Read the 'Exhaust guide', outstanding. Searched and read many threads on Catalytic replacement, all helped.
'97 F-150 4.6 w/2WD - supercab - Believe (?) from reading it has 4 cats. Was CA legal, bought in CA. Moved to AZ and live in a County that does NO smog requirements. BUT believe that the CATs (from reading here) should be maintained and thinking of the Magna product (I have a long installed Gibson Catback and like it, not noisy, etc)

So I can go with Hi-Flow, just use left and right (two total) and save a lot on not using the CA legal, dealer installed... or am I reading everything wrong?

Read that 'no cats' can effect engine CEL and also may smell? Don't want it and don't want tons of noise. The 4.6 has 226K on it and never been opened, runs very well and just want to do the 'best' I can to maintain.

Many thanks for suggestions or comments!

 

Anyone have a thought on the 'idea' of using the MagnaFlow product , one on each side?

 

Yes one High flow per side. Don't know the part number off the top of my head tho.

 

Are you or a shop doing this?

 

JBrew,
Shop going to do it ... I've done a lot of little things a few moderate changes by myself but I want a pro to put in the Magaflows - AZ does not smog in my county but I think keeping the 'hi flow' cats is a good idea.

Appreciate the responses very MUCH! Thanks.

 

DANG!
Okay, well... Magna Flow "may not" be the way to go for those with F-150s from CA (and no longer there and no longer needing to pass emissions) as "IT SEEMS" the Magna Flow have 'three oxygen' sensors... not the normal two? (and thoughts appreciated)...

I was going to buy, I "believe" (from comments and investigation) the 'single cat' hi
flow product (part #s 93321 and 93323 ) however they appear to have three oxygen sensors - this link shows the products (http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com...ytic-Converter) and I put in '97 F-150 with 4.5 V8 and Now I don't know if I have to somehow block up the additional oxygen sensor.

Anyone with any experience on this, please drop a note, appreciate it!!

 

Forget the direct fit. Go with universal. I am on my second set of hiflows part# 94136, I'll double check that with my paperwork. They come with the O2 bung already in place. Far cheaper too. And I have to deal with etests every 2 years. Also to help save you some cash, make sure you ask the shop to give you back all of the old cats they take off. Take them to a scrap metal dealer to get some free $$. When I first took out my stock cats a few years ago I got $200 for them from the scrap dealer, good deal since the cost of the hiflows was only $140.

 

Thank you 97XL -
I will MOST definitelywill look into this item number. I have (4.6 V8) "two" O2 sensors so will see what the universal number is for one with those double sensors...

Greatly appreicate your help!

Doc

 

His also has two 02 sensors. I believe, usually the front one goes in the pipe between the manifold and the cat. The down stream one is the one that goes in or behind the cat.

 

Will double check. 'Thought' his only had a single on each one. No doubt there will be a Magna Flow with two for a Universal... been looking.

Is (I'm not sure) the O2 sensor actually 'on' the CAT or 'just' before on the pipe? And just after, on the pipe? I need to look under my truck again, forgetting things.

Thanks!!

 

Get the one where the rear O2 sensor gets screwed into the cat. Then the front O2 ,I believe, goes either on the manifold or on the pipe in between the cat and manifold

 

"Then the front O2 ,I believe, goes either on the manifold or on the pipe in between the cat and manifold"
Yes, I am seeing one at Troyer... will check it out...
Many thanks!!!!

 

Correct, the upstream O2 sensor is located on the downpipe of the exhaust manifold. At least it is for the 4.2L.

Great place to look is hottexhaust.com

I got mine from summitracing.com same price as hottexhaust.com

Correction for the ones I got part# 91036.

I have seen some universal cat with 2 O2 bungs in them but I would think that you would need an O2 harness extention for the front O2 sensor.

 

Thanks 97!
Will check the links. Troyer has a nice description of the Universals and indicates they "do" fit the 4.6V8.
I believe other Universals (Walker) point the O2 sensor nearly straight up, won't clear.
MagnaFlow "seems" the way to go although "THEY" (directly) tried to sell me the CA legal (and I no longer live there nor need to pass emissions) CATS at full price! Not nice ;^)
Apprciate "all" the help here!!!!

 

Update -
This is the one that seems to fit the F-150 from '97 to 2003...
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...niversal=94306
If the vehicle has four cats, you only need 2 of these to replace all 4 factory cats.
Hoping the exhaust shop doesn't try to overcharge... figure $100 to weld it in... on both.
Won't buy direct from Magna Flow -
Will advise. Thanks