Catalytic converters
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Catalytic converters
Hello, I'm looking for some advice... I'm currently doing a restoration of a 1994 f150 with the 302 v8. when I got the truck the previous owner had the original two catalytic converters but had deleted the muffler. Just recently I had the larger cat delete and a muffler put on. The cat I have left combines the two exhaust manifolds and pushes the exhaust into one pipe leading to the muffler. I was told when I went to do this it would effect my gas mileage nor my horse power. But after having this done, my truck seems to do better on gas mileage and has horse power. So I'm wondering if I should go back and remove the last cat, replace the old one, or just leave it be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thanks for you time.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2020
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From: Texas
Hello, I'm looking for some advice... I'm currently doing a restoration of a 1994 f150 with the 302 v8. when I got the truck the previous owner had the original two catalytic converters but had deleted the muffler. Just recently I had the larger cat delete and a muffler put on. The cat I have left combines the two exhaust manifolds and pushes the exhaust into one pipe leading to the muffler. I was told when I went to do this it would effect my gas mileage nor my horse power. But after having this done, my truck seems to do better on gas mileage and has horse power. So I'm wondering if I should go back and remove the last cat, replace the old one, or just leave it be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thanks for you time.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Saskatchewan Canada
There's a good chance your original cats are on the way to being plugged. That's why removing the one cat provided a bit of mileage and power. I agree with Rla2005 that the remaining cat should be replaced with a modern one.
Catalytic converters have become much better and you may notice that modern cars do not have the air injection pump that seems to get so much hate in our trucks. Apparently, modern cats do not require the additional air to be effective, but that is not sufficient reason for an emissions delete should you be subject to one.
Catalytic converters have become much better and you may notice that modern cars do not have the air injection pump that seems to get so much hate in our trucks. Apparently, modern cats do not require the additional air to be effective, but that is not sufficient reason for an emissions delete should you be subject to one.
Hotshot
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Georgia
My neighbor has an identical truck to mine- 96 f-150 with 302 and automatic. He says he removed all the catalytic converters and his truck runs better, but it won’t pass emission test. Duh. Do es anyone here have a system like my neighbor’s? Does it truly run well? Thanks
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
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My neighbor has an identical truck to mine- 96 f-150 with 302 and automatic. He says he removed all the catalytic converters and his truck runs better, but it won’t pass emission test. Duh. Do es anyone here have a system like my neighbor’s? Does it truly run well? Thanks
What part of the emissions test did it fail? Did it also fail the visual if your state does that? I would think that a ‘96 with an automatic is OBD- II so then the check engine light is probably on because the sensor after converter is not seeing the reduced emissions from the catalyst
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Manassas, VA
Oh the joys of OBDII. Love it and hate it.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2021
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Such a timely question sorry for the sort of hijack, but it is about catalytic converters 
. I now have the 351W under the hood and the 302 in the bed. Sadly the exhaust does not bolt up like I was hoping, so I am now trying to figure out if I really need to spend nearly $700 for stainless cat and tubes from Magnaflow, or are the walker or flow master sufficient at a fraction of the price? One of my concerns is sound. What I am ultimately looking/listening for is a nice low growl without any crackling when I get on it or running down the highway.
. I now have the 351W under the hood and the 302 in the bed. Sadly the exhaust does not bolt up like I was hoping, so I am now trying to figure out if I really need to spend nearly $700 for stainless cat and tubes from Magnaflow, or are the walker or flow master sufficient at a fraction of the price? One of my concerns is sound. What I am ultimately looking/listening for is a nice low growl without any crackling when I get on it or running down the highway.
Hotshot
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It won’t bolt up since the 351 is taller and wider than the 302. Is that what problem you’re having? Other than the “Y” pipe everything else should work.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2021
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Anyway, I am thinking that it would be nice to just update everything from the headers back, since it is a fresh rebuild motor and the current exhaust is, well, rather well used. cat back is 15+ years and lord knows how many miles, the cats are probably original.
So back to the original question, it it really worth twice the cost for the full stainless... magnaflow? What about Walker at about 2/3s the cost. I know there will be some sound dampening, but do the different brands have different tones like they do in the actual muffler end of the system?
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
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Can’t help there either. A local shop fabricated the “y” pipe to a high flow Magnaflow catalytic converter the. Into a cheap chambered muffler. I don’t get any drive but from what people tell me it is kind of loud. It doesn’t sound loud in the cab.
Stainless will outlast the galvanized steel.
Stainless will outlast the galvanized steel.
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