So this is what I paid a shop to do. Is this a total hack job or not as bad as I think?
2000 Acura El. My muffler rusted off so I bought a Yonaka 2.5" catback as well as a 2.5" universal cat. I took it to the shop and said "install the catback and here's a cat incase the original cat looks like it needs replacing." I didn't think to buy a 2.5" test pipe or flanges to weld up to the cat as all of this is new to me. Anyway they welded it in using the original much smaller exhaust flanges, which of course was the most costly part of the job. After seeing how this smaller pipe is shoved in there causing who knows what type of restriction and welded up god knows how, I wish they just said 'hey we need a bigger flange to do this properly'.
So is this a total hack job, or is this not as bad as I think? I mean assuming there are no leaks in these welds I guess it's functional but is this as bad as I think it is for exhaust flow? The sound of the exhaust is pretty droney at times which I wonder if it has something to do with this restriction.

 

I would make a mental note to not got there again.