Be a good time to consider the u bend delete mod.

 

There's one thing to be aware of though if you replace the cat yourself. Sometimes the bolts connecting the cat to the resonator can get very rusty because they're exposed to more heat than the rest of the exhaust. I had to replace the cat on my 2001 SS when it had around 160k miles, and both bolts on the resonator-side of the exhaust broke (even after soaking them in PB-Blaster for hours). I had to pull the entire stock exhaust out of the car and drill out the two holes in the flange where the bolts had broken off (I actually contemplated buying an aftermarket exhaust that day!). Now I use high-grade steel nuts and bolts to hold things together down there.