Stock Exhaust Q's...

[hotkarl]

Muffler is nearly shot. Cats sound like a soda can full of marbles and broken glass. I already tore the heat shields off the cats a year or so ago.
She's starting to sound like a rice rocket and the cat noise is driving me nuts.

So my question is, how can I cheaply fix this stuff without screwing up the emissions and computer stuff?
NY is pretty strict with the emissions test.
I don't want to have any issues trying to pass inspection.
The direct fit stock replacement stuff is real pricey. All the pipe on the system is fine, Actually it's weird because nothing is rotted or open, it's internal crap going bad. I'm curious if I can just cut out the bad and weld in the new?
And do I need all the cats or can I get away with just 1 or 2? I have a Flowmaster laying around from my truck that I'll probabally use, but the cat thing is the issue. Any help/tips would be mucho appreciated!
Thanks.

 

[dynamite196]

Cutting and welding will work fine as long as whoever does it knows their tig from their arc. Although, unless you're doing the welding yourself or know somebody who can do it pretty cheap you'll probably spend more on the cut and paste job then you would on a whole new system. Unless someone else knows of a better method the only way you're gonna tell which cats need replacing is once you've taken the thing apart. Best of luck to you but from personal experience exhausts are a huge PITA especially when you're trying to match up the old with the new.

 

[hotkarl]

I do hate exhaust work, I've always done my own.
My biggest concern here is keeping everything "legal", and running properly.
I know switching out the muffler isn't a big deal, it's the cats that are the issue. I need to know what I can get away with to pass yearly emission inspection, and not wreak havoc on the computer. I don't want to be re-tuning and adjusting and all that. My hi-performance days are over.
I've been getting average prices around $225 and up per side for a direct fit replacement system with cats. I am hoping a universal cat or 2 can be used, because they can be bought between $50 and $90 a piece.

 

[dynamite196]

You would have to talk to the manufacturer about that but I would think there shouldn't be much of a flow difference between the OEM and the universal ones. Worst case scenario you'll need a fuel trim adjustment.

 

[Cobraguy]

I didn't see what engine you have. If it's a 4.0 OHV, you can buy an aftermarket converter assy from Rock Auto (Walker I believe) for a very reasonable price. The one I got looked identical to the factory one I took off. It's the entire header assy.

If you have a 5.0, those pipes are spendy no matter where you look.

 

[hotkarl]

It's the SOHC.