So I purchased a 97 f150 4.6 cheap knowing it ran crappy. Drove it home 30 miles couldn't break 65 and puked out goin up hill. It was missing popping and no power while having it to the floor. Put new coil packs and plug wires on. Runs the same. So I did more investigating and noticed all 4 cats have been removed. I also took 1 threw 4 plug wires off while it was running and no change in idle or anything. Meening all 4 wires were off at the same time. Any help would b great. I don't care about the emission stuff cuz its not a law here in North Dakota. Just wanna get it running so my son can drive it wen he gets his licence.

 

this is a guess, and only a guess, but i would venture that unless you have the foreward cats and the o2 sensors to give the ecm some feedback, you will need to custom tune/program the ecm. Just my thoughts.

 

How would I program or tune it? I'm used to working on the older Ford's that don't hav so much computer stuff

 

Put a carburetor on it.

Edit - actually, I think that removing catalytic converters is against Federal law. But that's a whole other discussion. Looks like you might have trouble getting it worked on if you ever take it to a shop. Permanent DIY.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production...hsysrepair.pdf

 

Good luck finding a carb'd manifold. Can they be found? Yes. Cost effectively? No.

Let's get down the the nuts and bolts here.... is your check engine light on? Even if it is not, go get it scanned and post ALL of the codes on here. Otherwise, we are throwing darts at the wall here.

 

He said he didn't like computers or emissions stuff. Carbs is the solution. Codes are computer-generated.

But, the real solution might be to have his son read the codes. He probably has a phone that can use an app, all he needs is the dongle. Good old father-son project, win-win.

"Just wanna get it running so my son can drive it wen he gets his licence."

 

Well, you don't just put a carb on it. It's not that simple. It's actually easier to fix whatever he's got going on.

 

You might be avoiding my point. The dad does not do codes. He said so. He'd probably move 16 tons if he thought he could get a carb on it. But his son needs to know how to do codes so that he doesn't have to drive 90's era cars. His son could probably get on the forum, if he's over 12 years old, and show Dad what needs to be done. No offense to Dad, but it's the world we live in. The kids are all over this computer stuff. They teach it in school.

 

It easier just installing 2 cats. At least it will run right, provided there's no other problems.

 

Ford has been doing codes for over 30 years. Something tells me he's seen codes on the older stuff he's worked on. Like I said, you don't just throw a carb on it. These have no place for a distributor. He will have to deal with electronics in one form or another. Your solution is WAY more than you realize.

I agree with Brew, probably just wants to see some cats. But if it is missing.....