Does this need to be painted or treated before installation?

No prep needed. Stainless steel resists corrosion naturally—install as-is. The polished tip will patina over time from heat, which is normal.

Will this bolt straight to my stock catalytic converter?

Yes. This system connects directly to the factory cat flange and uses existing factory hangers. No cutting, welding, or adapter fabrication required.

What if the hangers don't line up perfectly?

Test-fit the assembly before tightening anything down. Minor hanger tweaks are normal—you may need to adjust the rubber isolators slightly for clearance, but the main connection points are fixed to the cat flange.