# Catalytic converter replaced with turbo **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126 "2025-07-23T15:23:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buckedzulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Buckedzulu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Buckedzulu)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/1 "2025-07-23T15:23:36Z")
Could you in theory replace your catalytic converter with a turbo. I know it is illegal but I want to know if it would work. And if it does what are the pros and cons ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/2 "2025-07-23T15:30:03Z")
Nope. In theory? Well, in theory you could replace your cat with anything. But this won’t work, it’s in the wrong place. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/3 "2025-07-23T15:37:05Z")
Oh, I think anything is possible if you throw enough money at it. Heck, with enough money you could put a man on the moon😀 ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/4 "2025-07-23T15:39:05Z")
> [@Buckedzulu](#): > > And if it does what are the pros and cons They serve 2 different functions so the answer is No. Where did you get this idea from ? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/5 "2025-07-23T16:09:53Z")
BTW, would still need a Cat downstream from the turbo. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/6 "2025-07-23T16:54:44Z")
Someone needs to tell OP what a cat does. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/7 "2025-07-23T17:45:53Z")
My neighbor’s cat comes in when I let my dog out. Cat eats what the dog leaves, my dog doesn’t mind what the cat does. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/8 "2025-07-23T20:41:49Z")
> [@Buckedzulu](#): > > Could you in theory replace your catalytic converter with a turbo. If someone were constructing a race car, the turbo charger would be placed where the catalytic converter was once located. For a streetcar, a suitable catalytic converter should be installed downstream of the turbo. ---
**Author:** ![Buckedzulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Buckedzulu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Buckedzulu)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/9 "2025-07-23T22:34:15Z")
lol. My head ---
**Author:** ![Buckedzulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Buckedzulu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Buckedzulu)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/10 "2025-07-23T22:35:38Z")
From what I understand it lowers emissions from the exhaust. Correct me if I am wrong though ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/11 "2025-07-24T08:15:39Z")
> [@Buckedzulu](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong though OK, you’re wrong. A turbo will do nothing for emissions. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 8:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/12 "2025-07-24T08:55:22Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Someone needs to tell OP what a cat does. > [@Buckedzulu](#): > > From what I understand it lowers emissions from the exhaust. Correct me if I am wrong though A properly functioning catalytic converter reduces tailpipe emissions. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/13 "2025-07-24T11:29:33Z")
> [@texases](#): > > in theory you could replace your cat with anything. Don’t tell him that…! ![Morris - 2023 - Closeup on Face](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/c/1c4f41ed15e9749f25eec7eaae8ca5bae0bfaa9b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/14 "2025-07-25T13:53:43Z")
To answer your question, Yes a turbo can be installed in place of the Cat, to answer your other question NO a turbo will not take the place of a Cat on an emissions legal vehicle… On a vehicle where emissions is not in question for whatever reason, you can place a turbo **anywhere** in the vehicle you choose, a lot of drag race trucks install the turbos in the bed area of the truck, I have also seen turbos installed at the very back of the vehicle…As long as you have exhaust gas spinning the turbine, it will work… ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/15 "2025-07-25T15:13:22Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > you can place a turbo **anywhere** in the vehicle you choose Yup. I’ve seen twin turbos located aft of the rear axle. It was a plumbing nightmare. On the other hand (somewhat different subject) there were also pickup trucks that had the catalyst mounted towards the rear of the vehicle after the muffler. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/16 "2025-07-25T15:32:16Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > Yup. I’ve seen twin turbos located aft of the rear axle. It was a plumbing nightmare. Talking about remote turbo installation: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/5/75bfd944039960b9a25e4c5a89c00d8fda6bc470.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/17 "2025-07-25T16:54:13Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > On the other hand (somewhat different subject) there were also pickup trucks that had the catalyst mounted towards the rear of the vehicle after the muffler Probably not really doing its job located there. Take forever to get up to temp if it ever does unless the engine is running super rich and even then…exhaust gas has cooled quite a bit by the time it gets to the muffler in a pickup. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/18 "2025-07-25T17:17:37Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/1/31271615d9e5e89cbdf10f6432b2cad45b256c65.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Buckedzulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Buckedzulu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Buckedzulu)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/19 "2025-07-25T18:31:18Z")
This is what I was asking. Remove the cat and disregard emissions. I was thinking of cars that don’t have room in the front for a turbo ---
**Author:** ![Buckedzulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Buckedzulu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Buckedzulu)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126/20 "2025-07-25T18:34:31Z")
Other than the fact that there are laws and regulations about it. What does reducing emissions do for the engine [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converter-replaced-with-turbo/201126.md?page=2)