Wideband O2 sensor placement, what to do?

[Bootbox]

I'm not sure if I want to put the O2 bung for my Innovate wideband in the stock mids near the upstream O2, if I want to put it in the downstream O2 of the stock mids after the cats (that O2 sensor location is currently turned off in my tune,) or if I want to get bassani off road mids (can't afford catted mids right now.)

The issue I have with the stock mids is two fold.

One, I'm not sure I want to spend the time and money to put it downstream in the stock mids, since you don't get an accurate A/F reading when it's after the cats. Is that right?

Two, I'm not sure I want to drill and install a bung near the stock upstream O2 location because I'm afraid the metal shavings from drilling for the bung will ruin my stock cat. Should I just pull the stock mids down, install the O2 bung, then clean the shavings out and reinstall the mids, or will the tiny amount of shavings not even hurt the stock cat?

The issue I have with the aftermarket mids is that I'm not sure I can take the noise. Combined with my silverbullet catback I'm afraid It'll be way too loud for around town. I don't want to be worried about pulling away from a light if there's a cop next to me or across the intersection etc... Will I be competing for loudest vehicle in my county with stock headers, offroad mids, and the silverbullet?

Help?

 

[lightninmike]

Well for it to read accurate it needs to be as close to the collector as possable. I would try to put it ahead of or as close to the stock upstream O2 as possaable. I wouldnt worry to much about metal shavings in the cat cause if you take the pipes off you can dump them out or put some grease on the drill tip to catch the shavings

 

[FordFanStan]

Yes install your wideband 02 close to the collector. Use some grease like Mike said and you won't even have to take your stock mids off and no worries about your cats... Stan

 

[TheBigEdbosky]

well i don't know about you guy's, but how do you suppose drilling into the pipe when there is about zero clearance for a drill. keep in mind the ideal placement of the o2 sensor should be about the 2 o'clock position before the first cat...correct? not to mention being able to get a GOOD weld (no leak's) on the bung with the same clearance's. unless i'm missing something you should be removing the pipe anyhow so the metal shaving's should not even be a factor here. i don't know if using the stock mid's is any different than mid's for header's. but regardless i would think the bung should be installed on the top of the pipe where the floor could be an obstruction for tool's (drill,welder). that's just my thought because when i did mine i had to pull the header so i could drill and weld. anyhow good luck

 

[TheBigEdbosky]

well i don't know about you guy's, but how do you suppose drilling into the pipe when there is about zero clearance for a drill. keep in mind the ideal placement of the o2 sensor should be about the 2 o'clock position before the first cat...correct? not to mention being able to get a GOOD weld (no leak's) on the bung with the same clearance's. unless i'm missing something you should be removing the pipe anyhow so the metal shaving's should not even be a factor here. i don't know if using the stock mid's is any different than mid's for header's. but regardless i would think the bung should be installed on the top of the pipe where the floor could be an obstruction for tool's (drill,welder). that's just my thought because when i did mine i had to pull the header so i could drill and weld. anyhow good luck

 

[lightninmike]

Owned by the double post^^^
But Ed has a point, it has to be in the pipe so that water cannot collect on it or that will turn your sensor into garabge

 

[Bootbox]

Dear god I just read the howto SWThomas wrote here on the install for this, what have I gotten myself into? lol

Looks like I'll set aside an entire Saturday for this one.

I just remembered that when the muffler shop put my catback on I had them weld the xpipe to the mids, I think I've decided to get the Bassani offroad mids so I can have the bung installed and have it all ready to go on the install day. I mean yeah I'm going to have to cut the welds to seperate the mids and the catback either way, but if I have the offroad pipe onhand, I can just ruin the stock mids if I have to and not be stuck on install day.

If it's too loud I'll put in some high flow cats or some 2.5" Magnaflow race mufflers later on.

Wish me luck (a part of me really wants a loud ass truck, heh)

 

[TheBigEdbosky]

Owned by the double post^^^
But Ed has a point, it has to be in the pipe so that water cannot collect on it or that will turn your sensor into garabge

hahaha :shrug: sorry about that my computer is running slow, gotta stop it w/ the damn porn( did i just say that). i get a bit impatient and start hitting key's that i shouldn't and look what happens.

 

[TXRickC]

Rob, might try calling Kevin at Motion Dynamics. He has done 4 or 5 wideband bung installs on the Lightnings. I had them weld mine on and did the rest of the install myself. Pretty straight forward, most of the wiring is not used or is 12v & ground. It's on the drvers side by the 1st stock O2

 

[fullboogie]

Boot - bring it to a muffler shop and have them install the bung near the stock O2 location (first one). It's going to give you an accurate reading, and they'll use the torch to blow a hole in it rather than drilling it. I never had a problem with the cats being clogged or damaged using this method.