so... fix cat asap. fix plenum when funds allow?

 

Yea, cat more important short term.

 

any negative long term effects of removing cat and replacing it with regular tubing? or would it be wise to replace with a new cat?

 

Slightly increased emissions. If they do testing in your area, it will not pass. Not even an inspection. Replacing it with a piece of pipe is better than just punching it out though.

 

Check the cable on your throttle body that gos to your trans it has to go under the little black plastic peice on there i took off my tb to clean it up when i put it back on the truck was a dog the cable wasnt under the black peice it has something to do with the trans and shifting

 

Man, I'd make sure the cat was clogged before I did anything to it. Same with the plenum. Unscrew the pre cat 02 sensor and drive it. If no power increase, the cat is most likely OK. If it doesn't use any oil, I'd leave the plenum alone too. My wife says my truck drives like its heavy. It is. As for the kickdown out of OD, its been my experience 3/4 throttle to achieve kickdown is normal. These things seem to love to stay in OD. Its annoying.

 

It's not just overdrive though. It's pretty much any gear. And it has lost oil since I changed it in January. And doesn't leak. I will obviously check before I drop that much into it but it's showing every symptom of a bad plenum and cat.

 

Did you get a chance to download the service manual in the DIY section here. Whomever is responible for putting that in there I owe them a drink. I printed mine out to take outside with me or whenever I want some light reading in the study.

 

I gutted my cat last month and did notice a little improvement in power (mine was slightly cloggeg) but changed the plenum and timing chain/gears this week and noticed an immediate improvement in power/acceleration. Huge difference!

 

does the cat make it louder at all? i gutted the resonator, cat, and another resonator on my last car (2003 mazdaspeed protege) and it got to be annoying at times. thats a four banger ricer though. could get used to the rumble of a nice v8