Ouch. Hate it when sh*t like that happens. Sounds like you need to invest in some long tubes and do away with those pesky studs all together. Only $225 on Amazon last I checked.

 

Update

Good news is all the studs were sorted and Tricky Dick is back together

Bad news is that the drivers side cat has a small exhaust leak just prior to the cat behind the heat shield.

I swear I checked that before replacing the gaskets...so the big question, catless or not...

 

I vote no. Zero gains, cats are cheap, tickets are expensive inspection state or not, and it increases your cancer risk.

Plus the environmental reasons, but everyone has differing opinions there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Just my 2¢, but obviously its your truck at the end of the day.

 

update

the drives side cat was cracked almost all the way around. Had a local shop weld it closed and put it all back together (another broken stud...).

All is good and calling this thread closed