96 SHO exhaust problem... PLEASE HELP

[1990LXDropTop]

Back in March my brother had the y-pipe replaced on his 96 SHO. It was $1300 for a new part from Ford, so we bought a used y-pipe from North East SHO in Spencer, MA for $500. Today, only a mere 4 months later the car once again needs a new y-pipe, as the first converter on the pipe suddenly has a hole in it due to a flex in the flange or something like that. My brother feels a bit overwhelmed as he just shelled out $500 4 months ago for a used y-pipe that was in "good shape" according to the guy Kirk from North East SHO that sold and installed the pipe for him.

Anyhow, we are trying to figure out what the best thing to do is. Our mechanic who we have been going to for years here in East Longmeadow can get a brand spankin new y-pipe for $800. Although this is cheaper than $1300 from Ford, $800 is still a lot of money. An alternative to this is we bring the car back to North East SHO and talk to the guy Kirk who sold and installed the pipe. The problem is it was replaced 4 months ago and it was a used part, so I doubt it is under any warrantee.

I have heard that a lot of 3rd gen SHO owners remove the first cat as their first mod. They have the cat cut out and piping welded in. Can these be done while still retaining the ability to pass emissions? Will it trow any codes (check engine light) if the first cat is removed?

WHAT SHOULD WE DO????

[browserealty]

Hello,

If you take off your cat. it will throw up the Check Engine Light on (maybe). I know on mine it did after a few weeks of running. It is a little louder and you will feel a slight increese in H.P. but during inspection they will notice that your cat is gone. One is through their computer. You will get a higher pressure reading. This is one signal. Two, the sound will give it away, and three, your check light may come on. My advice on the cat., is pass the inspection first if you can, then remove the cat. Keep it handy because if you need to get another inspection, you'll have to slap it back on. Good luck!

[1990LXDropTop]

Originally Posted by browserealty

Hello,

If you take off your cat. it will throw up the Check Engine Light on (maybe). I know on mine it did after a few weeks of running. It is a little louder and you will feel a slight increese in H.P. but during inspection they will notice that your cat is gone. One is through their computer. You will get a higher pressure reading. This is one signal. Two, the sound will give it away, and three, your check light may come on. My advice on the cat., is pass the inspection first if you can, then remove the cat. Keep it handy because if you need to get another inspection, you'll have to slap it back on. Good luck!

There is more than one cat of the car, in fact, there are 3 cats. I don't think it will make the car a hole lot louder by removing 1 of the 3 cats, especially considering the fact that the car has stock mufflers.

[browserealty]

Originally Posted by 1990LXDropTop

There is more than one cat of the car, in fact, there are 3 cats. I don't think it will make the car a hole lot louder by removing 1 of the 3 cats, especially considering the fact that the car has stock mufflers.

When I purchased my SHO it had only 2 cats, unless one had been removed before. I removed the two and there was a difference in the sound. Being here in Montana we have no emission test, etc. So it did not matter. Anyway. Thanks for the reply to my post. Have a good day