04 Ranger 3.0L - 3 CATS: Remove one?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
04 Ranger 3.0L - 3 CATS: Remove one?
Hey Guys,
I'm about 2 weeks into my "new" Ranger and am sort of looking ahead to doing a little exhaust work to let her breathe a little better.
I noticed there are 3 CATS, 2 of which (right out of each exhaust manifold) have an O2 sensor mounted downstream. There is no O2 sensor after the third CAT, which is fed by the 2 upper ones (DISO) and who's output goes directly to the muffler.
Question: If I plan to put on a Flowmaster muffler, is there any reason why I can't remove the third CAT? Texas uses the OBDII diag exclusively for emissions tesing (no tailpipe sniffer) so would removing that third CAT alert the PCM in some way?
Thanks for any responses.
CMOS
I'm about 2 weeks into my "new" Ranger and am sort of looking ahead to doing a little exhaust work to let her breathe a little better.
I noticed there are 3 CATS, 2 of which (right out of each exhaust manifold) have an O2 sensor mounted downstream. There is no O2 sensor after the third CAT, which is fed by the 2 upper ones (DISO) and who's output goes directly to the muffler.
Question: If I plan to put on a Flowmaster muffler, is there any reason why I can't remove the third CAT? Texas uses the OBDII diag exclusively for emissions tesing (no tailpipe sniffer) so would removing that third CAT alert the PCM in some way?
Thanks for any responses.
CMOS
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
There is nothing to be gained by removing the CAT. You may want to do some investigating about the Flowmaster muffler, they make the most obnoxious "DROAN" sound with a V-6 at highway speeds......
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Not really. The first cats basically do all of the catalization (that a word?). Anything downstream of the first cat doesn't do too much.
It's a felony and will not pass a visual inspection. I'm not sure about Houston, but up here around Dallas, a visual is part of the inspection, whether the OBD-2 passes or not.
Flowmaster does have a nasty droan around 2000 RPMs. I went with a Classic Chambered muffler, got much the same sound, but without drone at any RPM.
That being said, I had a Flowmaster 40 with dual rear exits and it wasn't too bad, at highway speeds (60-75) it wasn't all that bad of a drone, the radio drained it out pretty easy (and my radio wasn't that nice back then). After I dumped the exhaust and just had the muffler with two turndowns it got quite bad.
The other series of Flowmasters aren't as bad though.
It's a felony and will not pass a visual inspection. I'm not sure about Houston, but up here around Dallas, a visual is part of the inspection, whether the OBD-2 passes or not.
Flowmaster does have a nasty droan around 2000 RPMs. I went with a Classic Chambered muffler, got much the same sound, but without drone at any RPM.
That being said, I had a Flowmaster 40 with dual rear exits and it wasn't too bad, at highway speeds (60-75) it wasn't all that bad of a drone, the radio drained it out pretty easy (and my radio wasn't that nice back then). After I dumped the exhaust and just had the muffler with two turndowns it got quite bad.
The other series of Flowmasters aren't as bad though.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
I am considering the Flowmaster Series 50 because I just want a little bit more and deeper sound. I don't want to wake up the neighbors or anything like that.
Would the Flowmaster Series 50 also have that "obnoxious drone" (seeing as how the exhaust has got to go through 3 CATS first)?
UPDATE: I'm going to keep all the CATS. I just want to understand what a good sounding muffler will be. Comments on the above Flowmaster Series 50 appreciated.
Thanks,
CMOS
Would the Flowmaster Series 50 also have that "obnoxious drone" (seeing as how the exhaust has got to go through 3 CATS first)?
UPDATE: I'm going to keep all the CATS. I just want to understand what a good sounding muffler will be. Comments on the above Flowmaster Series 50 appreciated.
Thanks,
CMOS
Last edited by CMOS; Feb 18, 2007 at 03:21 PM.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
RP,
I'm planning (thus far) to use the Flowmaster Series 50 SISO and dump the tailpipe out just forward of the rear tire (passenger side).
CMOS
I'm planning (thus far) to use the Flowmaster Series 50 SISO and dump the tailpipe out just forward of the rear tire (passenger side).
CMOS
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
CMOS...you might like this picture...I've got a single exit from my CC muffler right in front of the passenger tire...this will sorta let you see what it looks like on a Ranger, even if it's ten years older than yours.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...engerSmall.jpg
The hardest part about it was making it fit...I used the shortest muffler Classic Chambered offered (I'll have to do a size comparison with the Flowmaster), and I still had to have the muffler shop slightly bend the pipe back to make it work, made my welding fun too. I've got an underbody pic of how it's configured if you'd like that as well.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...engerSmall.jpg
The hardest part about it was making it fit...I used the shortest muffler Classic Chambered offered (I'll have to do a size comparison with the Flowmaster), and I still had to have the muffler shop slightly bend the pipe back to make it work, made my welding fun too. I've got an underbody pic of how it's configured if you'd like that as well.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
it WILL decrease pressures in your exaust and you still might have o2 problems.....
Matt
Matt
What will decrease exhaust pressures? Any aftermarket muffler or do you mean a specific brand?
CMOS
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
removing cats. i would highly recommend you do not. i have removed mine and it eats o2 sensors for breakfast
Matt
Matt
Understood.
See my above posts. I state that I intend to keep the CATS.
CMOS
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
CMOS, I'd had the Flowmaster 40 series. I liked it...but it was too stereotypical of aftermarket mufflers for me. Everyone and their grandmother (including mine) has a Flowmaster around here.
I stumbled across the CC mufflers on accident actually, and figured I'd give them a shot since the price couldn't be beat. They were of high quality when I first saw them upon delivery (which only took three days).
The best way I could describe it would be sort of a Flowmaster, but a much more pure sound, not so loud as to be obtrusive, but noticeable. And absolutely loud as hell when you get on it and rev 'er out. I couldn't be happier.
Here's the tightness of the space:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...haustSmall.jpg
I stumbled across the CC mufflers on accident actually, and figured I'd give them a shot since the price couldn't be beat. They were of high quality when I first saw them upon delivery (which only took three days).
The best way I could describe it would be sort of a Flowmaster, but a much more pure sound, not so loud as to be obtrusive, but noticeable. And absolutely loud as hell when you get on it and rev 'er out. I couldn't be happier.
Here's the tightness of the space:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...haustSmall.jpg
Last edited by RangerPilot; Feb 19, 2007 at 09:48 AM.
