So, yes, I've searched and, yes, I've found a lot of information. I just wanted to put up a parts list and ask if anyone sees an issue that I haven't considered yet. So, here goes...
So just like the title says, I have a '97 with about 240K miles on it. I am not the original owner but based on maintenance records and visual inspection the vehicle seems to have been taken care of. Lately I've had power loss and I wasn't sure what the culprit was. After consulting MUD and several different people more knowledgeable than myself, I finally removed the No1 O2 sensor completely to see if there was some sort of exhaust blockage causing my issue. Sure enough, truck drove fine. No acceleration issues. No power loss. Just some loud exhaust blasting out of the O2 sensor port. So, based on that evidence, it would seem that my catalytic converters are clogged.
Now, I knew that I had some exhaust maintenance to do even before the cats bit the dust. The hangers are broken, which has led to my tailpipe hammering itself into an oval on the frame. My muffler is cracked. I also have a hole downstream of the muffler. Finally, I'm fairly certain that the entire system is original except the muffler itself which means plenty of rust. All things considered, I've decided to do a manifold back replacement. I intend to keep this vehicle so I don't see the point in welding/bolting in new cats when I will have other repairs to do before long.
Now, I wish I had the money to just write the check and put all OEM parts back in. Unfortunately, I don't think that's gonna be an option. That being said, I want something that works and I'm not looking for the very cheapest replacement either. Below is my current parts list:
Manifolds: Dorman (ceramic coated)
Y-pipe/cat replacement: Magnaflow (CARB compliant, ceramic coated)
Second Cat: Magnaflow (CARB)
Cat-Back: Bosal direct fit
Hardware: OEM (hangers, bolts, nuts, exhaust gaskets, O2 sensors)
I know some of you are probably scratching your heads asking "Why the Bosal cat-back when you said you didn't want the cheapest option?". Good question. The answer is I intend to wheel this truck fairly hard whenever I'm able and I think the odds of me crushing a tail pipe or a muffler are high compared to the cats being damaged (protected by built-in skid on sliders). The cats and y-pipe being the most expensive part of the system, I don't want them to be garbage or rot out in a year or two. I've heard good things about the Magnaflow part and I thought getting a ceramic coating on the manifolds and y-pipe would add an extra layer of protection against corrosion. All said and done, this won't be a cheap solution but I believe it will be cheaper than OEM and hopefully better in some aspects. Please share your thoughts about this set up along with any experiences you've had with these specific products. I haven't ordered anything yet so suggestions are welcome.
So just like the title says, I have a '97 with about 240K miles on it. I am not the original owner but based on maintenance records and visual inspection the vehicle seems to have been taken care of. Lately I've had power loss and I wasn't sure what the culprit was. After consulting MUD and several different people more knowledgeable than myself, I finally removed the No1 O2 sensor completely to see if there was some sort of exhaust blockage causing my issue. Sure enough, truck drove fine. No acceleration issues. No power loss. Just some loud exhaust blasting out of the O2 sensor port. So, based on that evidence, it would seem that my catalytic converters are clogged.
Now, I knew that I had some exhaust maintenance to do even before the cats bit the dust. The hangers are broken, which has led to my tailpipe hammering itself into an oval on the frame. My muffler is cracked. I also have a hole downstream of the muffler. Finally, I'm fairly certain that the entire system is original except the muffler itself which means plenty of rust. All things considered, I've decided to do a manifold back replacement. I intend to keep this vehicle so I don't see the point in welding/bolting in new cats when I will have other repairs to do before long.
Now, I wish I had the money to just write the check and put all OEM parts back in. Unfortunately, I don't think that's gonna be an option. That being said, I want something that works and I'm not looking for the very cheapest replacement either. Below is my current parts list:
Manifolds: Dorman (ceramic coated)
Y-pipe/cat replacement: Magnaflow (CARB compliant, ceramic coated)
Second Cat: Magnaflow (CARB)
Cat-Back: Bosal direct fit
Hardware: OEM (hangers, bolts, nuts, exhaust gaskets, O2 sensors)
I know some of you are probably scratching your heads asking "Why the Bosal cat-back when you said you didn't want the cheapest option?". Good question. The answer is I intend to wheel this truck fairly hard whenever I'm able and I think the odds of me crushing a tail pipe or a muffler are high compared to the cats being damaged (protected by built-in skid on sliders). The cats and y-pipe being the most expensive part of the system, I don't want them to be garbage or rot out in a year or two. I've heard good things about the Magnaflow part and I thought getting a ceramic coating on the manifolds and y-pipe would add an extra layer of protection against corrosion. All said and done, this won't be a cheap solution but I believe it will be cheaper than OEM and hopefully better in some aspects. Please share your thoughts about this set up along with any experiences you've had with these specific products. I haven't ordered anything yet so suggestions are welcome.