I have a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L. I just redid my cylinder heads, replaced head gaskets, etc... Anyways I installed a pair of headers on the truck to increase some exhaust flow. I just put my new Catalytic Converter on today and fired it up and it idled perfect.. Then, after driving for a good 5 minutes or less, it starts to backfire. Its not constantly backfiring, but its getting annoying. Anybody know why it would do this? It backfired worse with straight headers, maybe once I get a muffler, it will reduce the backpressure??

Second, a transmission line fitting going into the top left part of my radiator stripped and its PUKING out tranny fluid. I took the nut and washer off, but I can seem to get the fitting out. Is there a way I can do this?

Thanks!

 

A muffler would increase backpressure and that might help. It sounds like you're getting so much flow that it's pulling unburned fuel out and igniting it there in your high flowing exhaust. Is it a pop or a gurgle. I'd imagine a muffler out to get it back in line.

If that fitting is anything like mine, no. Pretty much f'd. Remove the lines from the radiator completely, cut the tips off (just don't cut down enough to cut off the temp flow thingy), flair them and run hoses to an aux cooler and mount it to the front. Or, replace the entire radiator.