being in the direct middle of the car it keeps scraping and getting bashed about. so just a quick question; if i remove it and just replace with a normal length of exhaust pipe do i have to fool the ecu or replace any sensors?

No, the computer should cope.
If your car has a catalyst overheat circuit / buzzer / light like some cars have then this is no longer necessary, removal won't affect the running.

BTW: removing the cat from an unleaded engine is not legal, so you do so at your own risk.

Def. not legal.

Getting caught results in a VERY hefty fine. ie, Thousands of dollars.

Removing it because it scrapes on stuff is of little benefit, as everything else under there is the same height.
Just wind your hilos up for a bit more ground clearance.

Mine passed blue slip 4 years ago in NSW without one and has passed rego every time since.
Cheers Pete.

P.S If the car was built before 1986 it is not required to have one fitted, unleaded motor or not.

_________________
A recent study found the average Aussie walks about 900 miles a year
Another study found Aussies drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year
That means, on average, Australians get about 41 miles per gallon

Kind of makes you proud to be an AUSSIE

Brave saying that on a public forum.

But being an import Rover wouldn't it need to have a CAT to receive its original blueslip / engineers cert. ?

I think its all cars post '86 are supposed ti be unleaded/ have a cat on them.

cheers!
it is the ONLY bit of the car that scrapes as it is directly in the middle and hangs down to a mere 50mm off the tarmac - less than half the legal ride height requirement? so in that respect i'm between a rock and a hard place it seems!
if i wanted to keep it i'd try and shift it to between the front or rear wheels but i'm on a budget at the moment so a simple pipe will do.

If its only 50mm off the ground then you need to checkbyour exhaust mounts, and your car is too low. The cat is the lowest thing under my car, and i set it at 100mm by adjusting the ride height.

i went and had a look, looks like the front (stock) suspension is resting on the bumpstops, so yes might have to do some work there first

Cats are only fitted to lower the emissions of unleaded fuel, it is not law that a cat needs to be fitted.
However in saying that car manufacturers fit them as it is the cheapest and easiest way for them to be under the levels required by law which are stated in ADR 37.
Cheers Pete

P.S Commercial vehicles up to a GVM of 2.7t did not need one until the rules were updated in 2002, they were governed by rule 36.

_________________
A recent study found the average Aussie walks about 900 miles a year
Another study found Aussies drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year
That means, on average, Australians get about 41 miles per gallon

Kind of makes you proud to be an AUSSIE

honestly cops look at the car and see an old mini and assume it's an old mini, it's not a big deal if i do have to remove it in the end.
will likely move it further down the exhaust system, such a stupid place to have it where it is.

They're put there because they only work a certain distance from the exhaust on the engine, though even if not functional, technically it is still there and that'll satisfy the law.

good enough for me, though they're more likely to pick me for being too low honestly looks like i have my mission for the weekend