O2 sensors: i need help

[werty]

here is the question...

i have jba headers and exhuast on my truck. in between them are 4 separate catalytic converters. I'm pretty much satisfied with the set up as in, but im looking for as much power as i can get, so im taking it in to a shop to have custom y-pipe and straight pipe all the way to the jba muffler. This would eliminate 4 converters, however....this is also where 2 O2 sensers are located. So can the o2 sensers be placed into these straight pipes and still work, or can they be eliminated all together without me having the "check engine" light always on.

side note, im keeping the stock pipes and converters for any future emission tests

[johnnynumfiv]

Just leave them outside the pipe. Make a bracket for them to rest on and put something like a pvc pipe around them so they don't get damaged.

[fpv_gtho]

You should keep the catalytic converters on there regardless.

I'd imagine without the sensors your economy would go through the roof and the engine would be running rough, so its not worth the trouble.

What diameter exhaust are you running up to the muffler?

[TheOne]

look for O2 sensor simulators or eliminators, there are companies that sell o2 elim for mustangs cause many ppl take out the cats(99 and up usually), and well that would leave the 2nd o2's out, so installin a o2 eliminator fixes the problem and not throw a code.(sry dun have links but i do know those exist as my brother had to use'em for his mustang, he put an off-road(no cats) x-pipe)

[werty]

You should keep the catalytic converters on there regardless.

I'd imagine without the sensors your economy would go through the roof and the engine would be running rough, so its not worth the trouble.

What diameter exhaust are you running up to the muffler?

ok ive decided to keep the sensrs, but i would mount them into the new custom straight pipes...will the absense of cats make the o2 act up?

so it would be headers>y pipe>straight pipe with sensors>muffler>rear exist pipe

the jba exhuast is 2.5 inches...so is the current y pipe/cats

[johnnynumfiv]

Yea, they will make the car run lean because it detects that there is too much whatevers in the exhaust.

[werty]

Yea, they will make the car run lean because it detects that there is too much whatevers in the exhaust.

hmmm, what about with a progammer chip, ive been saving for it as well, i wonder if it could recalibrate it???

[TheOne]

i believe they wont really make the car run leaner or so, it will give you a CEL though as the emissions from be the same from what they are supposed to be reading after the cats, they're usually there just to tell if the cats are there and are working.

again, search the web, there's O2 sensor eliminators and/or simulators that wont throw a cel and will let you pass state inspection.(if this is a 96 and up model)

[fpv_gtho]

Is it actually legal to remove the cats in the US, or just very common...

[johnnynumfiv]

It's very common, the only time you have to worry about it is on emmissions tests(cars 25 years or older are exempt, along with cars 5 years or newer) here they are every year or two.