[12 cylinders]

Hey Gang...reading through some old threads, it was mentioned that removing the mufflers or going to a free-flowing exhaust system could result in damage to the catalytic convertors? I know that if the cats internals break up, that some of it can be sucked back into the engine and cause horrific damage. Would a free flowing exhaust contribute to this....or is it just a case of.....it may happen or it may not?

[scot]

Never heard of this happening in any vehicle before, though I guess a fully free flowing exhaust *could* be an issue. It would really have to make a major change in flow and design to do that. Much more likely in a turbo situation due to changes in heat or residual fuel damaging the cats.

Considering street cars are designed to be used with some small amount of backpressure and the mufflers have sophisticated designs to produce the right sound and pressure waves anything could be a possibility. If your car is still under the federal emissions warranty for the cats (8y/80k), I would probably just go with stock or close to stock exhausts. If one does fail, in theory it would be covered though I have no idea if/how the engine would be involved under that situation.

[ALEX A]

It will not damage the cats.

[Island Maser]

Maserati will denie the warranty if anything aftermarket is on the car. Normally they will say damagae from any scratches. Miner were perfect. Larini Mufflers so they denied a failed cat warranty. So much for federal emisssions.

[scot]

You can take them to small claims court and they will lose. The Magnusson act stops this limitation of warranty service, they have to actually prove that the larini exhausts caused the failure, without that.. no go. The cost of putting together the evidence (that doesn't exist) would be vastly more than the cost of just getting you the new parts.

[12 cylinders]

That's what I was hoping. I "hear" exhaust modifications in my future (pun intended)!