usually they go hand-in-hand.

Heyyou had a good response.

 

OK. I will probably leave the cat then and find headers that bolt into the cat and change the muffler. THat way I dont have to saw the cat off since its welded. That should work I think right?

 

Have to go with shorties then, but yes, that will work.

 

If you're not mechanically inclined headers could get nasty. Broken studs and leaks can be a PITA. You won't see much gain in performance nor sound. Hacking out the cat and putting a straight pipe in its place will give you the sound you want and likely an increase in power you can actually feel. It's especially easy since you have a 2000 with the SI/SO. Hack the two ends, cut a pipe to size, use two band clamps and Bob's your uncle. Butter up the clamps with never-seize and replace cat for emissions test however often you need to.

 

If i remove the cat, will my cel go off?

 

BTW. I am not mechanically inclined. NOOB here.

 

It might. But, it will just be whining about cat efficiency, won't really effect the way the truck runs. You can fool the PCM into think the cat is actually there, and working, by doing the 'non-fouler trick'. There is a write up in the faq section for how to do it.

 

Cutting out the cat is up your alley then. I personally have not gotten a CEL for being catless but as mentioned you can always try the non-fouler trick.

 

Are there actually states left that do not do emission inspections? I "assumed" that was a federal thing that states had no choice in. I have read that disconnecting, removing or otherwise rendering inoperative ANY emissions-related control device is a federal offense.

 

And you would be correct, for the most part. Emissions testing/inspection is not mandatory though, and more states DON'T do it, than do. Michigan doesn't. No inspections, to tailpipe sniffer, nothin'. Cops don't check things like that when they pull folks over either. It just one of those laws they don't bother to even make a show of enforcing. I don't remember EVER seeing someone charged with not having a cat on their car, or any other emissions related equipment for that matter.