Here in the great state of CA(joke) we have to smog our diesels. I was thinking of gutting the cat and putting a cat back 4in exhaust on the truck. Has anyone ever gut their cat? problems, things to look for? etc. Anyone have any pics of a cat internals? I have a about 190K on the clock now and I'm sure the cat is plugged up a bit. Just looking to make the 6.0L run more efficient.

 

My cat fell off the inside looks like screen wire.

 

Moved to the 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel forum.

 

I am lookin' to do the same, for off-road use, of course. Report back when done on how it went, lessons learned...

 

I gutted that bit$* as soon as I bought it lol. I just rammed a pipe through it with my log splitter it is very tough stuff. It looks like very small honey comb. No problems to report. There is also a resinator or smething on the down pipe that I cut open looks like a motor bike exhaust inside. And the muffler had to come off.

 

OMG, you really used a log splitter? humm...

 

If I were you I would get a "test pipe" instead of gutting the cat...that way you can put the cat back on when you go for emissions testing. I wouldn't destroy such an expensive part.

 

yeah I took the wedge off and used a pipe and pushed it through. I couldent get that stuff to come out no matter what I did. 33ton log splitter made the job easy lol. I also used the splitter to take out some u joints for my brother

 

ahh good point we dont have emissions testing here so it dident even cross my mind.

 

check this out Catalytic Converters Ford 6.0L Power Stroke

 

It's aluminum honeycombed with palladium coating, That cat is probably worth $60 to $100 for scrap. Tweakers steal them around here. The recyclers recover the palladium by disolving the aluminum with sulphiric acid.

 

I'd check out the Magnaflow real close to be sure it's legal in Ca...they have to have an E.O. # issued by the state.

Test pipe...86 bucks

MBRP Performance Exhaust

http://mbrpautomotive.com/index.php?...ts&part=FAL414

 

dang steve they must give you guys a hard time down there. I wasent suggesting he buy one I just seen it and thought it was neat

The best thing you can do is get a test pipe like steve said. A friend of mine does that down in oregon it sounds really easy.

 

I'm sure some places are tougher than others, but no matter where you go you've got to have all the emissions stuff intact, and if there are any aftermarket parts (intakes, etc...) they have to have a sticker with an E.O. number.

 

I checked out those Magnaflow cats, they are 'high flow' and are available in differing sizes of pipe (IIRC 3.5" TO 5") so are an easy install regardless of exhaust tubing size.

Unfortunately, as Steve points out, they are currently not available with a California E.O. #, so are theoretically 49 state only.

Not saying one would not work, but a savvy smog guy may notice it is not OEM, and start looking closer.

They are a nice piece though.