What is the o2 sensor exactly? What will happen if I remove it? I wanna put in straightpipes or cherrybombs without messing with the o2 if possible. I will be taking everything from the stock headers on through and replacing with custom.

 

It tells the computer to richen or lean out the air/fuel mixture.
Without it the engine will run bad.
You can get pieces to use it in a modified exhaust system.

 

Just make sure you have no leaks upstream or in the vicinity of the o2. Any extra air in the ex. system can make it run fat. The computer will add fuel to compensate for the extra oxygen.

 

cheerybombs and straightpipes would be after the o2 sensor so dont worry about that. i dont know if aftermarket manifold will havea socket for an o2, though some might....maybe you could drill one in? Surely somebody has done what your doing on a OBD I 1st gen truck...anyone?

 

How far back would I have to go before I mess up the o2 sensor? How about the cat converter?

 

i guessthe exaustsorta comes in 3 or four parts. First is trhe exausht manifolds, which run to just past the firewall and become all one piece, and the 02 sensor is in thaton the drivers side. its hard to find you need to get under the engine. then they join at thecolector or watever whichhas a short piece running to the cat, then another peice to muffler, then tailpipe. Anything after the manifold can be manpulated without having to make any changes. really you just need to make sure the headers you buy have a socket for the o2 sensor.

so to answer your question, as long as yopu dont have emissions tests where you are, you can go right from tailpipe to muffler to cat and do watever you like but no changes after the cat unless you make sure you can stick a sensor in em. newer cars have as many as 4 o2 sensors. "upstream" ones are usually after the cat, and "downstream" right in the manifold.

if your gonna hot rod the thing just rip everything off and go to carb.

 

What I was getting at was to use quality headers/manifolds with the o2 bung in 'em if you decide to replace 'em. Cheap headers have thinner flanges at the heads, more prone to blowing gskts. o2 bungs are available separately to weld in the pipe if that's whereyour factory o2 is. Do a good welding job at all joints close to the mtr. The manifolds are 'upstream'.

 

oops. sorry bout gettin that backward

 

You can buy a strap clamp that has a bung already welded on,just choose a location,mark and drill your hole and tighten strap in position.
You can get collector reducers with bungs as well.