o2 sensor relocation---rethreading

[mbtjc]

I am going to eliminate the cat on my car and as a result need to relocate the o2 sensor. Where do I get a new bung (what size??), and how do I install the new bung in the new location? I'd like to do it w/o welding if possible.

It is a violation of Federal Law ( 1990 Clean Air Act ) to take the cat off, and if you get a honest safety inspection, they should not pass it without a cat.

[mbtjc]

I knew that. I don't know how they do it in STL, but where I live in MO, they do not use sniffers for inspections. An inspection here usually consists of turning on your lights and turn signals, honking the horn and kicking the tires. I do plan on putting on a new high flow cat in the future, but I don't want to drop that kind of cash ($240 for a Random Technology stainless high flow) right now especially when I have other priorities on the car to spend it on. So since I am redoing part of the exhaust and the cat is about shot, it is coming off.

Also, probably half the people in this forum don't have cats on their cars, and more than that are running "illegal" e-code headlights.

[sbourg]

Her in CA, inspections are every other year and are visual as well as exhaust gas. I don't think ANY folks here from this state are going to be pulling their cats off and reinstalling every couple of years. Of course, there are some vintage models still around that predate cats, if your stats include those.

Steve

[williambishop]

One of the few times it pays to live in hickville, USA! We have NO inspections. If it drives, no one cares.

[mbtjc]

After doing a little more research, I found a cat like the one I would need for a little over $100. I guess it seems like a small price to pay to avert a potential headache later. I do need to know one thing though.... you can order the cat with or w/o an o2 sensor bung. I would order the one with the bung if I knew my o2 sensor would fit it. If not, I could save about $30 and get the one w/o the bung and have the threads welded in.

So do all o2 sensors use the same size threads?? If not, what size is my Bosch?

[MTI]

hmm, back in '86 weren't the MB fuel injection systems the hybrid mech/electronic, so that if the electronics failed it would fall back to a mechanical system but run really rich? If you don't have an O2 sensor reporting back to the ECU or a dummy load, you'll end up with really crappy gas milage and wet plugs.

[mbtjc]

Yes, I am keeping the sensor....I am just wondering whether or not to order the cat with the sensor bung (if I know it fits). So if it doesn't fit, I will order it w/o the bung and weld in a bung myself. That is my question, whether all o2 sensors use the same size threeds or if they are different.

[manny]

Any O2 sensor I have ever seen , regardless of make,is the same size. I believe it is either 14 or 18 mm thread.

[mbtjc]

Thanks! I guess I'll go ahead and order the one with the bung already on it.