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header vs. manifold

I

i will end you

CEG'er
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
60
well it seems as though i need to replace my precats/primary cat. i havnt checked them out due to a hand injury that keeps me from working on my car, but i was wondering if anyone new what a set of new precats and primary cat cost? also do the precats come off of the manifolds or is it one piece. and if i do go wit the headers how do the mil simulators work? ive never had to use anything like that before so im trying to gather all the info im going to need to make the most cost efective decision. i dont mind picking up the hp the headers bring to the table. but being as im always short on cash i need to find the cheapest solution. i would just gut the cats i have now but im not sure i would still have to use the simulators or not and also i have to pass emissions. whats the best rout to go?
 
The precats are part of the manifolds and they are one assembly.

If you got headers installed you would need the MIL eliminators to prevent the O2 sensors from triggering the ECU to throw a CEL. The MIL eliminators changes the signal that the ECU sees and keeps the signal within the limits of the ECU's expected range for the car.

Gutting your precats is also an option, and probably would be the cheapest option at that. As it is free if you don't factory in your own time.

If you need to pass emisions I'm sure you can still pass if you have the main cat installed.

So if I where you and looking for the cheapest route I would gut the precats and buy a new primary cat. Build a set of MIL eliminators (if you have the ability too) or buy a set, install them and call it a day.
 
csvt49 can you give me any info as to where i would buy the mil's or where to get info on making them? also correct me if im wrong but i would need these with gutted precats?
 
i will end you said:
csvt49 can you give me any info as to where i would buy the mil's or where to get info on making them? also correct me if im wrong but i would need these with gutted precats?
Click to expand...


Search. The info on how to make them is on this forum at least ten different times.

The headers are your best option. You still have to pull the manifolds off to properly gut your precats, however some have done it while they were still on the car. :help:

The bare steel headers using your stock y-pipe is your cheapest option. Get them for about $250 and buy some Thermotec exhaust coating for about another $10 and spray several coats on them.
Same labor to swap the manifolds but you get more power from them.
 
thanks warmonger. i did some serching and found out how to make them. and from what i have read if i install the mil's and gut my precats/replace the main cat. it should get rid of the codes and the car should drive right, ie no more hesitation-stalling-surging correct? i hope im right about what i just said because it seems to me i could fix my problems for about 100 bucks. one final question, do i install a mil on both sensors or just the one downstream where the pipes converge?
 
warmonger said:
Search. The info on how to make them is on this forum at least ten different times.

The headers are your best option. You still have to pull the manifolds off to properly gut your precats, however some have done it while they were still on the car. :help:

The bare steel headers using your stock y-pipe is your cheapest option. Get them for about $250 and buy some Thermotec exhaust coating for about another $10 and spray several coats on them.
Same labor to swap the manifolds but you get more power from them.
Click to expand...

Whats so bad about doing it on the car? I helped some NECO guys way back in the day 99 I believe do a set on a particular yellow cougar and it was easy.
 
i will end you said:
thanks warmonger. i did some serching and found out how to make them. and from what i have read if i install the mil's and gut my precats/replace the main cat. it should get rid of the codes and the car should drive right, ie no more hesitation-stalling-surging correct? i hope im right about what i just said because it seems to me i could fix my problems for about 100 bucks. one final question, do i install a mil on both sensors or just the one downstream where the pipes converge?
Click to expand...

You'll need a MIL eliminator on both downstream sensors(2). There are 4 sensors(2 upstream and 2 downstream) on our manifolds/headers.

Mark
 
Thinkmoto said:
Whats so bad about doing it (gutting precats) on the car? I helped some NECO guys way back in the day 99 I believe do a set on a particular yellow cougar and it was easy.
Click to expand...

There has been at least one instance where some of the pre-cat materials made their way past an open valve & into the engine. Result: new engine required.

Even if you don't kick up enough material to ruin your engine, I consider it LIKELY you will kick up enough to scar the cylinders and potentially affect performance or even significantly shorten the life of your engine.

IMHO, needing to gut the pre-cats is a good excuse to change out the old exhaust manifold gaskets for some shiney new ones, so may as well gut off the car & eliminate the possibility of engine damage &/or clogging the main cat. It's a lot more work, but you eliminate the risks.

I've done the 'mystery mod' both ways. I feel fortunate that I didn't ruin my engine, but I'm sure my first Contour suffered at least a little from the on-car mod. Sure was a lot easier on-car, but taking the risk to save some work is up to the car owner, I guess.
 
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