I've tried a search and have had no luck so heres the question. I have to run my truck 20 miles to an exhuast shop with only open headers. I only have the cats bolted up to the end of the long tubes. Will i be alright by doing this or should i arrange for a tow. Thanks

 

Are they true open headers, as i nothing bolted to the collectors with just the cats in place, but not connected? If so, unplug the front o2 sensors, and drive it where you need to. If the cat's are bolted to the header collectors, don't worry a bit about it.

If there's nothing bolted to the collectors you just need to undo those front sensors to keep them from picking up fresh air and dumping a ton of fuel. You would burn at least a 1/4 tank this way on your 20 mile trip. Unhook them, and they will read neutral no matter what.

 

yes the cats will be bolted to the headers, sorry for the confusion. So i should hook my front sensors? Thanks for the reply

 

Yes, hook them up and run it as is.

 

I drove 5 miles to the exhaust shop with true open headers it was fun but something I would never do again.

 

I drove around 2 weeks with mine open, NOTHING up under there ... it was loud.

When I went to the exhaust shop finally, they said they could hear me a 1/4 mile away INSIDE the shop.

 

yes i bolted up the front sensors( it is loud ), but i didnt do the rears should i just let them hang there? Also it wont idle at all, im thinkin thats normal but i wanted to check just in case.thanks for the info, Parish i will be needing a ride for a week or so, if you had no problems with your truck do u think i could drive mine with my setup for a week? i only need to drive 5 miles to school and back each day. Thanks for the replies.

 

Leave the rear ones plugged up as well. They don't do anything.

If it won't idle, there's something else wrong, that's not normal. Check electrical connections, maybe the MAF or plugs on the throttle body. There's a reason it's not idling.

 

Another option is to go ahead and put your O2s back in and get some 18" pipe extensions at your local auto parts store to put on the collectors to prevent fresh air from hitting the O2s. I put my Pacesetters in on a friday and drove all weekend with them open till my exhaust appointment on monday. The first night they were truely open (no extensions) and it ran VERY rich. It would load up so bad it would start missfiring and would die if you let the rpms drop too quickly. Sat morning I picked up some extensions and clamped them on and it ran great for the rest of the weekend. Just be sure to grab a set of earplugs because loud is an understatement.