isnt it possible to just get rid of the cat on the stock headers by putting a straight pipe in? that way it looks stock, and no one can bother you about it. i mean i have seen the stock header w/o the heatshiled and it looks like it can be done.

 

no it cant be done unless it straight.

you can flip it and start hammering the inside to nothing but that would only give you a big pocket of backfires

 

Since the cat is part of the manifold not really. Unless you do what tikbhoy said and just hammer out all the guts. But if they find out you did that them I'm sure it would be an issue.

 

What if one was to get an exhaust system with a high flow cat and jet coated the headers + used a heat shield? Just throwing ideas out, I want to play with my car some and I hope cat back exhaust isn't the only option.

 

If you have a S/C then that's going to be your only option. Anything else could directly effect the S/C and the warranty. That's what has been stated by TRD and that's all I know. Something may change in the future but I highly doubt it.

 

I originally thought that TRD was holding off allowing any mods, until "their" items came out ( i.e. a different intake, maybe pulley, etc ) so they would not only have some of the market, but also have a say in what was done to their units.
But as quiet as they have been on this ( we're relying on Josh asking for lists on what can/can't be done to help us out ) i'm thinking that the TRD performance catalog for the TC will be kept to a minimum.
Heck, we can't even dress up the engine bay with intake/exhaust without killing the sc warranty.... how I miss the old days....
kids: it was sure easier back then.... ( and yes i realize warranties and emissions weren't a consideration or worry )

 

Well thanks to everyone who answered my question and stayed with the topic... I'd appreciate any more insight on header installs and or dealers who won't give me a bunch of crap if i show up with a header...

 

Well the way I see it is if there is a problem with the S/C that shouldn't effect the rest of your car warranty. I think that's where some are getting it confused. The only thing effected by a header would be the S/C and that's been 1 case so far. If something else goes wrong with the car that it totally unrelated to the S/C or the header it would still have to be covered.