Thanks Tom, I will flip it around.

I guess messing things up is just part of learning. For me anyway. I'm glad it was this instead of something more expensive. Just dropped a bunch on new O2 sensors, you can bet I will be watching & reading everything I can get my hands on before getting into that.

 

Why? All you need to replace them is an O2 sensor wrench which I highly recommend since they reach down squarely onto the flats......and wear gloves cuz your gonna skin your knuckles. Unplug, try to unscrew, tap tap tap with hammer on wrench, unscrew, smother with Never Seez, screw new in, plug in, tada....done. On to the next one......

 

Easy peasy, lol. I love to think of things working out like that Scouts, but the realist in me knows better. I fairly new to all this, after raising 3 kids and driving a minivan for all those years I decided I wanted something older that I could learn to work on myself. Fell in love with this rusty thing parked down the road, bought it, and Ive been learning, cursing, and scraping knuckles ever since. I LOVE it, I may not be super confident, but with each thing I do I'm getting there, thanks a lot to the info you awesome guys share.

I haven't got the sensors yet but when I do I will take some pictures of my install experience for ya. oh! I heard that they are 17mm which isnt standard like the sensor puller. Maybe because I have the rig without advanced evap. like I only have 2 sensors and they are more expensive, Titania, I think? Might have that backwards too, lol.

 

A 97 pre AEL has four oxygen sensors. Depending on who worked on yours prior it may NOW only have two.... The upper two are the most important. They sense the air/fuel mixture and the ECU makes adjustments. Anyways, here's a link to them and the wrench;

 

like scouts posted, definitly get the 02 from amazon, cheapest for the ntk

i have the tool but think i ended up cutting the wires off the old and used a box wrench, with a second wrench for leverage

you might want to spray them and let set for a few hours cold before pulling, my drivers side front boogered the threads on removal and I had to borrow a top that size to chase the threads in pipe, it was a nightmare trying to lay under and start the tap straight then turn it using a tiny wrench, not much room to work but I was trying to avoid dropping the Y pipe to fix the threads

it almost like the o2 sensors are made to strip on removal, we did cats on my brothers ram air t/a a few months back and were hoping to reuse the sensors but same issue

 

for removing the 02 heat is a must... with all the rust/heat over the lifespan of those things the threads get gummed up..

Did an o2 on my wifes suv, didn't need to tap it .. some heat and pb blaster

and anti-seize is a must for the replacements

 

Dude! We missed you Saturday!

Heat fixes everything.
Also, if the O2's are junk then just cut the wires and stick a 6 point socket on there. An adjustable wrench should be sufficient to install the new ones with anti-seize.