I just picked up an 88 f350 with 351. The exhaust manifold leaks and there's a hole in the y pipe. I want to replace with a good stainless system. I don't have to worry about emissions so I might remove the cat. I notice at least 1 o2 sensor maybe more. And what looks like an air pump.
1. What do you guys recommend for a header?
2. What will happen if I disconnect the pump and/or fool with the o2 sensors?
I figure to stick with a single exhaust and I don't want to lose the EFI. I mention that because I know I could just run a carb and eliminate the computer stuff but I like the benefits of EFI.
Thanks for your help.
John

 

A quality set of ceramic coated headers are best.

Keep the EFI and the O2 sensor. Removing the O2 sensor causes the computer to run rich. And gives you that annoying check engine light.

Ditch the air pump, just plug the holes in the back of your heads where the hoses were.

As far as exhaust, most people in this forum like the flowmasters.

 

What excatly do you have to have connected on the air pump. I also am redoing my exhaust, now have manifolds with no O2 sensor and true duals. I want to go to Dynomax headers and exhaust with duals and a balance pipe. What can I about the O2 sensor and can I lose the air pump without computer problems.

90 F-150 302 M5OD and 3.55's True Duals with purple hornies

 

As far as I can tell nothing. Mine is not hooked up. There is no belt on it and all of the hoses and valves and crap are in a box in my garage. So far I have had no problems with it all being removed. It have been a couple of months, 3 months I think. I plugged the holes in the back of the heads with a brass plug and reworked the cat so that there was no outlet for the smog pump to plug into. Works great!!

 

>I just picked up an 88 f350 with 351. The exhaust manifold
>leaks and there's a hole in the y pipe. I want to replace
>with a good stainless system. I don't have to worry about
>emissions so I might remove the cat. I notice at least 1 o2
>sensor maybe more. And what looks like an air pump.
>1. What do you guys recommend for a header?
>2. What will happen if I disconnect the pump and/or fool
>with the o2 sensors?
> I figure to stick with a single exhaust and I don't want to
>lose the EFI. I mention that because I know I could just run
>a carb and eliminate the computer stuff but I like the
>benefits of EFI.
>Thanks for your help.
>John

guys here recommend to go with a high quality long tube header. they say shorty headers are a waste of time. i have an 88 f250 HD 4x4 with the 351w and cannot find long tube headers that have the fittings on them for the "air injection" - you know those little pipes that feed air into each exhaust port from the air pump. i have thought about doing away with them but have read that they really cool the exhaust and manifolds down by injecting air in there. of course it helps emmissions too but you are not worried about that. i just emailed L&L to see if they have headers to fit. will hear back in 24 hrs. they do have headers that fit but no mention of the air injection thing. they do list air injecion for the 460 though so it looks promising.
i have replaced everything else but the manifolds. i went with a 3" single stainless from the "Y" into a 3" high flow cat and muffler. it exits in stock location. it made a difference in performance for sure and it sounds really nice. i belive there is one 02 sensor. hoppe this helps a little.
Rusty.

 

The air injection is used to help burn off unused fuel to lower emissions. I don't know if it would cool anything. I think it would be slightly hotter.

 

Rusty, did you find out if those headers had the air inlets? Here's another question. I plan on getting aftermarket heads like world products or trickflows. Do they have the setup for the pipes or will I just have to lose them. If I lose them anyway and there is no appaerent harm with removing them, why not just do it now? Do any of these places sell a y or h pipe to go tith their headers or is it a custom fit job?
John