It's a 1997 with OBD II.  I don't think the puter would like that very much.  Otherwise I would.  

Cwkick

If it's the cat located under the floor, gutting it shouldn't be a problem. The O2 sensor is located in front of it, on the down pipe. For the V6 models (Vitara w/ 2.5, XL7 w/ 2.7), there are cats which form the down pipe and there are 4 O2 sensors. These have to stay where they are at. There is also another cat located under the floorboard after the 'Y' of the exhaust. Gutting this out won't hurt anything other than backpressure some. If you plan to gut it, check with your local and state laws as I know federal doesn't accept it.

   I try to make it a practice not to openly discuss or encourage modifications to the emission system.  

I feel that this could quickly bring lots of unwanted attention to yourself or the forum, as some one out their is making a living by enforcing this stuff.  

Just my .02 so their is no confusion on where I stand.

After destroying both plastic rocker trim pieces and denting my rockers pretty good, I'm actually gathering the materials together to cover the rockers with 1/4" steel welded/bent to the configuration of the stock plastic trim pieces. This way it will look stock, but allow me to slide over rocks as well...

After destroying both plastic rocker trim pieces and denting my rockers pretty good, I'm actually gathering the materials together to cover the rockers with 1/4" steel welded/bent to the configuration of the stock plastic trim pieces. This way it will look stock, but allow me to slide over rocks as well...

I was thinking about doing that on my Tracker.. not so much because I've ever (or will ever) take rocker damage, but because my passenger side rocker was gone from salt collecting in those plastic trim pieces.

Of course I went the easy route and cut up a filing cabinet and made replacement rockers

 If you plan to gut it, check with your local and state laws as I know federal doesn't accept it.

Two things, federal law supercedes any state or local law in this aspect. As stated before , don't attract anymore attention to the issue.  And, all OBD2 vehicles WILL illuminate the check engine light with a gutted cat. The downstream O2 will switch rich/lean about once every 10 switches of the upstream. When they switch in tandem, the little amber light says hi everytime.

I like the aluminum idea.  anybody else come across something usable?

I like the aluminum idea.  anybody else come across something usable?

I ran 1/4inch aluminum at first with good results. After a little thought ....$140 less .....ahem.... I decided to go with 16 guage galvanized steel. It weighs about the same and slides across rocks easier. The aluminum acted like I was putting on the brakes. My bellypan starts at the front bumper and goes all the way past the t case crossmember to the round tube. And of coarse side to side from rocker to rocker.

mike

That's what I'm talking about Mike!

Cwkick

How do you think a louvered(sp?) full skidplate would wor? I want to make it in 1' long strips, with the end of each bent downward a little for venting and to prevent suction problems in mud. How would that work out?

Why bother? In the winter you will welcome that heat! Honestly, in the summer its hardly noticible unless your pounding on it and not moving very fast. I remember someone talking about the cat breathing.... Why? Who cares if the pan is hot in one spot? Ive had no problems with this. Ive been running a full pan since 2000.

Mike

Why bother? In the winter you will welcome that heat! Honestly, in the summer its hardly noticible unless your pounding on it and not moving very fast. I remember someone talking about the cat breathing.... Why? Who cares if the pan is hot in one spot? Ive had no problems with this. Ive been running a full pan since 2000.

Mike

More for the mud suction reducing quality than ventalation...

If you use Boggers for the mud
that belly pan becomes a ski to
skip across the mud on  

Wild

More for the mud suction reducing quality than ventalation...

Mabey, Ive done fairly well in the mud though. However Im not much of a mud kinda guy. Not that im afraid to get dirty, lord knows I get dirty I just like the more technical wheeling. (I dont like this term but I cant think of a better explanation)

Mike

I know what your saying, but unfortunately there's not really too much in the way of technicality on the trails I run... just mud pits

I'm just scared of doing a full bellypan and then ending up having my truck stuck in 3 feet of mud, held in by suction... Maybe I'll just keep the pan small and just do one that goes from the bumper to the back A-arm mount, then cover up the vitals with individual skids :-/

i only have a skid plate over the t case made of some scrap stanless and it has work well for me.  i use the stock skid plate for the front end and that one hasn't held up that great.  infact its almost touching the diff now.  i think insted of sliding across mud you want to sink down and get ahold of some good hard dirt.

stu