I have had the ZZP longtube header with catted downpipe for a few years now. While the quality of the pipe and welds is great, the woven flex pipe they use is crap. Up here where roads are salted mine lasted 2 full years before it started to disintegrate.
It doesnt look easily replaceable either because of the otherwise solid construction, so I would have to buy it as one piece with the cat. Now that we dont require inspection in Ontario, I am considering going catless.
Where you are it probably wont be as bad, but something to be aware of.

 

Yeah Im in the Salt Belt, crazy Bi-Polar weather and all. The flex pipe seems to be good, they just said its been welded a few times ( I assume new pipes added as the old gets replaced? ) but a custom shop quoted me $1000 for a complete exhaust Flex pipe back and would probly be half that if the cat is still good, so I need to go have them look at it and see.

 

Bonez- just know you would be replacing an aluminized stainless exhaust GM uses.

 

My original was not stainless...

 

It is not a anti-magnetic aircraft grade stainless, but GM has been using "Aluminized Stainless" exhaust pipes since the 90's at least.

 

This thing is nothing but rust held together with welds lol its china steel I bet...

 

Not in the OEM exhaust, maybe in the replacement pipes.

 

In my area I know of 2 one man shops with pipe bending equipment. You might try asking some parts delivery guys if they have seen such stuff. Around here there are 15-20 shops in the backyard that get parts from NAPA, this is a pretty small town.

 

I should have gotten a picture of the underside while on the lift, Ill be back there soon to get the trans lines replaced, Ill snag one then,,, I don't think anything as far as the exhaust is original , lots of little 2" spacers welded in everywhere so I bet this thing was pieced together as stuff rusted out? maybe the flex pipe is original but as far as everything else, I think its a Frankenstein !