superchip for hollowed cats
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL, USA
superchip for hollowed cats
Hi, I have a 99 4.6L F150, and i'd like to hollow out the catalytic converters (truck is used for off road use only) and i was wondering if my superchip could be reprogram so that the computer and the Oxygen sensors would still think as though the cats are in place.
In other words, i don't want the cats, but I don't want the computer to know. Is this possible?
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Currently:
1999 Black F150, 4.6L 5spd manual, reg. cab, long bed, 3.55, 60/40 split bench cloth seats, black vinyl floor, K&N air filter with partial open box mod., Home Made Cold Air Intake, 10 disc sony cd changer, Wet Okole seat covers, Superchip, 285/60/16 tires, Seat belt cushions, silencer removed.
Future:
4.10 gear, auburn dif, MSD-DIS 4, 3" Ultra-flow exhaust, and maybe NOS, maybe supercharger.
ET:
16.87 @ 86.0 (as of 7/1/00)
In other words, i don't want the cats, but I don't want the computer to know. Is this possible?
------------------
Currently:
1999 Black F150, 4.6L 5spd manual, reg. cab, long bed, 3.55, 60/40 split bench cloth seats, black vinyl floor, K&N air filter with partial open box mod., Home Made Cold Air Intake, 10 disc sony cd changer, Wet Okole seat covers, Superchip, 285/60/16 tires, Seat belt cushions, silencer removed.
Future:
4.10 gear, auburn dif, MSD-DIS 4, 3" Ultra-flow exhaust, and maybe NOS, maybe supercharger.
ET:
16.87 @ 86.0 (as of 7/1/00)
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Dissonance,
Long time, no "see"!
Just to give you some info, the catalytic converters used on these vehicles are very low-restriction, having only 2.0 - 2.5 backpressure. So you're not going to pick up any substantial power gains by doing this, you might see literally 3-4 hp at high rpms, like 5000+ rpm. That being the case, I wouldn't bother doing it, but that's me.
To answer your question, sometimes we need to make an adjustment for this in the program, sometimes we do not. If you are absolutely determined to do this, what we suggest is removing them (or gutting them, whatever you're going to do) and then see if we pick up any driveability issues, or a check engine light. If so, we can usually do a custom program adjustment for that. In most cases, as long as you do not change the location of the O2 sensors, you usually don't have a problem.
Again, you're not going to see a significant power gain from doing this iin a stock engine. Now if you had major modifications, and that engine was making 400+ horsepwoer, then sure, we'd say go for it in an offroad situation if you want, but unless that engine is making a lot more power over stock, you just don't see a good power gain from doing this in most cases.
Years ago cats *were* a source of significant restriction, giving 5 to as much as 7 pounds of backpressure, but that hasn't been the case for a number of years now.
Best of luck, whatever you decide, and nice to see you back here again.
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Long time, no "see"!
Just to give you some info, the catalytic converters used on these vehicles are very low-restriction, having only 2.0 - 2.5 backpressure. So you're not going to pick up any substantial power gains by doing this, you might see literally 3-4 hp at high rpms, like 5000+ rpm. That being the case, I wouldn't bother doing it, but that's me.
To answer your question, sometimes we need to make an adjustment for this in the program, sometimes we do not. If you are absolutely determined to do this, what we suggest is removing them (or gutting them, whatever you're going to do) and then see if we pick up any driveability issues, or a check engine light. If so, we can usually do a custom program adjustment for that. In most cases, as long as you do not change the location of the O2 sensors, you usually don't have a problem.
Again, you're not going to see a significant power gain from doing this iin a stock engine. Now if you had major modifications, and that engine was making 400+ horsepwoer, then sure, we'd say go for it in an offroad situation if you want, but unless that engine is making a lot more power over stock, you just don't see a good power gain from doing this in most cases.
Years ago cats *were* a source of significant restriction, giving 5 to as much as 7 pounds of backpressure, but that hasn't been the case for a number of years now.
Best of luck, whatever you decide, and nice to see you back here again.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL, USA
Hey, Mike, whats up. Although i don't write much, i'm always around, reading what you guys are writing.
