Installing New CAT On 04 LS V8

[Jesus A Rodriguez]

I need to put in a new CAT on my 04 LS V8 but the mechanic is quoting me around $1400. I found some magnaflow CATS on eBay for $450. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are these good enough? Also how long does it take to replace it? I'm going to use a mechanic to replace it and I would like to know how long it takes to install since I'm being charged by the hour.

 

[1LoudLS]

are they just cats alone? meaning is everything going to need to be welded up?

A simple OEM cat swap (oem for oem) could be done in less than 30 mins, if you're lucky enough for none of the bolts are rusted on. when I needed to remove my cat system, all of the bolts came off fine (a little PB blast helped a lot, but I did need a few socket extensions and at least one wobble knuckle) but where the cat system and the cat back part of the system were so rusted together that they had to be cut apart, and then when it needed to go back on it had to be welded back together.

given all the proper tools and parts, if it was just regular universal cats, I wouldn't expect it to take longer than a couple of hours.

 

[jjcool00]

I need to put in a new CAT on my 04 LS V8 but the mechanic is quoting me around $1400. I found some magnaflow CATS on eBay for $450. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are these good enough? Also how long does it take to replace it? I'm going to use a mechanic to replace it and I would like to know how long it takes to install since I'm being charged by the hour.

Find the seller that will allow you to "make an offer" and offer $350 or $375. That's what I did and he accepted. Those cats are fine I have been running them for about a year and have had no issues at all. They are direct bolt on, although you will need special flanges. Any good exhaust shop can accommodate and you'll be fine. It will take about an hour to complete the job, two hours if you're messing around and slow. You have to remove the old cat, bolt on the new cats, weld them, and replace O2 sensors. I had mine installed for $100, which I thought was too much.

 

[Jesus A Rodriguez]

What do you mean special flanges? Would I be able to just buy those CATS and have them installed or do I have to buy other parts too?