Hi all,
I know there are various other threads out there covering similar topics, but I can't quite seem to find a definitive solution to my problem...
I have a completely stock 99 Lincoln Navigator 4wd with about 130,000 miles on it, and I'm pretty sure the cat's are starting to go bad (stinky and hot, reduced mpg). I REALLY don't want to have to spend hundreds replacing them. Let's say for arguments sake it's used entirely off-road... Are there any drawbacks to a total cat delete (worse mpg, power, torque, excessive noise etc.) assuming that the O2 sensors are taken care of one way or another? (i.e. O2 sensor emulators or the Gotts mod or whatever)
Huge thanks to anyone that can help.

 

lack of torque, lack of smog compliance, lack of mileage, lack of quietness etc

 

Thanks for the quick response.

OK... Smog compliance not an issue (off-road). Why lack of torque/lack of mileage?

As for noise... Are we talking a bit louder or are my ears going to bleed?!

 

If you tune for it, then there is no drawbacks at all, except for the legality of it and increased sound level. You can do a mod to "fool" the o2 sensors and it works pretty well, but not as good as a tune!

 

Now if you just pull them out and drive around with the CEL on, then yes you will lose some power and mileage. If you already have a louder exhaust setup, then ya, the sound level is a big increase. I have no idea how loud it would be with a stock muffler though.

 

Tuning, eh? I'm on a tight budget, but if I can get a few more horsies out of it I'm game... Just don't tell my wife!! I wouldn't know where to start with the old girl. Assuming I delete the cats, and mod the O2 sensors, where do I start? (I tow a 4000# camper in the summer... Off-road of course, cuz of the cat delete )

 

By the way, when I say "the old girl", I mean the Navigator, not the wife... So much trouble!!!

 

Time to head over to the chips, tuner, and programmer section.

 

Nice, finally someone is puttin an off-road pipe on a Lincoln.

 

I have an 03 lincoln navigator that is straight piped, cold air intake, 3 inch lift kit and next is to the tune shop to get the cat delete done the guys want 600 for the tune on a dyno, then I started thinking nos