Mike, i was planning on putting a NOS setup, an MSD DIS 4 setup, and I'll also be driving it without the air filter (for drag race), so because of these things, I figured that i should go and hollow the cats. First gear picks up fine, and second is a bit slow, but the third gear takes too long. I've got the 4.10 gears waiting for me at home, but i'll have to wait a couple of weeks because of the hurricane that's near by, scheduled to hit me on friday/saturday. So this weekend is shot for me. Any how, I've updated my signature. It shows that i've got the pulleys, and a good muffler. And my latest 1/4 time was a 15.32 @ 99.1. I might be able to do the 1/4 quicker if i had better traction.
Mike, if i hollow the cats, will the computer cause the air/fuel mixture to run lean or rich?
------------------
Currently:
1999 Black F150, 4.6L 5spd manual, reg. cab, long bed, 3.55, 60/40 split bench cloth seats, black vinyl floor, K&N air filter with partial open box mod., Home Made Cold Air Intake, 10 disc sony cd changer, Wet Okole seat covers, Superchip, 285/60/16 tires, silencer removed, steeda Underdrive pulleys, Flowmaster 40 series.
Future:
4.10 gear, auburn dif, MSD-DIS 4, and NOS.
ET:
15.32 @ 99.1 (as of 8/18/00)
Mike, i was planning on putting a NOS setup, an MSD DIS 4 setup, and I'll also be driving it without the air filter (for drag race), so because of these things, I figured that i should go and hollow the cats. First gear picks up fine, and second is a bit slow, but the third gear takes too long. I've got the 4.10 gears waiting for me at home, but i'll have to wait a couple of weeks because of the hurricane that's near by, scheduled to hit me on friday/saturday. So this weekend is shot for me. Any how, I've updated my signature. It shows that i've got the pulleys, and a good muffler. And my latest 1/4 time was a 15.32 @ 99.1. I might be able to do the 1/4 quicker if i had better traction.
Mike, if i hollow the cats, will the computer cause the air/fuel mixture to run lean or rich?
------------------
Currently:
1999 Black F150, 4.6L 5spd manual, reg. cab, long bed, 3.55, 60/40 split bench cloth seats, black vinyl floor, K&N air filter with partial open box mod., Home Made Cold Air Intake, 10 disc sony cd changer, Wet Okole seat covers, Superchip, 285/60/16 tires, silencer removed, steeda Underdrive pulleys, Flowmaster 40 series.
Future:
4.10 gear, auburn dif, MSD-DIS 4, and NOS.
ET:
15.32 @ 99.1 (as of 8/18/00)
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Dissonance,
WOW!! That is a *great* ET for a 4.6 5-speed, excellent!!
If you hollow out the cats, which we still don't recommend, but if you do, as long as the O2 sensors remain unchanged, it should be OK.
Since you are going to run nitrous, you might want to think about installing aftermarket high-flo cats, but that's up to you of course.
What you might want to do is just remove them, and replace them with straight pipe, so you'll have them on hand should a problem come up.
With 4.10 gears & NOS, that truck is going to be flying!
By the way, don't try to run nitrous with your Superchip, it has way too much timing in it for that to be safe, ok? If you want, we can do a Flip Chip where you'll have one program to use all the time, and then another for use only with nitrous, so the motor is fully protected. Most nitrous kits install with a microswitch on the TPS so it's only engaged at WOT.
Give us a a shout if you like and we can go over that with you, so you can give it some thought.
That's one quick 4.6!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
WOW!! That is a *great* ET for a 4.6 5-speed, excellent!!
If you hollow out the cats, which we still don't recommend, but if you do, as long as the O2 sensors remain unchanged, it should be OK.
Since you are going to run nitrous, you might want to think about installing aftermarket high-flo cats, but that's up to you of course.
What you might want to do is just remove them, and replace them with straight pipe, so you'll have them on hand should a problem come up.
With 4.10 gears & NOS, that truck is going to be flying!
By the way, don't try to run nitrous with your Superchip, it has way too much timing in it for that to be safe, ok? If you want, we can do a Flip Chip where you'll have one program to use all the time, and then another for use only with nitrous, so the motor is fully protected. Most nitrous kits install with a microswitch on the TPS so it's only engaged at WOT.
Give us a a shout if you like and we can go over that with you, so you can give it some thought.
That's one quick 4.6!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
