Catalytic Converter

aimplus said

Like to throw this out for opinion as the Internet is as contradictory as my wife. Can anyone definitively tell me the first year catalytic converters became mandatory. I have researched they first appeared in 75, but were not mandatory until 76. Then I see anything 75 and on they are mandatory. Little help. I am looking to upgrade my 75 exhaust and if I can dump the converter I'll be a happy boy. bv

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It's contradictory because it depends on the vehicle. So the question is what did Your car come with and does it still need to meet the visual and/or sniff test. Like stated above, some vehicles like light pickups could get by without them until '79. As already stated, you can buy high flow aftermarket cats from high end (random) to cheap (mail-order company branded), so don't sweat it unless you plan on running leaded race gas.