On the 4.6 is it possible to replace the cats as a unit without dropping the trans crossmember?

[MyExplorer03v8Lim]

The heads were snapped off my crossmember bolts, so just yesterday I had the crossmember welded to the frame.

ON THE WAY HOME from my welder, the P0420 code came on for the fourth time in as many weeks.

I have been avoiding this cat replacement job until I can figure out exactly what's fouling them (suspect internal intake coolant leak), but since the code keeps coming back, the project is now priority 1.

I don't feel like having the welds removed so soon after doing them, so I'm wondering if it's even possible to get the cats out without dropping the crossmember. Am I crazy?

 

[hlg99]

Ouch, not sure about the '04 but the chiltons for my '08 says to drop the crossmember.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

there's a way to get rid of that p0420 without replacing the cats.. pm me for more info..

 

[Drewmcg]

I'm interested in the answer to the O.P.'s question for the 4.0 SOHC engine (I doubt there's a difference), in both 2wd and 4x4 configurations.