It's the extreme non-mechanic here...

I'm considering having stainless works long tube headers and their performance x pipe installed. I plan on having true duals so I will be using 2 flowmaster 50's. My question is: I've researched and I see many talking about o2 sensors an cats. Will these stay or be removed? I'm trying to figured out what else I will need to buy. I believe I will need to have it tuned again.

My truck is 06 fx4 4x4 5.4

 

If you go with Long Tube Headers, they will eliminate the cats.

Do you have emissions where you live?

As for the tuning, it is recommended that you get a tune after you install LT Headers.

JT

 

You can have bungs welded in the header collectors, and still have converters behind them.

Even if you don't have emissions requirements in your area; If you don't have all 4 O2 sensors you will likely have CEL on all the time. Maybe tuning can turn the sensor readings off but I have no experience with that.

 

What is CEL?

No emissions requirements in my area

 

CEL = Check Engine Light

 

Well... apparently I do have emissions requirements to worry about. My local shops are telling me if I put LT headers on the cats will be eliminated and the truck will no longer pass inspection. Everyone I speak to and all I have researched says shorties are a waste of money. I was hoping for a little performance and a much better sound. I have purchased a tuner and have a custom tune currently. Is what I'm being told correct?

Thanks everyone for your information.

 

do long tubes and high flow cats..?

or Dynatech Long Tube Headers
w/Catted Y-Pipe

 

From what I've read, the 07 and above 5.4 exhaust manifolds are pretty damn close to short tubes already. I went with high flow cats and an MBRP cat back and it completely changed the truck, not to mention the amazing new sound.

 

A lot of states mandate that you cannot move the location of the stock cats. That's where Texas stands at least. Reason is, long tube headers move the cats further back downstream which limits their normal operating temperature. They run cold and are not effective. Which in turn lights up the dash with a check engine light. That's why it's usually required to get a tune so the tuner can disable the rear o2 sensors and no more dash lights will pop up.


However, as long as you don't have any check engine lights, mechanic's don't even get under there to look. That's how I got my Corvette to pass here in Houston, and we have california CARB standards here in Houston. I suggest talking to a local performance car shop that does big modifications and see what they say. That's what i did, I found a place that told me straight up if I could get headers and still pass emissions.