1998 Chevy Silverado exauhst/catalytic converter

CLAYTON889

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

Electrical problem
1998 Chevy Silverado V8 Four Wheel Drive 175000 miles

On my trucks I like my exauhst really loud. So on my 96 cheyenne I went straight pipes. On my 98 I did the same thing, and it is nowhere near what the v6 sounds like. I know that it is the catalytic converter keeping in all the sound. I've heard that I can't cut them off because of the O2 sensors in the CC's, and that it will mess up my engine. Is this true? Is there any way to get straight pipes on my 98 silverado without causing disastrous damage to the engine?

5 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

You can cut off the cats without engine damage, but you may have a check engine light due to the downstream o2 sensors not reading, and will cause the vehicle to think the cats are bad, but will not affect performance, they sell kits that prevent this.

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Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 10:43 PM

CLAYTON889

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So I can go straights on my 98, sweet. When you say kits, does that mean I could have straights on my truck without the check engine light coming on? Where could I find one of these kits? How much do they usually run?

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Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 AT 5:37 PM

BLACKOP555

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I mean kits as in a sensor that replaces the o2 sensor so you get no light.

No clue on what it costs or where to find it.

Require a bit of research on your half.

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Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 AT 8:35 PM

CLAYTON889

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Ok sweet. I talked to a friend and he said that cutting the 02 sensors off would cause the computer to shut down in the truck. Is this true? Because I cant be having that haha. I know that you told me it wouldnt cause me any really bad mechanical problems, but what about technical problems? Other than the CE light coming on?

And another thing, do you know anything about rev limiters? Because I notice now that when I put my truck in neutral to hear my pipes roar, they start to cut out when they get into high rpm's. I dont know alot about vehicles, but it is the rev limiter thats making it cut out like that right? If it is, is there any way to bypass that?

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Thursday, May 29th, 2008 AT 5:47 PM

BLACKOP555

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If you cut off the first two you wont hurt the engine, just terrible gas mileage.

And I suggest not messing with the truck trying to make hte rpms go up as you will blow the engine.