max is running with there y -pipe with the longtubes, the shop made a custum y-pipe for mine. pretty much the same where it bends around the transfercase and then come to a Y.

 

I used one of these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-88029/

It seems fine so far.

 

So in Texas could I just clean my cat out?

 

Check local laws. If you don't have any kind of inspections required, then yes, you could get away with that.

 

Both my mechanic and muffler dude were trying to convince me to go with a baffled muffler to try and increase the service life of my cat. They say that the popping I get on decel is unburnt fuel exploding in the cat caused by cool air being sucked back up the tailpipe. According to the theory the mini explosions physically stress the substrate eventually causing mechanical failure. They both seem to concur, independently I might add, that the baffled muffler would stop the popping from happening and add to the life expectencyof the cat.

Of course being the stubborn know it all that I am I still have no muffler. But man I'm cool.

 

Well in TX, we have to get our vehicles inspected once a year. Abd they dont "sniff" the exhaust. How would they know the cat wasn't gutted?

 

They wont know it is gutted if you do it right
Cut pipe on muff side of the cat, remove the o2 sensor.
Bash the crap out of the cats insides(long bar)
Move exh pipe off to the side & start the truck & give it some revs to blow out the debris.
After welding it back up you may get a CEL.
In some cases (mine) I was able to just reset the pcm (disconnect neg battery/key on 10sec) & the cel/limp mode went away.
Guys with newer model years may have to get an o2 sim (maybe detected by inspection) or use the plug non fouler trick.
That may also be detected visually though.
3rd way is a bit tricky. Have to place a mark on the o2 sensor that shows where the IN side of the cat is.
Pull the sensor & weld a tiny V shaped piece of metal that will shield the incoming gases from contacting the sensor as much but not interfer with reinstalling the sensor.
Kind of like this if it makes sense
Mtr ---[cat <sensor ]---muff

 

Lucky me, I've got a baffled muffler showing up today that will go on right after the cat is loosely hung in place. For my application, a single side-out with a baffled can is the hot ticket anyway.

Booming the canyon walls to knock loose the stuff that's coming down anyway, huh?

 

lol! What can I say? These trucks sound bitchen. It's all I can do to not just go sit in it in the drive way and rev it in neutral all day. Lucky for the neighbors I usually drive it on the weekends. Besides I think they like the sound of revving bikes better...

 

In Texas, if you live in a high population county, you have emissions testing, but I THINK it's just visual,(ie, do you have what looks like a cat and O2 sensors.)

If it's a rural county or a farm or commercial vehicle, there is no emissions inspection.

They'll get you for a blown light bulb in the rear bumper before the cat, IMO.