I am very impressed with the results of the mods that everybody has been doing with their Evo's. But what gets me is why everybody uses a test pipe? I know it yields horsepower, but it does nothing for a street car. I am one for street legal performance. I will be more impressed if someone starts generating high performance stats from a car with the stock catalytic converter or at least an aftermarket one. I guess it's like someone saying they can run 13's with their Mustang, but with slicks at the track, when in fact it only really runs 14's. I know it's cool that people are running 12's, but I want to see it done with a catalytic converter.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOBIE!

 

why not...?

 

Actually I have been on these boards for over a year now I don't think I am a newbie. As for why not? Well considering how removing your cat is illegal and won't pass inspection I see it as a short cut. Usually when I hear about someone running an impressive number, I have a look of shock. But when I hear that someone had no cat, then I just say "oh".

 

yea and technicly the BOV i used on my Eclipse was illegal, so what

 

not illegal here in IN

 

I believe Pruven Performance is running with a cat and they hit 12's. BUT if legality is your big concern I have to ask where you live? Cuz short of Arizona and Texas just about any aftermarket part put on your car won't pass smog and is illegal in street form. SO since the car is illegal even with a turbo saving BOV why not go all the way and remove the cat for bigger gains. Only difference here in California is it's a $25,000 fine or something crazy like that for not having a cat on your car.

 

Actually theres a difference... Most aftermarket parts are not Illegal in most states if they do not alter the cars emission system.. (Not emissions themselves, but the systems installed on the car) In some states there are random visual inspections (Not that I've seen, but I heard about) and there are some in law enforcement who will use it as an excuse to impound your car on a cruise night.. so I can certainly understand his desire to maintain the emission system, plus.. some of us actually care about the environment.. Truthfully though, on a modern maintained car, emissions should be fairly low regardless of if you have a Cat or not..

And let me add that I finally evolved.. hehe..

 

no the BOV was for race and offroad use only

 

There are also certain competition classes that require the car to be street legal, i.e. catalytic converter.

I was hoping someone was going to say that the only reason for the test pipe was because its's cheaper than a performance cat.

 

I would but a high-flow cat instead of a test pipe. The gains are not that great when using a test pipe (about 5-hp) compared to a high-flow cat. Plus the test pipes are about $75 and the cats are about $100. The test pipe will give a CEL, unless you trick the computer. Then you have to go back to the dealer and have it turned off ($60). I would rather not have to but the car back on just to get that done, if you had the test pipe on. If you dont care about the CEL being on, when will you know if there is another problem with the car? You wont, cause your CEL will already be on from the test pipe. Not good. Plus you would be legal in ever state! I live in AL which does not have testing, but I choose to have a cat. To each there own, I guess.

 

supposivly the dsm ppl got around that by wraping the o2 sensor in aluminum foil

 

That's why I asked where he was from. Here in California they do a visual inspection and will fail your car on the spot if any aftermarket parts can be seen on the car. Not inside the car but in the engine bay such as an aftermarket BOV. To tell you how picky they are with this my completely stock Jetta failed visual because of the PVC was cracked on the dipstick holder. There's a plastic ring that seals the oil dipstick when you put it in. It was cracked and they wouldn't continue the test until I had it fixed.

 

Another thing to remember is that a brand new car in CA doesn't have to be smogged for the first 4 years. Then it's every other year after that.

 

Passing CA emissions is not that hard. The good thing about CA is that the smog places are private, not state government facilities. You just need to find a shop that is 'mod friendly'. My CA shop didnt care about visuals, just that the numbers passed.