Thanks. I just spent some time out at the self service yards. They had one later model and the xmember looks like that, but it's behind a v6. There are 2 sets of "ears" on the subframe in that area. Maybe the same xmember is used, but mounted further back?
johnc

 

I pulled off the cat today and installed a short piece of pipe. The aftermarket cat was "necked down" from 2 1/2" to a 2"inlet/exit. I think the PO put in a cat not up to the job.

 

That could be it. Don't know about the V6 xmember, I'd get one out of a V8 car if you can just to be safe.