OEM or after market cats

Well two years ago I was able to sneak by with an anti fouler but this year I can't seem to get rid of the code so I guess it's time to replace my exhaust manifold/cat.

Ive heard the aftermarket stuff has issues passing smog in CA?

I was quoted $830 for brand new OEM
$400 from a scrapyard with a guarantee it'll pass
aftermarket stuff is mid $200s

 

Where are you finding CARB compliance cats for 200? If you're paying 830 for oem, that's the route to go. Ca state law prohibite sale of used cat, especially from a scrap yard.

 

Nothing CARB compliant but if it'll stop the truck from throwing the code I dont really care. The place that smogs my truck just plugs it in and if it passes on the computer I'm GTG.

 

the 50 state legal aftermarket cats will be better quality than the ones that aren't, even if you don't need them I would get them. The dirt cheap aftermarket brands won't last long and might even still toss the inefficient catalyst code if the o2 sensors aren't satisfied by them.

OEM cats will always be the best quality but you will pay for it. Magnaflow makes good aftermarket ones

 

I had cheap aftermarket cats on my E36 for about 100K miles; it was the right call.

I got them b/c it was 400$ vs 2000$ - the car was worth 2500$ -
They lasted about 2 years and then started tossing an O2 sensor code.
Since my car was already old, I was allowed to pass with 2 error codes or I could have gamed the system by re/setting the codes right before inspection [it took 100miles of driving before it would toss the code again]

Where I live now, they don't even check that stuff - brake lights work, headlights work, got turn signals = all good

 

Have you tried cleaning them out???

They aren't always ruined, if they don't rattle when shaken, they usually work fine again after being cleaned.