I've got a 2006 f250 with the 5.4 and I was wandering would it mess my truck up to hollow out my cats. I know it could send the o2 sensors off but how bad would it be?

 

Of course it would mess up your truck and absolutely hurt for the cats. The cats certainly aren't going sit still while you hollow out the poor critters causing them so much pain, they will scratch the crap out of you. The blood would be everywhere, yours and theirs, what a mess.

 

Thanks for the great advice

 

Don't "hollow out" your catalytic converters either, doing so is all trouble and waste with no gain.

 

Unless you have a specific reason to think the cats are plugged, there is nothing to be gained from this. If you are looking to change the sound of the truck, focus on removing the muffler and replacing with either stright pipes or something mroe agressive.

 

I'm looking for a new sound but don't wanna spend the money to go get an exhaust shop to do it.

 

Then remove or replace the muffler, much easier and cheaper with better results.

 

Also modifying Emissions equipment is illegal regardless of the state/county. There is nothing to gain by doing that. Like other said swap out the muffler if you want more agressive sound.

 

It's a dumb thing to do, and aside from the legalities, your truck will then pollute the air I breathe which I don't appreciate, and your exhaust will smell bad and irritate people's eyes.

Lots of those Carolina boys sure do have a habit of removing those catalytic converters.

 

The 06 should have O2 sensors downstream of the cats so if you mess with your cats your engine will set some codes then run like crap.....

 

If you are looking for more flow / sound, go ahead and spring for "high flow" cats, they are proud of them though. What are you looking to accomplish?

 

It shouldn't hurt anything except throw a cel. I had an entire exhaust system put on an 06 5.4 with a custom tune from Mike at 5star and the truck was a new beast. The tune really changed the sound too. I had true duals with a dual in/dual out magnaflow muffler and both tips exiting behind the right tire

 

I did it to my 04 but i have no sensors after the cats and it gives it a more raspy sound and more throttle response.

 

Do not hollow your catalytic converter. I removed mine and tried just running my flowmaster and it sounded horrible and i promise it hurt my power. no low end grunt at all. Take your cat to the scrap yard, collect your $90 and go buy a new muffler, magnaflow cat, band style clamps and a turn down. (if you can weld dont use clamps.) or just buy a muffler from auto zone for like $80 and keep your stock cat. And remember there is no real reason to have striaght pipes on a motor that only has 250hp. It will only sound horrible and hurt the longevity of your engine.

 

I disagree with it sounding horrible, mine was the best sounding 5.4 I'd ever heard when I did it and I definitely couldn't tell there was any power loss. I had several comments on the sound. If I was out in the field I had trouble not spinning the tires all the time. The tune really gave it a lot of snap.