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remove catalytic convertor or not?

Old Jun 15, 2011 | 07:44 PM
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Default remove catalytic convertor or not?

New to 2nd gens, and of course my plenum is leaking, I have collected the aluminum plate, etc. I will fix as soon as I get the time,and I plan on doing an exhaust system soon due to my muffler being almost shot and the whole "leaking plenum= clogged cat issue"(also my hunger for squeezing all extra performance I can get), my question is, do I replace my Cat. with a high flow unit or remove it completely?, I do not have any emission regulations where I live, I have never been a fan of catylic convertors, but all my first gens never had the o2 sensors that my new truck has, my gut instinct tells me to go with a high flow cat to keep it at least semi stock, in case I have to sell the truck or move....but I would also love to spend the extra $80-100 that a high flow cat costs on a better exhaust system.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 09:26 PM
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if you put a high flow it, chances are it wont last as long as and OEM, the truck will run a lil hotter and the check engine light will be on, if you eliminate it of course the check engine light will be on, but no chance to have a clogged cat. Also you will notice more black soot.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by C.W.S.
if you put a high flow it, chances are it wont last as long as and OEM, the truck will run a lil hotter...
I have had a hi flow magnaflow cat on for about 5 years now and have had no problems. Nor doesn't it run hotter because of it. Where did you learn that from? Just curious so don't take it as a put down.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 10:19 PM
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it will run hotter with high flow? check engine light come on with high flow? Im not sure if this is what you are saying,this confuses me a little (lasting as long is less of concern) in my head it would make sense that the engine would run cooler as it is ridding itself of the hot exhaust gasses easier,I know that it can't be by much unless my cat is extremely clogged, (true duals and headers will outflow anything) am I wrong in thinking this way? also I was always going to keep my o2 sensors where they are now, pre and post of the high flow cat, so if I kept them, put a high flow cat in between them would this make my check engine light come on?

ALSO...what if I were to eliminate the cat entirely? put a chunk of pipe where the cat was but kept the sensors?....
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by J415
I have had a hi flow magnaflow cat on for about 5 years now and have had no problems. Nor doesn't it run hotter because of it. Where did you learn that from? Just curious so don't take it as a put down.
ditto
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by C.W.S.
if you put a high flow it, chances are it wont last as long as and OEM, the truck will run a lil hotter and the check engine light will be on, if you eliminate it of course the check engine light will be on, but no chance to have a clogged cat. Also you will notice more black soot.
Never heard that before, on any Dodge truck forum...And, my cat has been removed on my 98 Ram for three years...No CEL.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 11:13 PM
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Adobe, you still got your sensors on the pipe?
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 11:26 PM
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I have a hollow cat, both sensors, no non-foulers.... and no codes. Was like that when I got it.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 11:37 PM
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Ok, no cat it is, BUT (so many questions, I know) what if I were to run duals and only had the sensors on one side? they would just read from the 4 cylinders.....
 
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 12:04 AM
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I wouldn't do that. That will really mess up the Pre-cat O2 sensor readings. Reading only 4 of the 8 cylinders would make your pcm think the truck is running crazy lean, so it'll attempt to enrich the mixture to compensate. Expect mileage to plummet as a result. Guys run X pipes and mount the O2 sensor in the middle.

-JT
 
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