What does it mean to straight pipe a catalytic converter?

i have a 96 toyota 4runner and there's something wrong with the catalytic converter. someone told me i should just straight pipe it. what exactly does that mean? what does it consist of? what will it do to my car, and how easy or hard is it to have someone do it at home?What does it mean to straight pipe a catalytic converter?
Whoever told you does not know jack. Is illegal and the vehicle was not tuned from factory that way. As stated before... it will run like crap. Just put one back on. There are some good aftermarket Cats that will increase Exhaust Flow and give you few Ft/Lb of Torque and few HPs more. But they cost more and the gain is not that great.



1st what is doing now that you need to change the Cat? If is running really bad, it will get worst. As simple as that ! And if is fine, why do you want to change/remove it?
In Arkansas they could care less if you take it off, not illegal here.

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What does it mean to straight pipe a catalytic converter?
It's a $10,000. Federal fine if you get caught.
What they want you to do is take the converter off and replace it with a piece of exhaust pipe. It will have no effect on your engine except that it will breath easier (less back pressure).The down is that in most states, (if not all) it is illegal to do this. There are some muffler shops that will do it for you if you check around. Anyone who has done exhaust work at home in their garage can probably handle the job.What does it mean to straight pipe a catalytic converter?
what they said....
It means to remove the catalytic converter and replace it with a piece of exhaust pipe. On your year of vehicle the check engine light will stay on and your gas mileage will go down.
It's not that expensive to replace the cat convertor and it'll keep you legal. Your not likely to get a check engine light unless you have an O2 sensor (oxygen sensor) mounted past the cat convertor.



Straight piping is only allowed if you ship the car outside the country to a place that still sells only leaded gasoline.



Otherwise, the penalty costs exceed the replacement costs so a new cat convertor is cheapest in the long run. You can ask your local parts retailiers how much one costs for you car and then find someone to install it for you. Labor is only like 1/2 hour and the part is probably less than $200 for a small car like yours.



I replaced my own cat convertor on my 1985 truck six years ago and it cost me only $110.



Good Luck!
to put a PIPE in the place of your Cat. Converter. It's Illegal. Except for racing on tracks and such..



you'll waste more gas.. and as stated get a check engine light... but the performance will be improved due to better flow.