exhaust improvement

[expo5.0]

does anyone have any experience with headers or removing some or all of the cats under my 96 x 5.0. I have kn air filter and intake and flowmaster three inch but I'm looking for more power. It seems like the granatelli mass air sensor is not a good way to go. Has anyone gone from my position to adding headers or a throttle body spacer? How about changing the cats. My truck has 95,000 miles on it could they be burned out. does anyone know what happens if you remove their restrictive inards and leave them in place. How would that affect the 02 sensors. Anyone who can point me toward horsepower under a thousand dollars would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mrboyle]

The cats are the wrong place to look for power. They are there for a reason and removal/ gutting them will actually hurt your performance, and yes they do affect the O2 sensor readings. The chance of them being bad is slim to none, unless you have had major engine problems (like blown head gaskets).

Your best bet would be headers.

 

[01EB5.0]

If i were you i would get a nice set of headers and a set of high flow cats. do not gut the cats. get a high flow one and you'll notice some power. you have to think where the bottlenecks arte in your system now. basically the bottle necks are the throttle body, and the stock exhaust from the flowmaster forward.

 

[Robert]

In addition to what Mike said, if you gut your cats and register your Explorer in Phoenix it won't come close to passing the emissions check. If you register in Minneapolis then it might not be a concern unless you ever get any kind of exhaust work done and they turn you in.

 

[expo5.0]

thanks guys. which headers or throttle body spacer would you recommend

 

[gt_stang88]

I'm not for sure but since your X is OBD-II you sould have an 02 sensor before and after the cat. If you gut the cat the second 02 sensor will pick it up and the check engine will come on and engine might run poor.