true duals question

[FX4OffRoad1992]

okay, i have an '04 ranger with the 4.0L. I bought the truck with "dual" exhaust already on it, that is, if you consider a si/do muffler with pipes "dual exhaust". I, however want to have true dual exhaust from the motor back. My truck comes off the headers with two pipes, and each runs through it's own cat, the pipes are then joined to one right in front of what im guessing is a resonator , and then runs into a flowmaster si/do muffler and is run out the back end of the truck with two pipes. My question is really just is it alright to cut out this "resonator" (if thats really what it is), and just run two pipes from the cats back, through two mufflers and out the back! Would this work? or would I fail emissions testing/inspection

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

As long as that is indeed a resonator you should be fine.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

anyone have any clue about whether or not it is a resonator? should i post a pic?

 

[gw33gp]

I am pretty sure what you are calling a resonator is another cat. Removing that would certainly result in emissions/inspection failure.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

i thought that too, but the two cats before the "unknown object" are where my O2 sensors are coming from, so technically, even if this is a cat, couldn't i take it off and still pass inspection, because it wouldn't trigger my check engine light if the O2 sensors are before it, right?

 

[CountryBoy78]

I don't have to deal with inspections in my state, but if your inspector is really picky and knows his stuff about autos he might notice that they are missing. I know there is certain things they look for and who knows they might figure it out.

Maybe you could ask a inspector if it would pass if they were removed.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

yeah thats what I'll probably do, just curious if anyone knew what it was. I'll post a pic of it in a minute.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

SORRY PICS ARE SO BIG NOT SURE HOW TO RE-SIZE CAN SOMEONE HELP

two "cats"

this is the thing im not sure about. cat or resonator?

 

[CountryBoy78]

I think the bottom picture is the cat because of the heat shield on it, and by the size of it.

The top one looks like a resonator(spelling)......... where are your o2 sensors located at?

There should be one before (upstream) the cat and one after or behind (downstream)the cat.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

there is an O2 sensor on the two little resonators or cats or w/e they are, but on the single big thing, there is no O2 sensor, which is what made me think that the single one wasn't a cat... but then again it has a heat shield on it and the other two dont...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You have 3 cats, and almost a sure flunk without the last one.

This should work, click on "view image" beside the part number.

http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2004&m=Ford&mo=Ranger#&&/wEXAQUHaGlzdG9yeQUEdHJ1ZbeJQwrDnn1brKWLK+LH7viyyDAr

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

wow 3 cats. its ridiculous what all they do to newer trucks, thanks man, had no idea.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

wow 3 cats. its ridiculous what all they do to newer trucks, thanks man, had no idea.

My '86 2.9 parts truck had two in series, if something only has one cat it is a big one with two compartments.

Some of the newer stuff is more true-dual friendly, my F-150 has four... which is a better setup than has been out since cats first came out in the early 70's. With two per side it was scary easy to cut before the Y and run 110% emissions friendly true duals.

 

[FX4OffRoad1992]

yeah, id basically have to get 2 MORE cats to have true duals... and be able to pass inspection

 

[DriverSideImpact]

yeah, id basically have to get 2 MORE cats to have true duals... and be able to pass inspection

What kind of inspection do you have. One where a guy looks over your vehicle to check for stuff? Is it an actual emissions test with an exhaust sniffer while driving on rollers.
In WI it's a half-assed emissions test. Only vehicles 96+ (OBDII) required to do it. Basically they just hook a scanner up to the OBD-II DLC, if you don't have any active or pending trouble codes, and your gascap passes the pressure test (they might not even test the gascap anymore) you pass.

My Grand Marquis had 4 cats (1st O2 sensors, cat, 2nd O2 sensors, cat, y-pipe). I cut out the last set of cats. I pass the "emissions" test. It passes. It definitely wouldn't pass a exhaust gas analyzer/sniffer.