Can I gut my Cat Convert

Instead of replacing the whole system will it really mess up if I just gut the cat's? or will this make it very loud etc...

If they work, I wouldn't fix them!

More details, please.

As Daniel suggested, are you trying to gut them for performance reasons or because they are plugged? Do you need to be able to pass any sort of emissions testing in SC? Do you currently have a Check Engine Light (CEL) for a catalyst efficiency code? Do you care if you have one after gutting the cats?

-Rod

I have a code for it. They're telling me my cat is bad, but I only drove for about 50 miles with 1 injector bad. Dealership is saying it needs to be replaced. I just don't wanna have to pay that much for a new exhaust. I'm baffled since the car only had 50k at the time.

What year is the car? Catalytic converters and other critical emissions components have extended federal warranties for 8 years or 80k miles (verify this). The trick is that the warranty wording states something proving it wasn't caused by neglect. If you brought the car in with a misfire though it might be a tough sell that it wasn't bad longer than 50 miles.

Also, please post the exact code that was present as there are very few codes that state discretely that the converter is bad. There are codes that suggest the catalyst efficiency is below threshhold, but that doesn't necessarily mean the converter is bad. There are other factors that can contribute to such a code.

Once you have the exact code, please also search the forum for the code as chances are pretty good the possible causes for the code have been posted before.

-Rod

What's the Emission Law for a 2002 Lincon LS in Simponville, SC. ?
Do they care, if your are green?

See Troubleshoot p0420 & p0430
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=915437 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=915437)

See Fuel Injector Check
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=906693

There aren't any real laws here for that. It seems like a new problem starts when another is finished.
Now I've got oil blow back in my PCV valve. The engine started dropping small oil drops and I've cleaned and can't find where it's coming from. Would a bad haed gasket cause all of this..(PCV blowback)

How about A PCV filter, and blocking the passage hole on your Air duct work , so oil and gases don't contaminate your MAF sensor.

The upstream O2 sensor on your cat is needed for feedback , this signal is used by the PCU for the Air/fuel mix.

The down stream 02 sensor tells the ECU , if the catalyst is good, who really cares in
Simpsonville, SC?

A blown cat gets HP, but a plugged Cat causes Heat damage.

Thanks again.
After I clean and put a filter on the PCV valve, is there anything I can do about the oil? Do you think it's a bad gasket somewhere?

You can use a spray break cleaner to clean the oil residue on your motor, I'am
suspecting , it's just a bad valve cover gasket.

The winter is very short in SC. ,why are you worried about replacing the DCCV?

Winters short but the kids get sick since it's cold 1 day and hot the next. Our weather is nutz here.
Thx for the advice

Since you're talking PCV you must have the V6. The PCV tube on the V6 connects to the intake after the throttle plate so you don't really need to worry about a filter and the MAF. Often what happens is the PCV elbow cracks or collapses and causes driveability issues. If it were to crack it could allow unmetered air in the system (vacuum leak) and contribute to the codes that the shop stated meant the converters are bad.

That mixed with your oil leak would also have me suspecting that you probably don't have a bad fuel injector but rather oil leaking in to one of the spark plug wells and causing a misfire on one cylinder. A new set of valve cover gaskets with plug well seals will probably be step one in fixing the leak and the misfire. While you have the upper half of the engine apart to change the valve cover gaskets, you'll want to install new spark plugs, replace at least the coil that was receiving an oil bath, and that will also be a convenient time to replace the PCV elbow.

I would however suggest that if you don't plan to do this work yourself, you find a different shop from the one that told you you have a bad converter and a bad injector to perform the work. At least get a second opinion.

-Rod