Good day!
I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota 4x4 club cab 5.9 liter.
I recently replaced intake gaskets with the hughs plenum plate. Truck is doing great. My concerns know are how much oil is trapped in my exhaust system. I am considering doing some modifications to the exhaust system.
1. Remove or replace catalaytic converters.
2. Replace muffler and add flowmaster dual outlet.
3. Headers, remove converters, and dual from front to rear. Custom or already formed system.
What are my options, and how will this effect performance and mileage, heat under hood with headers?
Thanks for anyones infinant wisdom on this endevor.
Darrell Dubree/ 5-string

 

You'll have a better chance of getting this answered here in the 2g Dakota section.

 

wait, why is there oil in the exhaust?

i would do ceramic coated headers, and an aftermarket cat back. Cats or no cats depends on your area, if you can get away with it. You would also need o2 sims to prevent an SES light.

 

Thank you for your reply.
I am assuming that the ceramic coated are for less heat under the hood.
I am not familiar with o2 sims. Is this an oxygen sensor simulator signal.
With that being said, I take it that the converters come off with cat back system.
I like the performance gains of cat backs, but this is a daily driver, and many years ago I would make it loud as I could get it. Unfortunately as you get older you still like the performance with a little less noise, (no offense to anyone). I am for removing converters if necessary, but I would like to find a nice sound but not real loud. My daughter is driving my old 97 Dakota, it has a flow master, single in dual out. It has a great sound, but I would prefer just a little less noise.
Thanks
Darrell

 

yes. it makes a world of difference vs non coated.

yes. just for the one after the cat. that sensors sole purpose is to detect cat efficiency.

no. the cat is before the the 'cat back' system. Its in the downpipe, or what old school guys called the header pipe.

And I agree that i dont like loud exhaust. Flowmasters sound great, so if you want it quieter in the cab, get one of their Delta Flow series. Designed with people like you and me in mind. Quiet inside, decent rumble outside.

 

i didnt think you needed an 02 sim if you get a hiflow or remove the stock cat. as long as it reads different from the pre cats its fine just to zip tie it to the frame.

 

zip tieing it to the frame wont work. an o2 sensor wont give a voltage if it doesn't get hot in the exaust. they need to be over 600 degrees to start to work. that is why they make o2 simulaters. you can usualy get them from summit or jegs.