Why are catless midpipes so damn expensive?

Is there anything special about them or could I just have a muffler shop fab them up?

I have a bung to be welded in (wideband) and a crappy catback to be 'unwelded' so I figured "what the hell, let's lose the cat pipes at the same time".

How can a manufacturer charge that much for two twisted pipes?

Anyone else done this at a sensible cost?

I know I'm gonna hear the "pay to play" thing, but that's not a viable excuse to just throw money away.

Ideas?
Herb

 

you can always go to a muffler shop tell them to Cur out your cats and weld striaght piping in its place, that serves your purpose no?

 

Not exactly...

We don't sniff at inspection 'round here...yet.

I'd like to be able to retain the factory cat pipes and catback in working order as the ole' automtive **** probe will be showing up down here before long.

I could probably have a decent shop replicate the general shape of the stock ones with straight 2-1/2" pipe.

I just don't want to reinvent a wheel that won't roll - if this has been tried and failed - for whatever reason - I would rather learn from it than repeat it.

That could be my last resort though. I could surely come up with a pull-off cat pipe set if needed later...

Herb

 

Go in and have them jack up the truck ask them how much they'd charge to throw on new cat/midpipes that are pipe only. Can't be too much, just getting them to bolt up easily to your headers will be the toughest part.

 

If I'm not mistaken it's a $10,000 fine PER CAT removed should they get caught. There just are'nt too many small business owners who would find your performance gains worth those risks.

What you can do though is to have them fab one up and trial fit it. Then bolt it in yourself.

Rich

 

My point exactly,

I want a system that can be easily returned to stock.

After every weekend of racing...

wink, wink,
nudge, nudge,
know what I mean, know what I mean?

Herb