Exhaust advice

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Jun 2, 2011 | 03:36 PM

yogmuney

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Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 8

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Exhaust advice

Hello all. I bought a 1994 F350 crew cab in December with 92K miles. It has a 460 and a freshly rebuilt automatic transmission. I just lucked into a set of banks headers and intake off of craigslist for $400. I am getting ready to install them and have a few questions. I have seen some posts that say you can bolt them up without gaskets, but that seems sketchy to me. I don't want to get in there twice. Any experience with this? Secondly, I know there is not an O2 sensor after the cat, so I am wondering what is the consequence of hollowing the cat out during the install.

Totally unrelated to the headers, what is the deal with towing in OD? I just installed a transcommand, and I am wondering if you should "never tow in OD no matter what," "it is ok as long as the road is relatively flat," "get a trans temp gauge and watch it closely," or a combination of the latter two? I should say that I am towing a 6500 lb camping trailer.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to your sage advice.

Jun 2, 2011 | 04:02 PM

SideWinder4.9l

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 8,843

Likes: 27

From: Eastern Ky

First off, the O2 sensor.....These trucks just need the sensor in approx. the same area it was stock (I.E-so and so inches from the manifold)....They don't care what happens AFTER the cat....

Second-NEVER tow in OD....I would safely say 5-600lbs is about the max to be able to tow with OD on, but thats a stretch...

Personally, why is it such a biggie to touch a button at the end of the shifter lever, that you're already gonna have your hand on?

Although, a trans temp sensor IS A GREAT IDEA.....It'll help keep you in the know on whats goin on in there....

Third-The headers....Great upgrade, ecspecially with a nice set of mufflers (Borla, S&P, etc) that'll really allow the truck to breathe....Before installing, just get a new set of gaskets, and a metal straight edge ruler...And lay the ruler across the exhaust ports of the heads, and across the header/manifold flanges....That'll establish if they are/aren't warped....If either is warped, they won't line up....Simply gettem' planed....

Oh yeah, and welcome to FTE...

Jun 2, 2011 | 05:07 PM

1992ford302

Freshman User

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 33

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i would use the header gaskets for sure.

Jun 4, 2011 | 04:33 AM

TexasGuy001

Hotshot

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 11,958

Likes: 228

You can tow light loads or empty trailers in OD.

Definitely use gaskets with the headers. I like Percy's.

Jun 4, 2011 | 05:17 AM

zxwut?

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 1,964

Likes: 2

From: Fort Worth

You can tow just fine in overdrive. It is made to tow in overdrive. If it starts downshifting a bunch going up hills due to a heavy load, lock it out. Otherwise, leave it alone and let the computer do its job.

Jun 4, 2011 | 10:29 AM

'89F2urd

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 5,775

Likes: 443

The comp knows when to downshift out of od. . .if it keeps downshiftin just lock it out. If it stays on od you aren't loading enough to matter

Jun 4, 2011 | 10:37 AM

'89F2urd

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 5,775

Likes: 443

The comp knows when to downshift out of od. . .if it keeps downshiftin just lock it out. If it stays on od you aren't loading enough to matter

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Jun 4, 2011 | 10:44 AM

DIYiT

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2008

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I agree that towing in OD is OK if it's not gear hunting. I just pulled an 8000#, 30' 5th wheel camper 500 miles. Most of the drive was done in 3rd because of my 3.55 gears on two lane blacktop, but when I got on the interstate and got the RPM's up a bit higher, I ran in OD for almost 100 miles without it dropping out and no signs of trouble from the transmission.

I also know that my dad never believed in locking out OD, so there's 110,000 miles of farm work pulling all kinds of wagons, trailers, and implements which have all been done in OD and there has never been any work done to the transmission.

I would say if you're worried about it, install a temp gauge and just let the computer decide what to do until it starts gear hunting or the trans temp begins to rise; then just lock out OD. Otherwise, the trans should be perfectly fine running in OD while towing.