Hello fellas,
Newbie Phil from California at the keys. I've been lurking for a while and have enjoyed and taken some good info from you all, thanks.
Now I need some help. I have a 2006, 2500, 4x4, 5.9L which had the catalytic converter cut out by a previous owner. I did find one from the same year and truck as mine. However, this month I have to go to the smog check station, did I mention I'm from the "Left Coast" California. What I have not been able to find is a similar truck near me to look under to determine the factory placement, or location of the CAT along the exhaust pipe. Also the I.D. numbers should also be in the correct orientation to the ground. I'm sure the check station has seen my year truck before or have proprietary diagrams to look at when they do the visual check. I could use good photos of the CAT from someone that has a stock exhaust system showing where, in line the CAT is placed with the location identifiable relative to a cross member or other part of the underside of the truck. And where the numbers should be relative to the ground.
If one or more of the members have a 2006, 4x4, 2500, 5.9L 4 door ( not MegaCab) could crawl under there and take a variety of pics so I can tell where to re-weld the CAT back in, you guys would be stars!
If this is not of interest to other members not driving in CA you could send them to me in a personal note. Help will be appreciated! Phil

 

I don't have a picture handy but on my 2005 the CAT is located above the cross-member near the front edge of the passenger side door. Pretty much right after the down-pipe goes horizontal.

 

I've got an 06 2wd mega cab. i know yours is a quad but i would guess they would be pretty close. If it would help i could try to get some pics tomorrow.

 

My truck is an '06 quad cab. If I get a chance tomorrow I will get you some pics. It's dark here on the right coast now.

 

A big shout out to KoKalit, Farmboy 92 and Nick Beek for the help so quick.
I will wait for those pics.
You guys are ACES!
We're going to clean their clocks. Those smog check guys are gonna get smoked.
Thanks, Phil

 

I put mine on flanged tri-clover fittings so I could remove it easily.
Might think about that when you put it back in.

 

Because my '03 never had a cat on it ........would it really matter where in the system it is located as long as it before the muffler.....or would that matter either? Not that I've ever seen one mounted post muffler. I'm just curious since this post was brought up.

 

The primary catalytic converter is mounted as close to the engine as possible in any vehicle. In many newer gas vehicles, the cat is even integrated into the exhaust manifold(s).
The goal is to get the cat hot as soon as possible. The hotter it is, the more quickly it becomes effective.


As for re-installing the cat converter, I reinstalled mine several years ago. I had it out for about a month but the drone while towing was unbearable.
The cat only slightly quiets down the exhaust but it does eliminate the drone.

The restriction from the cat is minimal. I did 560RWHP/1160RWTQ thru my cat!

 

Wow, that's pretty crazy to hear!!!! Those things must have come a long way since back in the day when they clogged up and burned up the motor in my ol' 84 Bronco......back then they were a joke!!! I know modern engines need heat to do their thing.....I'm just not a fan of it.....until it gets cold, then me needs a little hot air.

 

Thanks cdennyb. I thought of that then thought save some bucks at first and just weld it in. Check my performance against the base line I have now. If I get close to what I have now I'll keep it in. If not then I'll spend more and do the flange thing. BTW do you have any kind of gasket between the flanges?
If anyone knows of a reason to do the flange thing first, please fill me in and help me make a first decision. Thanks.
Phil

 

I wasn't able to get pics today cause the camera was dead and i had class. I measured the distance from the transmission cross member to the part where the cat first starts to get wider. It was right between 8-9 inches. Hope it helps. if you still need pics i can get them after work tomorrow.

 

Thanks farmboy 92. I am guessing you took that measurement from the front edge of the tranny cross member.
Did you see the I.D numbers and their orientation to the ground?
Yeah, several good pics would be very helpful.
Thanks for your persistence. Phil

 

Sorry I forgot about this yesterday. I just shot a few pics. I could not find any numbers on the outside of the cat. There is a seem on the outside of the cat that is oriented at 9 o'clock as viewed from the back of the truck (it faces the drivers side).

The cat is centered front to back on this cross member that holds the rear of the skid plate up.



The front weld is roughly lined up with the mid line of the transfer case.



The rear weld is roughly lined up with the first u-joint.



Here is the seam that faces the drivers side.



This is the forward factory mount U-bolt it is right above the transmission cross member.



I took a measurement from the bolt that holds the lower front control arm to the factory joint (above the trans cross member)it was around 20.5 inches.



Hope this helps and sorry I was late.

 

Thanks a million NickBeek.
Those pic were just the ticket. I'm sure now where to place the CAT so as to pass my smog check.
And thanks to all the members that participated in this exercise. It helped me a lot. Maybe it will help some others in the future.
Now everyone can go back to MAKING SMOKE! Thanks, Phil

 

No problem Phil. Good luck with the inspection! Let us know how it goes. BTW, if the inspector still questions you just tell him to sniff the exhaust. It smells like a gas grill or something with the cat in place. LOL