New(er)Catalytic Converters for Ol' Blue
#1
10-17-2015, 08:53 AM
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Countryside Township
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New(er)Catalytic Converters for Ol' Blue
The catalyts on my high-mileage (280,000+) 4.6L '97 F150 4WD had more holes in them than an orchestra piccolo section and had gotten too thin to migweld up any more, kept popping codes, fuel economy going bad, etcetera.
So, I went to the ones on the parts truck (a '97 V6 )and proceeded on the install---they LOOK the same but they're not. I had to add O2 sensor couplings ahead of the newer cats, cut from the old pipes and heliarc'ed in, and lengthen the passenger side 1-1/2 inches at the front at an increased angle, again heliarced in. The worst part of the whole job was getting the two sides separated without damage and getting the crossmember bolts out of the good truck. 12 hours including removal from the parts truck (I just rolled that one on its' side
).
Results--quiet now, no codes, passed "E-Check", fuel economy back up, and I figure I saved at least the $500+ for new cats and the labor at an exhaust shop and the system is still all Ford OEM material (altho altered "a bit"). The stainless piping on these systems cleans up easily and welds smoothly using 316L filler wire.
97 F150 Resurrected by BigJim99 | Ford-Trucks.com
So, I went to the ones on the parts truck (a '97 V6 )and proceeded on the install---they LOOK the same but they're not. I had to add O2 sensor couplings ahead of the newer cats, cut from the old pipes and heliarc'ed in, and lengthen the passenger side 1-1/2 inches at the front at an increased angle, again heliarced in. The worst part of the whole job was getting the two sides separated without damage and getting the crossmember bolts out of the good truck. 12 hours including removal from the parts truck (I just rolled that one on its' side
).Results--quiet now, no codes, passed "E-Check", fuel economy back up, and I figure I saved at least the $500+ for new cats and the labor at an exhaust shop and the system is still all Ford OEM material (altho altered "a bit"). The stainless piping on these systems cleans up easily and welds smoothly using 316L filler wire.
97 F150 Resurrected by BigJim99 | Ford-Trucks.com
#2
10-20-2015, 09:31 PM
I have a similar job in mind.
Have a 2000 4.6 xlt 2wd
cats were bad, so we took them out and welded 2.5'' pipe in place, only problem is, now I cant get the codes to clear. and the already overworked coil packs are throwing codes on top of all that.
I'm looking about getting a whole new exhaust built for it.
But I'm not sure what I should do to replace cat boxes.
Does it honestly need 2 per side?
Can I put one in per side, and still run tru dual tailpipes? (original tailpipe now)
Any help is much appreciated.
Have a 2000 4.6 xlt 2wd
cats were bad, so we took them out and welded 2.5'' pipe in place, only problem is, now I cant get the codes to clear. and the already overworked coil packs are throwing codes on top of all that.
I'm looking about getting a whole new exhaust built for it.
But I'm not sure what I should do to replace cat boxes.
Does it honestly need 2 per side?
Can I put one in per side, and still run tru dual tailpipes? (original tailpipe now)
Any help is much appreciated.
#3
10-21-2015, 06:53 AM
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Countryside Township
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Does it need two per side? Ford thought so, they're expensive items. It may be that's because of the configuration of available space under the truck and the amount of catalyt surface area needed. I know some custom exhaust shops have done it with singles; I don't know if it meets EPA specs, but they pass E-checks I guess. I don't think you'll ever clear codes without the cats in the system and O2 sensors properly located.
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