• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Cats Vs Off Road Mid Pipe

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brady's 2003GT
  • Start date Start date Aug 20, 2017
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 20, 2017
#1
  • Aug 20, 2017
  • #1
Do high flow cars really reduce emissions or should I just go with an off road pipe?
 

Real time recon

Mustang Master
Aug 21, 2016
469
205
83
...
Aug 21, 2017
#2
  • Aug 21, 2017
  • #2
Little stinky w/o cats. Oh,But the music out the pipes...........priceless
 

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
5,892
514
204
Houston Texas
Aug 21, 2017
#3
  • Aug 21, 2017
  • #3
Brady's 2003GT said:
Do high flow cars really reduce emissions or should I just go with an off road pipe?
Click to expand...
Does it really matter IF you live in a state with a required inspection? An off road pipe would never pass a state inspection.

In a state that would allow a non certified replacement exhaust system the resultant system is never tested to see if it actually works. So even if the replacement high flow cats did increase emissions slightly no one would know.

Most of the makers of high flow cats would want you to believe their product meets or exceeds the OEM. No reason to believe this isn't true for a name brand. Maybe not so true for imported.....

To me you should be asking questions such as:
  • Do you live in a state with a required inspection?
  • Do you care that having an off road pipe may hurt the resale value
  • Is there a possibility that you could move to a state with an inspection in the future? Or maybe where you live now adopt an inspection requirement in the future?
  • Do you as an individual care if your car meets emission standards or not?
IMO the best piece of advice I can give you is to save the old exhaust system. Take care when removing. You don't really know just how hard it is to find a used factory exhaust system until you have to actually find one. In many states the salvage yards are not allowed to re-sell exhaust systems. Or often the salvage yards don't keep cats because the metal inside is simply worth too much.
 
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 21, 2017
#4
  • Aug 21, 2017
  • #4
I don't really care so much about passing the inspection I would just switch back to my old mid pipe. I was just wondering if having 2 high flow cats would really be better on gods green earth, then having no cats at all.
 

Real time recon

Mustang Master
Aug 21, 2016
469
205
83
...
Aug 21, 2017
#5
  • Aug 21, 2017
  • #5
What happens to "Gods green earth" during the time you have them off for the inspection
 
Reactions: Brady's 2003GT
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 21, 2017
#6
  • Aug 21, 2017
  • #6
Real time recon said:
What happens to "Gods green earth" during the time you have them off for the inspection
Click to expand...
Yeah like I'm not talking about passing emissions testing I mean like would having those high flow cats really produce less emissions or are the just kind of a gimmick.
 

Neuron

5 Year Member
Nov 6, 2016
859
192
93
Aug 22, 2017
#7
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #7
They are used by people that have to pass emissions and if the OP spends that kind of money and fails.......... Yes they work and pass emissions, at least the branded ones I have seen do.
 

Red32VGT

Member
Aug 22, 2017
8
2
13
Arizona
Aug 22, 2017
#8
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #8
Off road H pipe! You cant deny the sweet sounds of exhaust through straight pipe into some 40 series flowmasters! I got around my emissions with a set of MIL eliminators. The only reason to ever run cats is if your state looks for them being physically on the car.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,186
17,888
224
Massachusetts
Aug 22, 2017
#9
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #9
Yes, they work. The modern cat pipes are markedly more efficient than the systems that came on cars 20 years ago. Guys are swapping out 4-cat pipes for the 2 cat pipes and still meeting federal regs.

Personally I prefer cats on a modern vehicle. I can drive behind a 1960's muscle car without cats no problem at all, but for some reason the modern cars just give off fumes I cannot tolerate for long. My state doesn't even do emissions testing anymore, but I prefer to run cats.

Usually most people see the cost difference between the two and just go to the off-road pipe anyway.
 
Reactions: Brady's 2003GT
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 22, 2017
#10
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #10
Going to do emissions now with my stock mid pipe. Going to see how that goes and that might be the deal breaker between off road H, or UPR X with cats.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,186
17,888
224
Massachusetts
Aug 22, 2017
#11
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #11
Usually with the new cars, it's just an OBD2 check. If your CEL is off, and all the monitors are complete, they send you on your way.

I forget which states actually do a sniffer check. MA used to do it on pre-OBD2 cars yearly, but all of those pretty much rusted away by now so they eliminated it a decade ago. I think CA does smog every 2 years. Unsure what other states do.
 
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 22, 2017
#12
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #12
It's a Bi-annual test in Washington and I'm not worrying about passing it. Anyway is there anyone who knows a good H pipe that fits like a glove? It's a 2003 GT with a 5 speed. Any experience on what fits without any problems?
 

Red32VGT

Member
Aug 22, 2017
8
2
13
Arizona
Aug 22, 2017
#13
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #13
Don't get the summitracing one. I have that and had fitment issues where the h pipes connect to the mufflers. Of course this may have been a one time deal but I also have friends who have had success with the BBK brand.
 
B

Brady's 2003GT

Member
Oct 12, 2016
94
5
8
Aug 22, 2017
#14
  • Aug 22, 2017
  • #14
Red32VGT said:
Don't get the summitracing one. I have that and had fitment issues where the h pipes connect to the mufflers. Of course this may have been a one time deal but I also have friends who have had success with the BBK brand.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I'm personally not a fan of BBK but I will keep that it worked out!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

4v cobra exhaust compatibility
  • Kid wita 5oh
  • Feb 20, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
301
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Mar 30, 2026
squeak93
J
O2 sens
  • JJ's90fox
  • Sep 11, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
169
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Sep 12, 2025
Mustang5L5
Engine Cleaning Intake valves with lower intake off
  • R82148V
  • Mar 4, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
13
Views
363
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Mar 11, 2026
limp
R
bbk shorty header to mid pipe gasket
  • randyyy
  • Sep 29, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
316
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Sep 29, 2025
randyyy
R
0
Engine Multiple o2 sensor codes, car runs terrible
  • 02newedge
  • Jun 12, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
480
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jul 19, 2025
squeak93
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?