Exhaust Question

So, I outgrew the super loud exhaust years ago in trade for hearing the phone and radio. However not to long ago I was a WS6 Trans-Am guy and just before I sold it I had electronic exhaust cut outs installed just behind the headers. They were amazing fun for when you wanted to be loud, and easy to hush up when you just wanted to cruise.

My question is this......ive heard open exhaust leads to premature valve failure, specifically burning them out. Is this true? Id install them right after the cats (or remove the cats and go after the manifolds). And thats another question......any real problem with deleting the cats? On the T.A. i installed little fake plugins on the cat harness and that solved the check engine lite and running issues.

So I guess its a 2 parter.
1) Does running basically open exhaust for short periods of time damage the engine?
2) Any problems on our cars with deleting the cats?

Thanks, Jimmy

1) have not heard of anyone killing the valves with cut outs. Now right off the heads may not be a good idea...but if the cut outs are down the pipe a bit..I see no problem

2) If you delete the cats I would suggest getting an Xcal Tuner, so you can turn the rear O2 sensors off. If you delete the cats without a tune you will pop an annoying check engine light.

Heck this may be time to go for a Cold Air kit and Tune!! Just tell them you are deleting the cats as well and they will correct the tune accordingly

I don't think if you put cutouts just before or after the cats that you'll have any problem especially for short periods like you said.

As to the deleting the cats. Like Jarrod said I believe a tuner can turn off the sensors so it doesn't trip a CEL. For sure in the V8 cars. I had no cats on my 06 and it ran great. No issue. I'm sure the protocol is similar on the V6.

What exhaust mods do you have currently? Your already running true dual right?

i have longtubes and an offroad h pipe.... no cats. my engine light is on because of the absense of the cats (trips the o2 codes of course). i dont have a tuner as of yet, but the light doesnt really worry me since i know why its on. if you dont want to buy a tuner, they still sell MIL eliminators.

I running true duals with gt takeoffs right now. it sounds descent but still "V6ish" which i know i cant fix w/o a swap.

Good info, I think ill go with cat deletes, a tune and the cutouts, seems to be the best bet so far!

Thanks everyone for the info!

BTW got the new hood and scoop on (will post pics later) flat black cobra scoop with the same bolts that are on my wheels. i love it!