money pit

[Ranma]

Got around to checking the exhaust. The cat had been removed by a previous owner and very cheap headers installed. The cheap crap that JC Whitney sells at discount. Well got him up and the air, looked ok but was leaking at the connections. Want my guy to be quiet and not load err loud started doing some gentle tapping on the pipes. The pipe where the Cat should be located just fell apart. Then started going to the rear of the car, ah the exhaust just sort of fell apart. Need to replace from the head clear back to the rear of the car.
Wonders why it did not fall apart on the first bump? Now he is real loud with only the cheap headers remaining. Tell me how else I can frack up? only wanted the cat to pass inspection. Will take 2 weeks to get the new parts, my original parts fetish gets me again. Close to 1.9k from the front to rear
My question was what was keeping it tougher? Almost got hit by the resonator and then the muffler as they fell.