'04 Monte / Showroom Stock.

The exhaust is making enough noise that I stuck it on a lift, today, and checked it out.
Seems OK to Cat.
Resonator after Cat is leaking from top. Making cool sounding exhaust note along with irritating vibrating heat shield.

Resonator needs replacing.
Tail pipe out of resonator going back to muffler is heavily surface rusted.
Muffler seems OK.
Weld-on hangers on muffler showing rust surrounding weld.

OEM replacement costs are so high I need Oxygen.
I want to replace the System ... Cat-back.
Saving some dough over the cost of Genuine GM Parts imperative.

What can I do that will be quiet enough to please the Old Lady.
Save money over bringing it to the Dealer for a Stock Job.
Be cool enough for an Old Man who still has some Hot Rodding left in him.
And, ... Will PASS Massachusetts Annual DMV Inspection.

I plan on selling the job to the Missus in the following manner:

"Honey, it's not going to sound like a brand new car anymore. This is going to let me keep the car on-the-road; and not break the bank."

Thanks for reading my Post.
What do you recommend?

Rick Massey

 

You could just get an exhaust repair kit, that'd be cheapest and still quiet.

 

but if you do decide to go with a cat back and are looking for something quiet you might want to look into dynomax