lmao
yeah it is illegal to do so... unless you know and trust somebody that will do it
big fines!

just cut your pipe in your garage and gut it yourself, then strap it up so it doesnt fall or just completely remove the pipes and take it to the shop to just get it re-welded back together

 

my shop did it for me no questions asked.... but hes right the backpressure wont be as much w.o cats and you loose some low end. But gain some high... wohoo!!

 

Two thoughts here...
If the O2 sensor is setting the AFR, could it be that is bad. Reading lean when they go bad from build up, so the computer richens the fuel which carbons up the cat. Mean while the plugs are turning black. Pull an easyplug and see if it is black or close.
The reason I ask this is because I replaced the O2 sensor and plugs on an Eclipse and went from 17 to 28 MPG.
The other thought is since you have a muffler on the back, there shouldn't be too much of a back pressure issue. Gutted cat with a muffler is similar to cat and no muffler which a lot of people do.

 

i appreciate the advice. i really do think its the cat, i talked to the previous owner last night and he said it wouldnt suprise him at all, 175k on the clock and it aint ever been changed. So its goin to the shop once they open this mornin. HOPEFULLY it wont cost me an arm and a leg.

 

Got it back from the shop today. $220 dollars for just the labor, somethin about fabricating some bull**** to make it work, whatever. Its finally fixed. they said the cat was just about as clogged as it could be, which was to be expected after 175,000 miles. When i fired up the truck it was twice as loud, and roars down the road now. All problems are fixed! Thanks yall!