Replacement Catylitic Converters

GRWeldon

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Don't ask me why, I want it to be stock. Last owner cut out the cats and replaced them with pipe. I want to reverse that action. Should I just go to an exhaust shop and have them weld in the universal type or are there other options?
 
Either weld in aftermarket ones, or find someone parting out a car to buy the front exhaust section from. Unfortunately junkyards aren’t legally allowed to sell used catalytic converters, so a person parting out a car is your only option for actual stock stuff.
 
I heard a story a while back .. local Tbird owner needed cats so he went to pick and pull, stuffed a pair of cats into a back seat coushin; bought the seat and threw it into the dumpster outside. Just an idea. 😉
 
I heard a story a while back .. local Tbird owner needed cats so he went to pick and pull, stuffed a pair of cats into a back seat coushin; bought the seat and threw it into the dumpster outside. Just an idea. 😉

All of the yards here cut the cats off before they place the cars on the yard floor.
 
WIth the value of the materials in the catalytic converters. We can be certain that the junkyards keep them all for themselves to get that recycling money.
 
Don't ask me why, I want it to be stock. Last owner cut out the cats and replaced them with pipe. I want to reverse that action. Should I just go to an exhaust shop and have them weld in the universal type or are there other options?
You have several Mn12's in your signature. Which one do you need cats for? For a 97 V8 Rockauto has a Davico Y pipe assembly with all the converters for $375. And Autozone has a Magnaflow Y pipe assembly for $594. Go look at the pictures and you will see that the Magnaflow looks like a nicer piece. If you have a local Exhaust guy that you trust. Then you could buy some small spun converters on Ebay and have someone weld them in.
 
Don't ask me why, I want it to be stock. Last owner cut out the cats and replaced them with pipe. I want to reverse that action. Should I just go to an exhaust shop and have them weld in the universal type or are there other options?
I bought the cat forward set from RockAuto for a really decent price and I installed it without issue. I don't know if you have the V6, SC or V8 engine, but the V6 is not that expensive and easy to replace. Get new O2's while you are at it if you have the cash. Check RockAuto and others for the parts. Even if you buy the parts, any shop would be happy to install it.

*on second thought.... I just looked at the eBay cat forward sets and OMG! Over $300 now. I bought mine from RockAuto for $87 back in 2019. What a rip off now! Anyway, good luck with what you decide to do. Junk yard is cheap bet, but a bet if the cats arn't clogged if the pipes aren't rusting/ rotting.
 
The Magnaflow is a nice piece, but fitment isn't the greatest. I have a new replacement in my garage waiting to go on. The driver side pipe seems like it is slightly too long so you have to force it to get it to attach to both manifolds. After about 3 months both hangers that engage the trans crossmember had broken off. I also recall having to take a counterweight off the back of the transmission to get it to fit, but no big deal on that.
 
After about 3 months both hangers that engage the trans crossmember had broken off.
I had never heard of that happening before. And it was a Magnaflow cat forward? wow... I have beat the crap out of mine, several times, several diff cat sets and never broke a tranny hanger. Kinda sucks when the product you get just does not slap on and you have to monkey with it to get it to fit. My first cat forward was like that (eBay). I had to make a whole passenger side cat to manifold connection because the clown that sold me the set, sold me one for a 93! SOB. Hope mice crap in his car interior.
 

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