NPC: Replace Catalytic converter, On my truck-should I? Options

[URY914]

My catalytic converter on my Dodge Ram is coming apart and raddling around. If it continues I'm told, it could screw up the muffler and clog the pipes. The truck has 108,000, so it is out of warrenty.

So the questions are:
a. Do I be a good friend of the Earth and spend +/-$500 to have it replaced?
b. Replace it myself, can't be that hard right?
c. Do I replace it with a stright pipe for $20, screw Mother Nature and pocket the change?

Is there other options?
Whata think?

Paul

[Dave Bell]

I had to do the CAT on my 75 teener one more time last year... rolls into the 30 year CA exemption after that.

I picked up an after market unit for about $90 at a FLAPS and welded it in myself... I imagine that it wouldn't cost more than about $50 - $70 to get a cheap muffler shop to do the same welding... total cost would likely be less than $200 for whole thing done by a muffler shop if you let them source the CAT.

I doubt that the remains of the little platinum coated catalytic screens, blown into the muffler, would clog it up... but someone else may have had a bad experience. The little screen bits from the converter can and will stay in your muffler and can rattle a bit in there..... On my 914, its really hard to hear the rattle of a few tiny pieces of metal in the bottom of the muffler... on your Dodge it may be different.

If you have to pass smog... you will likely have to fix it before the test.