im running a 3 liter /hybrid motor with a 11.25 compression...and when i gutted my pre-cats and smoged, it passed...cleaner than my stock 2.5 liter.
You should be fine gutting them, and using the mil eliminators. make sure you warm it up with a good half hour drive before your smog test.
Also, MSDS Headders are a better route as they give you more power, but i did not have the money at the time to get them. MIl eliminators do work!!!
the only probelm is if you go to a goody to shoes shop, they will not smog you if they see the headders. Go to a vietmanies shop, that barely speaks english...they won;t care if you have headders or not.
or if you know someone who knows someone, you can usualy get away with it.
But YES, gutting pre-cats i had no problems passing..and headders are not problem wither , besides mentioned above.
Lupe
