Exhaust Leak Help!

[WVXC450R]

Well I took my new 97 ecsb sierra to the shop today to get my exhaust leak fixed. It's leaking right after the last catalytic converter. It also has true duals by the way. But anyways I have a small rant! Guys if your truck has a problem please FIX it up don't F*%$ it up like my previous owner did!! If you have an exhaust leak, especially around a catalytic converter, pay $50 to get it welded from a shop instead of $5 for exhaust putty. Because chances are it wont work and you'll be buying a new catalytic converter on down the road because they won't be able to weld it because of the putty!!

So anyways I need to get a new catalytic converter. I would really prefer not to and just cut it out.. Is there a way I can do this without throwing a code? It's just the back conveter?

OR

What's a cheap High flow converter I can buy? and what size?

Is there any gains to getting rid of the converter vs a high flow one? They told me $125-$175 to get it fixed depending on what they had to do to it which sounded reasonable to me but I wanted to get my own converter if I have to.

Thanks guys!

 

[WVXC450R]

By the way I don't have emission testing and I don't have a visual inspection either.

 

[WVXC450R]

http://www.afterthoughtsauto.com/o2sim.html

Found this. I think im going to go this route.. do I need two of them or just one? All im replacing is the down stream o2

 

[WVXC450R]

I searched aroun and can't find anyone who will weld it up without cats so what's a cheap high flow cat I can use? Should I replace both of them or just the 1? The truck has 126k on it but they were hard miles...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RyanR]

Magnaflow is the best flowing cat and not overly priced either, ran a set on my Lightning for awhile when I was running the Kenne Bell. They came on the truck when I bought it so I thought I'd give em a try before I ditched them. And replace them both, your gonna throw off your back pressure on each side if you don't since the Maggy lows so much better than the OEM junk.

Best thing to do would be just to find a person/friend who has a wire welder at home and do it yourself and forget the cats.

 

[WVXC450R]

I've heard people say that the vortecs won't run as well if you take the cats off because of the loss of back pressure? Is this true?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WVXC450R]

Dang I didn't even think about that..

It would deffinately be cheaper if I did that.. I have a wire welder, just don't know how to weld for crap lol. I got some buddy's though.

I've had some people tell me not to take the cats off of a vortec bc they need the extra back pressure. Is this true?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RyanR]

Dang I didn't even think about that..

It would deffinately be cheaper if I did that.. I have a wire welder, just don't know how to weld for crap lol. I got some buddy's though.

I've had some people tell me not to take the cats off of a vortec bc they need the extra back pressure. Is this true?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Naw that's bs. Now don't get me wrong, small blocks need back pressure but the factory exhaust is pitiful and choked up, removing the cats will just free up a little backpressure and prolly make a HP or 2 lol. Removing them wont be enough to hurt ur backpressure.

 

[bluex]

I've heard people say that the vortecs won't run as well if you take the cats off because of the loss of back pressure? Is this true?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mine runs great without them. Still gets the same fuel mileage as one with out them. There is no issue from removing them except a constant ses light...

 

[Horns]

I've heard people say that the vortecs won't run as well if you take the cats off because of the loss of back pressure? Is this true?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, disregard any information giving by someone who makes that statement. They're speaking through internet hearsay without any self earned knowledge.