Cat bypass pipe vs gutted cat
 

A PO of my '82 apparently gutted tha catylitic converter. I'm guessing that functionally this has the same effect as using a bypass pipe. I'm fine with that because there's no smog testing sheer I live. But is the sound any different?

Yes, the exhaust will be a bit louder not much but compared to a stock car

Yes, but do you think there's s difference between using a gutted cat and a straight bypass pipe?

six of one half a dozen of other

What I noticed is the straight pipe is more raspy. My MK Euro Muff had a bit more bass.

I now have the OEM Euro Muffler, it is definitely quieter than the MK but I also have cut out air box cover so I have intake noise too.

Just removed my cat and I welded in my own straight through pipe. To be honest, for the average person, there isn't really any sound difference. If you focus a bit, you can notice it's a tad bit louder at the high rev range. otherwise just remove the cat, you want your engine to breathe.

In a different car, I gutted the cat's rather than replace as there were 4 cats and 2 weren't needed. I didn't like the sound so I ended up replacing them.

Point being, the sound will vary between a gutted cat and other pipe options. gutted cat on a 911 may be just fine.

I'd always advise removing the cat. and running the straight pipe. You will never remove all of the honeycombing as I understand it and a straight pipe is a cheap and simple solution. Now you don't have this option obviously but an SC cat in good nick is worth something up until all our cars are sunsetted from testing.