Cat. Converter ???? Please Help

[Bill Boroskey]

Hi Everyone
My first post on the gas forum!

I am having a problem with my 1988 F350 with a 460 7.5L in it. The Cat converter and the Y pipe went on the truck. However its so old I don't want to replace the KITTY to the tune of $600.00 plus list price. Not to mention the air tubes from the Air pump.

Anyway heres the Question. By not replacing it (The KITTY) and putting on a staight pipe
to the muffler and removing the air pump and tubes will I lose power, or maybe gain it? I am worried about not enough Back Pressure.

Anyone out there that can help me????

Does anyone know of a staight pipe that will match up with the Y pipe?

This is killing me its my dump truck and I do Landscaping!!! PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks in advance
Bill


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97 F350 XLT Bright Red, Alpine CD player, Bass tube, 600 watt amp, Western Diesel Systems Turbo Brake, Extra Leaf Springs in the front

[xpracr]

First, I'm pretty sure emissions components are covered by a warranty that runs past the typical 3/36. Check your owners manual.

Second, you will gain power by removing the cat. Especially if it's plugged now. The amount of backpressure you would lose (even compared to a new cat) won't hurt you at all as long as you don't change anything else. It should be fairly close to stock in power.

Third, not sure about where to get it done or to find parts. We have some local parts houses that sell pieces of tubing. As long as it's a straight shot you could have a piece fabbed and install it yourself. Cut it off yourself and drive or trailer it in to have the work done. Alot of guys will install a straight pipe as long as they aren't the one's removing the cat. Slipping a twenty or two to the greasy guy doing the work might help. It's also possible to beat the innards out of the cat body and reinstalling it. This is not the best senario as the odd shape of the cat creates turbulence in the stream and can lower efficiency. It's still way better than a clogged cat!



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Assembler FoMoCo/KTP

[slimedog]

I used to have about 9 89 E350s and I think they had the same cat as you. I went to a Ford factory class once. They said that they made the exhaust real restrictive on them intentionally. If we were to run a muffler or a cat with a lot less restriction it would produce a lot more power, but it might burn up the motor trying to compensate for the lack of backpressure. Does your Y pipe have the Oxygen sensor hole near the cat? check that area for heat cracking too. The mounting flange on our cats was a wide 4 bolt flange where the two y pipes merged so making a "test pipe" might be a tricky thing, you could use the old removed cat flange as a template or cut off the old area where it expands. also when you sell it some states may not allow that modification

[Eric Shaunfield]

You're lucky its an 88. This means there are none of those pesky OBD II downstream O2 sensors to worry about. Because of this you could easily remove the cat (or even modify the WHOLE exhaust system) to make it less restrictive without tripping any engine codes. Any good muffler shop could easily fabricate a replacement Y-pipe that would fit your vehicle. You may have to convince them that the truck is "off-road use only" since removing cats is aginst the law.

The best solution would be to have a new Y-pipe fabricated. However, you may also look into changing out the whole system. If it has some decent miles on it (as an 88 should by now) you could probably swap everything from the collectors back with a new, less restrictive system. If you dual her out make sure you have a crossover pipe put in. This will equalize out the reading the O2 sensor gets and will help with the smoothness of the engine. I wouldn't worry about "burning up an engine" just by changing the exhaust. If you have pipe running from the collector all the way to the back of the truck you have enough backpressure that you don't have to worry about engine damage. If what Ford said in that class was true then they must be using the cheapest exhaust vavles money can buy. I've seen countless Fords, Chevys, and Dodges around here with the stock exhaust removed and replaced with duals (some without any mufflers) and these guy haven't damaged anything yet.....

-Eric


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'98 Chevy K1500 Z-71, RC, LB, 5.7 Vortec, 4L60, 3.42 LS

1981 Skeeter HP 120 16ft bass boat with a 115hp Evinrude

[spoon]

You should be able to find a 'generic' cat from sources such as 'JC Whitney' for around $100. I replaced the 'beanbag' converter on my '87 Sub with a free-flow cat when I put the Gibson cat-back on. Emissions actually improved with the new unit.

BTW: Most (if not all) muffler shops will not remove ANY cat unless it is 'malfunctioning'.

Physical damage (like holes) to the cat is included in that definition.

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2001 F251 Oxford White SRW Lariat CC 156" 4x4 OffRoad Camper Pkg. V10 Auto 3.73LS
Born, KTP: 8-3-00, Delivered 8-29-00

[Bill Boroskey]

Thanks guys.

I have decided to gut the kitty and weld a patch over the air tube holes. I will try this first. I found a muffler and pipes to replace the cat but they will run about $200.00+. Anyway I am just trying to keep this truck on the road a little while longer or at least until I can get a new one WITH a Power Stroke

Thanks again
Bill

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97 F350 XLT Bright Red, Alpine CD player, Bass tube, 600 watt amp, Western Diesel Systems Turbo Brake, Extra Leaf Springs in the front