Do I have to replace the cat?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Do I have to replace the cat?
Putting a all new exhaust on the 80 I-6 and was going to just delete the cat if its not required or needed to be on there considering the year. Thoughts or experience doing this? Thanks
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
It is required by federal law, all 50 states. But some states do not have inspections, so if it's taken off, there is no one to give you any grief. It's one of the few things they do check for in Va inspections. You will have to fabricate something if you want to get rid of it. Most exhaust shops in my state will not take it off. And if your truck is all original with all the original emissions on it, taking it off will affect the EGR operation. You may get some pinging problems from it if it's all stock and you take it off. Been there, done that.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,898
Likes: 4,120
From: Angier, NC
Franklin is right on what he posted.
Now my 81 with 1 300 six we don't have inspections and all the emission stuff has been removed so when I went with EFI exh. manifolds the new Y pipe comes with the cat.
I was also hooking the Y pipe to a almost new long bed system on my short bed truck so I left the cat off and used a short pipe to join the 2 pipes together.
Now I did have pinging but I never drove the truck when I first got it, took it all apart for cab off frame rebuild, so I don't know if it was there before I did this or not.
I think it was as nothing was hooked up under the hood as it was used on a farm.
I have not checked where my timing is at to start with but have adjusted the vacuum advance can on the dist. and that helped a lot.
The other thing I found to help is to run mid grade or better yet high test gas over regular gas.
Dave ----
Now my 81 with 1 300 six we don't have inspections and all the emission stuff has been removed so when I went with EFI exh. manifolds the new Y pipe comes with the cat.
I was also hooking the Y pipe to a almost new long bed system on my short bed truck so I left the cat off and used a short pipe to join the 2 pipes together.
Now I did have pinging but I never drove the truck when I first got it, took it all apart for cab off frame rebuild, so I don't know if it was there before I did this or not.
I think it was as nothing was hooked up under the hood as it was used on a farm.
I have not checked where my timing is at to start with but have adjusted the vacuum advance can on the dist. and that helped a lot.
The other thing I found to help is to run mid grade or better yet high test gas over regular gas.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Thank you gents. I'll just replace it then. All the smog stuff is still in place and I have no plans to remove it. I'm not 100 % but I don't think Texas does smog on a 40 year old truck but I don't want to cause any issues where I have none. I;m replacing the entire exhaust from the manifold back cause it's in terrible shape.I was just going to remove the entire run and drop it off at the shop and have them build it like for like and bring home and reinstall. Thank you!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Thank you gents. I'll just replace it then. All the smog stuff is still in place and I have no plans to remove it. I'm not 100 % but I don't think Texas does smog on a 40 year old truck but I don't want to cause any issues where I have none. I;m replacing the entire exhaust from the manifold back cause it's in terrible shape.I was just going to remove the entire run and drop it off at the shop and have them build it like for like and bring home and reinstall. Thank you!!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
It depends on where you live. Some places are very strict, some don't care at all. We are about in the middle in Va. They are hot on catalytic converters and smog pumps here.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Yep, I cant say about other places but I know here in Texas, they dont care much when it comes to safety inspections. I used to do state inspections and I quickly learned I was the only one trying to go by the book and quickly learned to save time by over looking emission components on safety only inspections.
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,898
Likes: 4,120
From: Angier, NC
Yep, I cant say about other places but I know here in Texas, they dont care much when it comes to safety inspections. I used to do state inspections and I quickly learned I was the only one trying to go by the book and quickly learned to save time by over looking emission components on safety only inspections.
In CT if from out of state or over 10 years old it had to get a safety before getting a plate.
Now if it must have a cat but don't want the "guts" cut open the top and gut it and weld it back up keeping the weld at the top.
I have seen them check with a mirror if you have a cat and if its been cut open on the bottom never at the top as they would need to get on the ground and mirror on the top of the cat.
Now where did I put my cat test pipe
Dave ----
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,591
Likes: 1,171
From: San Jose, CA
In addition to what the others have already said Castaway, you really don't "need" to replace it just because you're doing a new exhaust. If it's still working and free-flowing enough, there's nothing that says you can't just put the new exhaust on around it. Most of your changes will be made after the cat anyway, so it might just make the addition easier and much less expensive.
That's what I would do in fact. I've replaced cats when needed, and even added them when I did not have one in a couple of instances, but if one is still working fine I'd just build the new exhaust around it.
Now, if you're going for max performance, a freeer flowing cat from someone like Magnaflow could be just the ticket. Otherwise the stock one will still allow some performance gains by a mild exhaust upgrade.
Paul
That's what I would do in fact. I've replaced cats when needed, and even added them when I did not have one in a couple of instances, but if one is still working fine I'd just build the new exhaust around it.
Now, if you're going for max performance, a freeer flowing cat from someone like Magnaflow could be just the ticket. Otherwise the stock one will still allow some performance gains by a mild exhaust upgrade.
Paul
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
02dynadude
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jul 17, 2013 01:01 AM