so I got a 1990 22re 2wd and I’m chasing down a exhaust smell

So if there was an exhaust leak before the cat would the exhaust smell it smells out the tailpipe so would it just be a bad cat ?
I could really smell it in the cab every time I drive my truck I get it dry mouth
did a visual inspection I cannot see any thing cracks or black in the exhaust pipes

 

If it stinks that bad then the catalyst could've broken apart and not be doing anything. Are you even catching a whiff of it while driving? Seafoam it while idling and the exhaust will turn white. Use that to find the leak.

 

I smell it in stop and go traffic around town
When I’m driving on the freeway my mouth gets really dry