What do you guys think? Does this look like the original cat or an aftermarket replacement? Note the slip-on/ clamp joints on either end.

 

Aftermarket. The stock cat originally had a heat shield like this:


Mopar P/N 52019480AD for "Federal" emissions behind the 4.0L

 

This is an original '98 cat.

 

Here's a pic of the original OEM CAT in my '99 XJ.

Edit: What year and body Jeep is in that pic you posted?

 

Thats O.E still has the factory exhaust clamp.

 

It's a pic of my '98 XJ.

 

Guess Chrysler/Jeep just slapped on whatever was in the parts bin on any given day.

 

My 1999 cat looks just like Ken's. But for '98 I checked my 1998 parts fiche and the Google image search matched the diagram

 

Compared to my 95 that looks aftermarket

 

Truly... Sometimes it's almost as if someone at the plant woke up every two weeks and said "Hmm, I think we'll do it this way for a bit..."

Chrysler weren't the only ones, either, but that's a whole different discussion.

 

My guess is so much of the small stuff, t-stats, cats, etc., etc. is out sourced to various OEM's. Those OEM"s may make changes throughout a model year/production run for the various auto mfgs and as long as the part(s) meet set standards, outward appearance makes no difference.....at least in the case of something that goes on the underside of the vehicle.

 

"someone run to Pep Boys and get 1,500 cats"

 

I'll bet a inventory control mgr at an assembly plant already has computers programmed to reorder whenever widgits in inventory fall below a certain level. Maybe even similar to Pep Boys inventory control.

 

This is precisely what they do, it's known as JIT, or "just in time" replenishment. It keeps assembly operations lean and on-hand inventory low. It depends on a big chain of logistics, and when one link fails, there has to be an immediately viable backup, as is probably the case with these converters. They probably had at least two or three backup components lined up requiring no other process changes in order to keep production rolling.

 

Does this thing have an O2S? I don't see one in the pic.

It almost looks like a resonator.

Is your Heep an "Export" version?