Hey Guys my truck started to sound like a boat when going through deep puddles the last time it was out.

Crawled underneath and the cat was just rusting away. Do not have a lot experience with exhaust systems but it looked like an easy swap except for some nasty looking bolts.

I pulled the cat last weekend ( required the sawsall) and ordered a replacement via the local parts house. The cat that in came was much smaller and weighed a lot less than the one taken out. Also, it was missing flanges on the ends to reattach with. The guy at the auto parts place said to cut the flanges off the muffler pipes then use couplers to reconnect. It looked to me like some welding would be needed so did not take the part.

Is there replacement cat that does not cost 200 dollars? Was the guy pulling my let about reinstalling the muffler using couplers.

Thanks for your help,

~ Jon

No don't clamp it together with couplers, they'll snag on everything possible. Go to a muffler shop and have it welded in, should be under 20 bucks.

www.performancepeddler.com has them CHEAP! Been buying there for 7+ years.

I've had mixed luck with the aftermarket converters.

I just ordered one of these and it's almost exactly the same size as stock, I'll just need to fiddle with the bolts on the front a little:
Benchmark Catalytic Converter Price: $151.28 Part #: DECCR2491

I've also used this one before. It has a little less element than the stock one, but it's still a decent size. It was about an inch longer overall, though, so I had to do some fiddling with the exhaust hangers to make it fit:
Magnaflow 23242 Direct-Fit Catalytic Converter $92.26

Since you already have one, might as well just bring the old & new ones to a shop and have them chop & weld the ends for you. They'll probably charge an hour of labor, though.

Those bolts are a b**** to get off, aren't they? The last time I did one of these I swore I would pay someone to do my next one.

Which of your Raider/Monteros was that part for? I have an '89 four door that is going to need a new one in order to pass its next IM. It has an OEM replacement converter with about 80,000 miles on it. Definitely no longer doing its job except after long drives on warm days.

My 91 four door came with a low cost replacement that is smaller then OEM. It won't last as long - probably not more than 40,000 miles.

Fortunately, my Raider no longer resides where I have to have an emissions check. The mechanics I used in Portland told me that aftermarket converters will not last nearly as long as OEMs. They estimated 2-3 years for the aftermarket ones.

My OEM was 15 years old and 160k miles when it still barely passed last summer. And barely could have been due to other reasons possibly. I replaced it with an aftermarket when I had to dismantle the exhaust for the head job.

Be sure to use anti-sieze so you will have a better chance when the aftermarket need replacing.