I'm not in a position to do my own car work right now. My cat has something rattling around in it (confirmed it is inside and not some loose shielding). I emailed a few mechanics asking for a R&R quote. Lowest I got was $700. I'm guessing that's some jacked up price they want to charge me to weld a new cat in. Couldn't they just buy a whole new assembly for around $200 and spend an hour replacing it. Think I could just tell them I'd pay $350 to replace the whole assembly and see what they say. I'm figuring they are trying to jack up the man hours by welding a new cat on and charging me double.

I don't have a jack, tools, or that much time to replace it myself.

Thanks.

 

What year, make, model & engine?

 

you can get a walker cat for like 150 bucks,and pay someone 50 bucks to weld it in.



VVVV hes rigght. didnt think of that. but if a universal is legal where you are,dont get jyped and buy a 150.00 cat,and pay someone to weld it on.

 

The real question is what State do you live in?? In California an aftermarket cat is illegal. You have to replace it with an OEM Factory cat. There maybe other States that are the same, Michigan comes to mind.

 

Forgot to give the car details. '98 2WD 4dr 4.3L. Live in Georgia.

 

Buy MagnaFlow Direct Fit Catalytic Converter 23455 at Advance Auto Parts

6 bolts, 2 gaskets, and swap the oxygen sensor. A little over an hour work. Michigan requires 49 state emissions, and does not require the replacement converter to be OEM.... yet.

 

i've never heard of that before. i had one changed on my honda that was only $75 and it wasnt a problem last time i smogged it. it shouldnt make a difference so long as it passes the smog check. they just have to be CARB certified. (California Air Resources Board) some board that was put in charge of making up stupid rules that they think that the whole U.S. should follow. i personally think that it should be set to the wayside and everyone on it should be exiled to Nepal.

 

I live in S. Ga. Mrtheshaggy, my local muffler charged $250 for the cat and installed it. Check around some more, 700 is way to much.

 

Many thanks! This is great info.

 

the only bad thing about those cheap cats is they go bad every other year. we get lots of return customers to the shop who had a cheap magnaflow or whatever brand put in, passed emissions but then the light comes back on a year or so later. the product is covered under warranty but the labor isnt