hey i have a 97 dodge ram 1500 and i was wondering if it is possible to remove the cat since the O2 censor is mounted on it? I called a bunch of exhaust places and they told me i couldnt because of it censor and it would mess up my computer if i removed the cat. any help?

 

You can as long as you don't live in California. Also, instead of removing it, you can hollow it out.

 

Im from Nebraska. ok so why are the exhaust shops saying it would ruin my computer?

 

theyre trying to cover there *** because federal law states you have to have a catalytic converter on your vehicle or be subject to 100,000 dollar fine and up to 5 years in jail. Here in georgia we dont have emmissions or anything but if your too loud they will pull the mirror out on you and check under your vehicle.

as far as ruining your computer, No it wont. It may throw a CEL or run bad because your 02 tells the computer how much fuel to deliver according to its readings

 

It's against federal law to remove or alter any emission control so they aren't going to tell it's OK to remove it.
They're just covering their ***.

 

Guess I was typing just a little slower than you, Spears. LOL

 

i didnt even know about this law till the other day when i was trying to get prices on exhaust from a shop and they wouldnt talk to me they thought i was the EPA. Im going to order my own pipe and do my own exhaust, screw the law, ill tell em i bought it like that, they cant prove anything and it wont be obnoxiously loud

 

just cut it open and gut it out. still there with all the benefits of removing it.

 

Make sure and take the O2 sensor out before you bash out its guts, otherwise you'll damage it.

I went the high-flow route myself. Basically as good as gutted, legal, and no CEL. Just more expensive. After hollowing out the converter, you may still get a CEL, as the rear sensor may sense that the exhaust isn't being scrubbed like it should.

 

So which would you guys suggest? gut it or go with high flow cats? and which high flow cats would you suggest? Or is there a way to by-pass the O2 censor? i wanna go insane loud. haha small town and everyone loves a loud truck and they guy that did my exhaust said he would remove it if i wished. i guess i just wanted to know if anyone has done it and had any problems with their computers. Right now im runnin just a cat-back with y-pipe with no muffler.