cats going bad?

[SStriker]

my trans ams been smelling really fucking bad the last few weeks, exhuast note changes once its warm and it seems slower. So im probly going to gut the cats. My o2s are already turned off so no issue there. my main issue is this. ive had the drivers side out multiple times swapping trannys and first time i broke manifold studs. Anyway to avoid that on the passagers side? I assume theres no way to do it while in the car.

Any tips for gutting the cats, ive done them on other cars before. just not on fbodies.

[SStriker]

went ahead and guted them. Pulled drivers side off shit poured out of cat when i took it off. passagers side cat i just cutted a door and gutted it on car. then welded up. its got some leaks in weld... i ran out of gas.. but i got some metal/exhuast putty ill just slap on there since this is only temp until i get headers. gas mileage is better, sound is great even with LM1. Less rasp accually. And it picked up some power i was lossing because of the bad cats. at the end of the day well worth it, love the smell too.