My 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport is in need of a new Exhaust System. We do not have any sort of inspection here in Michigan, so I was wondering if I could just do a straight pipe all the way back instead of adding the converter and then just add the muffler and tailpipe. Thanks in advance.
Not going to work. The computer 'tunes' the engine based on the O2 sensors that are sniffing the gases in the exhaust system. Without a cat, the exhaust gases will read as having too much extra fuel, which is what the cat would normally burn, so the computer will 'lean out' the engine to get the unburned fuel levels within spec. Also, if you ever try to sell it, it's illegal to sell a car with any of the federally mandated pollution or safety gear missing or not working.
Check your exhaust to see if you have a post O2 sensor and a pre O2 sensor on your catalytic converter. If you just have a pre O2 sensor, I would say go for it. The ills of a straight pipe all the way back is that you run into the issue of crushing the pipe on the rear axle. You could have them run out the side just before the rear wheel. Just don't have any rear windows open when you are driving.
