I can comment on getting the cats off.
This is long and for that I'm sorry.
I'm sure if you talk to anyone else that has read my post or been in any threads that I'm in they will tell you that I have a tendency to write books.
I had to take my transmission out a while back to change the front seal that the torque converter slides past to go into the transmission.
I've had problems with my transmission every sense.
In doing the removal of my transmission I had to take the Y-Pipe off along with the catalytic converters.
When I was trying to get the nuts off the studs on the exhaust manifolds to get my Y-pipe off I broke the studs.
So I had to take my exhaust manifolds off the motor and drill out the stud holes and so on and so forth. I'm sure you understand that process.
Once I had the Y-pipe disconnected from the manifold it gave me more room to get to all the bolts on the catalytic converters.
I then used a sawzall to cut the bolts for the joint between the catalytic converters and the Y-pipe.
You have to be very careful but you can cut the bolts in the space where the gasket is between the y-pipe and the catalytic converter pipe.
Don't cut too far into the space between the Y-pipe and the catalytic converters because the Y-pipe or catalytic converter can't remember exactly which one has a piece of pipe that slides inside the pipe that's on the other pipe..
In the process of me doing what all I've done to my truck I learned a few tricks here and there.
I am not ever going to try to take the nuts off the studs on the exhaust manifolds for the Y-pipe ever again.
I will cut the pipe in a straight line a few inches away from where it connects to the exhaust manifolds on the straightest part of the pipe.
Then when I'm ready to reassemble I will take a piece of pipe that slides right over the pieces of Y-pipe that was one piece when I cut it.
Then I will use some clamps and put it back together. And then wham-o bam-o there we go, the Y-pipe is back together.
Now I will tell you that when I got the three bolts connecting the Y-pipe and the catalytic converter I then had to drill those holes out because I couldn't get the bolt out.
Because they had been there for so long and had never been changed or anything. It was pretty much like they was welded in place.
As for the two bolts, nuts and springs that connects the catalytic converters to the extension pipe.
I cut those two with the sawzall as well, because I couldn't get them to come apart with my socket and wrench.
However I didn't have to cut or drill those holes out because once the bolts were cut they came out real easy.
Once I put everything back together as I already said my transmission has enacted right since.
After the seal popped I had the baby my truck home and I think I tore something up internally when I was babying at home.
Anyways I figured out that my vacuum modulator was bad as well. So I then had to go through the task of taking my catalytic converters back out.
I once again disconnected the Y-pipe so I could lower the Y-pipe, catalytic converters joint down so I can get to all three of the bolts and nuts making that joint.
Once I changed my vacuum modulator and was reassembling the catalytic converters joints, I left the top bolt and nut on the catalytic converter to Y-pipe joint out.
Once I started my truck the exhaust was no louder with that bolt and nut out then it had been before I took it out.
I'm leaving that boat nut out so I no longer have to drop my Wi-Fi to get the white pipe catalytic converter joint apart.
I'm sorry to everyone for once again writing a book.
@BoomTexan I wish you luck and hope that you will be able to enjoy your truck completely soon.
