What are my choices?

[O5Q45]

I’m pretty educated on cars but I don’t know anything about emissions systems except I can identify a muffler..

Anyways, front catalytic converters. I want them gone-
I called the shop that put my magnaflow set up in the car a year ago and asked him since the car has 4 cats (ridiculous)
Wouldn’t 2 be ok and satisfy the law even though we have NO inspections nor emissions testing in Tennessee.
He acted like I was trying to hire him for murder! He started repeated if it’s got 4 it has to have 4...........
Why? Other then cleaning the emissions what purpose do they serve except as time bombs for our motors..

He told me high flow cats are exactly the same as regular ones and it’s just baisically scaming... and also said he has never in his 42 years heard of or seen a failed cat that would put ceramic dust into the engine and that who ever told me that is ignorant because the direction never changes, it’s always going away from the motor..

So I’m perplexed and appropriately irritated after hearing the cost of replacing them.. it would probably total the car if it were a insurance claim...

I want them gone because obviously I don’t want it to finish off my engine-
I would like a little more power-
I’m tired of checking oil formulations and gas grades because of the tender cats...

[centralcoaster33]

...Other then cleaning the emissions what purpose do they serve except as time bombs for our motors...

[EdBwoy]

You have to understand that as a registered exhaust shop, that establishment will be in gross breach of the law by removing such equipment for you.

However, if you asked them to fabricate tubes and pipes for you, you can take them home and assemble them by yourself no prob.

On the matter of the front cats disintegrating (and being sucked back), I haven't heard much of it in the VK45DE platform. I think some early 3.5 Maxima owners reported such issues, but I am yet to see it.

I don't like check engine lights and I'd rather leave those primary one on there if they are not giving you any problems. The secondary ones are unmonitored and if I were to omit any, then those are the ones I'd mess with.
Trust me, if the manufacturers could get away with less weight on the cars, those units wouldn't be there at production. A lot of research goes into such decisions and if the car is behaving as intended, just keep driving.

[Q451990]

Or change oils if it's got you freaked out about catalyst damage.

[DarkKnightQ]

Ok here goes.. I cut out the 2 secondary (bottom) cats on my 02Q n it runs fine actually better than b4 I felt the difference instantly night and day.. I replaced it with 3" pipe into x pipe straight back to the stock muffler love it lol.. I live in NYC the muffler shop was actually who recommended that I cut them out owner told me they were not needed. Next step when I have some spear cash will be to cut our the primary cats and add megaphones or try n fit titan headers. Good luck