Exhaust system overhaul: re-cat h-pipe or new aftermarket?

First off, I'm in Broomfield County, CO which requires that I do the IM240 test, which means I will need functional catalytic converters, air pump, and all that BS on my 94 GT. :cry:

The guy I bought the car from did some kind of a hack job with the exhaust to include welding on some boxy-looking mufflers that I'm not even sure are for a car. They hang super low and scrape anything sticking up on the road.

Generally, the car smells awful when it runs. I took it to my mechanic friend and when they brought it into the garage and ran it for a bit the entire shop filled up with strong NOx and fuel smell. He recommended replacing everything from the headers on back.

I have a line on some BBK ceramic shorty headers and a Borla catback set of mufflers, but I was wondering about the midpipe.

Should I just get newer high-flow cats and weld them onto the stock h-pipe or just get a new midpipe altogether? I was looking specifically at the BBK catted x-pipe, but they will add $420 to my budget.

Also, I wonder if I'd really be saving money by retrofitting the old h-pipe.

Pretty sure I know what the answer to this question is, but let's hear your opinions.

 

Ah, I assume the purpose of a modular system is I can run an off-road pipe, but come time for inspection, slap on the cats, pass go, collect $200? Interesting...

 

Hadn't thought of recycling them, thanks for the tip!

 

Thanks for the tips gents! Headers, catback, and new BBK catted x-pipe on the way from UPS!

I wanted to go modular but I REALLY want for this smell to go away, and now that I may possibly have to add brakes and an A/C repair on my short list, I will eschew the Bassani midpipe until a later date, or maybe get my exhaust guy to fab me something so I can change them out with straight pipe sections!

This stuff is a disease! I'm already adding heads, intakes, throttle bodies, & cams to my wishlists.