Just curious but how are the cats attached? Are they welded on or bolted on? And what needs to be done to relocate them for LT headers?

 

Mine I know are welded but nothing a reciprocating saw cant solve.

 

I unbolted my exhaust manifolds and cut the tubes right after the cat on each side when I did my LT Headers. I then installed the headers. I ultimately brought my truck down to the local Mieneke shop to re-weld in the cats. I have been welding since I was a kid, but with the truck sitting on the ground, didn't think I could get a good weld all the way around, laying on my back, and didn't want to chance leaks. They also had any and all pipe they would need to "splice" back in.
Was worth the $75 the shop charged me to weld the cats back in after the collectors. That only left extending the O2 Sensor wires for me to do, which took like 15 mins per side...

 

Would it be possible to weld it with the exhaust off the truck as opposed to it being on the truck? Im planning on doing the headers and a new Y pipe at the same time so everything will end up being pulled off the truck anyways.

 

yeah, I don't see why not, but they had to fab me up a short "Y" pipe, all of about a foot long. If you are planning on the "off-road Y pipe" I don't know that you can fit the cats back on. I didn't think there would be room when I looked at it from underneath, but maybe.

 

The only issue with that is proper fitment after all welded. I suggest you tack weld the pieces together before taking off and fully welding or else, pipes may hit frame/body or may not lkine up with the rest of the exhaust. it's one of those tough PIA jobs that requires multiple steps if you don't want to lay on your back and guess if the top part is welded securely or not....right Hammer!

 

About how far did the cats move back? I'll have to climbe under there when I get off work but it looked to me like the was a lot of room on the stock Y after the cats when we were under there doing the cutout.

This is what I am looking at at the moment though:
http://moesperformance.com/index.php...oducts_id=8979

Or a set of Hedman LTs and a magnaflow Y depending on price.

I do not want to get rid of the cats, and I have some play with the exhaust system

 

I had to extend my O2's about 18"...

 

About 18", damn... Alright that will at least give me a good reference point. So what size Y did the exhaust shop end up making for you? Or did they just trim the stock Y?

 

why dont u just leave the cats out.... when i put my headers on i left them off, not much room left for them and sounds 100 times better in my opinion