cat)

some people will say put a free flow cat on. but they cost money. if your a poor college student like me or just want to put your 100 bucks towards something else. hack it off and put a $4 str8 pipe in.

i love the sound. and its not to loud. i did my cold air intake at the same time. its a 3 inche pipe going thew the fire wall and it has a cone filter. sitting right inside the side vent on the driver side of the car. and that thing screams

High flow cat and resonant tips, didn't install it myself purchased the car with it already installed.
216k

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[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 11-07-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 11-07-2001).]

Not extremely loud, but definitely louder. I DO like the no-cat sound on a 2.8.

As far as gains, I noticed a significant increase in power, but then again, mine was all clogged and melted.

You see, as far as power, it all depends on the current state of your cat internals.

In general, you WILL see some power increse. Think about it: why would people go and buy high-flow cats if they didn't make any difference?

Another advantage: you'll be thankful you put a straight pipe on there when you have to do some work under the car. It makes access to some components MUCH easier.

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Well, thanks for all the responses. I am going to cut the cat off later tonight and I will post how it sounds and how I like it. As far as performance gains, I expect some increase because right now my cat is clogged to crap and is pretty much falling apart inside my exhaust. So it should be a noticeable increase I would think since it pops and rattles like there's a rock in my exhaust. Ill let you guys know later tonight. Thanks for all the advice.

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1987 GT (Canadian)

I don't like the sound of my 85 GT with that I removed the busted cat from and replaced with straight pipe. It's too loud and too hollow. It doesn't sound too bad from the inside when you are driving the car, but to be honest, when I hear my daughter driving the Fiero away, it sounds like sh!t. More like a car with a hole in the muffler than performance sound. I'm going to try replacing the straight pipe with a Cherry Bomb type muffler to get a richer, bit more mellow tone.

I wonder how many of these other guys have listened to their cars as somebody else drove it.

you probably do have a hole in the system some where cause mine sounds smooooth not hissing or anything i had my roomate drive it while i listend and i loved it.

Well my friend finished cutting my cat out and replaced it with a straight pipe. And man it sounds really good. The cat was a piece of crap with all kinds of dirt and crap inside of it. It seems a lot quicker in first and second and has a very nice low tone. It sounds pretty normal at idle just has a little louder high end through first gear. Overall though it sounds really good.

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1987 GT (Canadian)