Will cutting it out and replacing it with a straight pipe work..what do you guys think??

Yep, that works too. Just make sure the rear O2 sensor stays in there somewhere. (as well as the front..... gotta have them fellers.)

So those two 02 sensors are NOT connected to the cat itself but to the pipes before and after it...upstream and downstream???

The front O2 might be in the cat.... I don't know what year that changed...... If it is, just get a weld-on bung. Call it a day.

Ok... I'll get under there tomorrow and take a look see how its configured.. thanks for listening to me..

Am I blocked? I said to get a Jegs y-pipe. They are perfectly designed to mount up at the stock location and have both O2 bungs ready to go. No cat, no restriction, just more powa!

Ok... I just looked that one up...jpeg y pipe...sounds doable to me..you ain't blocked, hear ya loud and clear... thanks.