BearsLexus

I have several leaks in my exhaust system following a complete engine rebuild. I need to replace the Cat and everything behind it essentially. My question is this. Is the Resonator chamber really necessary? I have eliminated resonators on other vehicles and ran straight pipe instead with no issues at all.
Additionally, is it feasible to run a High-Flow Catalytic converter, rather than a stock style Cat? I can find them far less expensively and quite frankly, wouldn't mind the increased power coming from a better flowing exhaust system.
Any tips and tricks are highly appreciated!

Lexmex

I would just do welds on the leaks.

That resonator chamber (the one behind the cat) can be dumped (it's been long gone one mine) and I use a small muffler in its place. I've tried a glasspack with a small muffler on the back, but had a lot of raspy/fart like noises, so the you'd need at least keep something the size of the current muffler (or something like a magnaflow) if you want to run a glasspack there. Take a look at page 3 of my car domain homepage page below as I have run a cylindrical muffler there in past (along with an oval one and yes even one shaped like a square), and they would do the trick with a direct flow muffler on the back.

I've got a Magnaflow 93506 cat on mine now and that thing runs beautifully. I was able to pass Mexico City emissions with it, so if you have that issue in Ohio, you shouldn't have an issue passing there either (we have no emissions in Florida since 2000).

BearsLexus

I do intend to run a muffler on the back end, though I do intend to eliminate the resonator. I don't need to have hot-rod sound out of my X-over SUV! Thank you for the info. Any other info is very helpful!