5.0 V-8 Explorer-Mountaineer exhaust question

[yellow coupe]

I have a 97 Mountaineer and I am getting a P0430 code (catalyst efficiency bank 2). My question is. If I am going to have to replace the cat I would like to put high flow cats on and just have 2 cats and a flowmaster. From what I can see now, there are 4 cats on the 5.0. 2 before the second 02 sensor and 2 after. Can the exhaust be done to just have 2 cats and not trigger a CEL? If anyone has done this input would be appreciated. Also, which flowmaster to use so I don't get the highway drone?
Thanks

 

[Dan Whitaker]

You can remove the rear cats with out setting off the CEL as they are down stream of the O2 sensors.

Techieman33 had a Flowmaster 50 series dual in single out that sounded nice with little drone. Stay away from the 40 series as they are some droning SOB's.

 

[X~FACTOR]

40 series has one SOB rumble at idle.

 

[yellow coupe]

Well, I guess having to replace the cats at 215,000 isn't too bad. LOL.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

40 series has one SOB rumble at idle.

They may sound o.k. on 6 banger but they sound like **** on a 5.0 IMO Especially with the rear cats deleted.

 

[Turdle]

Before you replace the cats, I would swap the rear 02 sensors side to side and clear the codes--
lets see if you get the same code to re set which would mean a bad front catalytic converter,

or just maybe the code will move to the other bank, which would indicate the 02 sensor is bad.

Another thing to check for is an egr leak either in the main egr tube, or on one of the DPFE hoses.

I would do these free checks before shelling out the dough for new cat converters.

 

[yellow coupe]

Before you replace the cats, I would swap the rear 02 sensors side to side and clear the codes--
lets see if you get the same code to re set which would mean a bad front catalytic converter,

or just maybe the code will move to the other bank, which would indicate the 02 sensor is bad.

Another thing to check for is an egr leak either in the main egr tube, or on one of the DPFE hoses.

I would do these free checks before shelling out the dough for new cat converters.

All 4 O2 sensors were replaced less than 3 months ago. Mine is an early 97. It doesn't have the egr tube. It has the internal egr.
Thanks for the suggestions. I wish it was a cheap fix.

 

[yellow coupe]

Well, I had a Magnaflow high flow cat installed in place of the one that showed to be bad. It's been 2 days now and no cel. Now I just have to get a high flow installed in place of the other main cat, do away with the rear cats and have a flowmaster installed. In the next couple of weeks I hope.