CA need new cats

I need to get my cats replaced but the original manifolds are 900-1000 a piece oem. I called a few shops and they are saying they usually just cut the old ones out and weld another in. They kind of made it sound like they would like the assembly on.

has anyone ever done this in California?

does this sound like something that’s legit?

 

Any aftermarket converter runs the risk of coming back with a p0420/430 (cat efficiency)

OEM from the dealer is really the only way to guarantee it won't code

How do you know it needs cats? Have you checked for exhaust leaks?

 

If the original ones gave a code, then OEM will also (eventually)

 

Maybe after another 17 years

Still a few things to check though..
-Fresh air leaks into the exhaust can fool the cat monitor.
- any misfire that results in raw fuel going down the tailpipe can harm the cats prematurely. Check for bad plugs and coils..
- a slow responding 02 sensor can confuse the pcm. But usually you'd expect to see a oxygen sensor related code before it gets to the cat monitor

 

The aftermarket ones are cheaper with less of the expensive material that filters the exhaust in them which is why they run the risk of tripping the same code right after or shortly after install. If they're 50 state/CARB approved then they shouldn't, but they still won't last as long as OEM (which cost an arm and a leg of course)

 

Unless the aftermarket cats are stamped 50 state / CARB legal, you will fail visual even if you pass emissions check.

 

Here is my original thread on the diagnosis of the cats
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/p0430-with-numbers-what’s-the-next-step.790471/unread

the new cats would be CARB legal but there expensive two. Installed they would be 850 bucks from a reputable muffler shop. I am leaning toward full assembly replacement too.

 

that's honestly not bad for CARB legal cat install (aftermarket). I paid $600 for CARB Magnaflows for my 1st gen about 7 years ago and cats have gone up considerably in price since then.

Of course they are starting to falter now though and I'll probably have to do another set soon, but such is the risk with aftermarket. Not getting the inefficiency code yet but the cat monitors are taking way too long to reset.

 

If you’re gonna keep the truck and want to stay smog legal, just get OEM. They lasted you 17 years!! And you can install them yourself with no welding skills required. Some peeps use shorty headers plus CARB approved aftermarket cats BUT that usually comes out to cost more, doesn’t last as long (especially if the welds develop pinholes) and you will lose bottom end torque because short tube headers suck!

 

Supposedly CARB is not only a simple matter of an emissions tech looking for a square on the cat, but even so far as writing the number down to cross-check in a database

Or just bolt on a working used set for cheap...

 

I’d be suspect of “working used” because of the work involved to find out if it really works

 

what are the odds it doesn't
truck ain't flipped over in the junkyard because a cat died at 100k
it's in the junkyard at 100k because it flipped over, probably with a working cat

one cat is probably $45. The Y-pipe is pretty easy to swap
your call at end of the day
New is probably $1600+

this is probably the one time you hope someone steals your cats and insurance possibly pays for it; only for them to end up with your non-working cats but who knows, they may still find value in the precious metals in whatever the hell they end up doing with it/using that for
But if OP lives in a decent area, probably isn't TweakerTeams patrolling his street with a sawzall at night

unless living in another state (non $3k rent non $5 gas) without CARB where cats likely way cheaper and probably nice to have a shiny new part

Some people even have multiple sets of whatever equipment, whether that be intake or otherwise, that can be swapped out
but in terms of what is best, like performance, sound, clearance, etc. I really don't know.

I've heard URD has a good one that may even kill 2 birds with one stone being that it is likely a higher clearance that may prevent the need for reroute for trans skid (pay shop $300) by being simply designed in a better shape
And when you pay for a reroute, based on whether the person's done it or not, you're risking whether they know what they're doing
like if something is positioned too close without a shield, that heat can melt stuff

my previous car, HFC was a popular mod and pretty cheap, like $300 for a new one
high flow cat
but also because it was turbo where that helps more
and even required with more serious ECU tunes (also common)

 

Custom exhaust work can be hit or miss. I just spent 2 days chasing down exhaust leaks on an old land cruiser that was setting "oxygen sensor slow response" codes

 

If it was me, I'd pressurize smoke test,
or seal off, blow compressed air
get underneath, listen, maybe cover in soapy water to look for bubbles while cold because the metal has not yet expanded and become hot enough to instantly vaporize any water on it

Another one that helps is force a restriction, such as wet rags trying to plug the tailpipe, to increase pressure inside the exhaust (while it still runs) to see if that can force out a leak more/make it easier to detect

always heard about stuff like SeaFoam; anything that creates white smoke more visible than clear, to help test
but idling with seafoam will also send a ton of that as a cloud out the tailpipe which may not be good depending on where you're doing this

IDK if there's any more sophisticated methods beyond that

 

Yep, all of the above

 

TL; DR Have you recently bought cats at a junk yard? Last time I hit one up along the border in Otay Mesa guy told me that they’re not allowed to sell headers or y-pipes with cats on them. He wasn’t the kind to explain…

 

no comment

 

AFAIK used cats are not allowed to be sold at scrapyards. They're supposed to pull them off and send them to a facility to recover the insides. If you're talking about bribing a scrapyard guy or paying under the table that's not really a realistic option to tell a guy on the internet

 

different states a person is in have different laws

 

Otay Mesa is in California.