That makes sense.

 

I am not completly sure about the heat thing but it is very possible seeing how they now put heaters in them. However that is where the sensor was designed to read the fuel mixture.

 

It is running ok for 268K miles. I don't have a cat and a friend of mine said it needed some back pressure to let the sensor work. I opened up the exhaust to let it breath easier. Not looking for power but fuel mileage. I can't afford a new truck so Im driving this one till it dies. Thanks for the replies

 

I have changed my exhaust set up several times, headers, with and without cats and even open headers with a short down tube, I have always installed the 02 sensor in about the same as the stock position. Running without the cats will be fine as long as you have no emissions inspections in your area.

 

Yea, the worst that could happen is a SES light. No big deal. As long as you have no emission testing, it should be fine. I don't have one. I didn't notice a big difference between a functioning cat and no cat, power wise or fuel mileage wise. I removed mine due to it's plugginess.