The Vanagon engine is a pretty filthy one even with a catalytic converter.
Be a good citizen and get a proper one.

----- Original Message -----
From: Rowland Rose <RRosejr988@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 12:07 PM
Subject: gutted catalyctic

> I own an 87 syncro in Indiana and decided to gut the catalyctic converter
> since the vehicle already has over 100,000 miles on it and I figured the
> catalyctic was contaminated and not doing much good anyway. The exhaust
pipe
> is now showing more carbon instead of burning clean. Will leaning the
mixture
> screw cure this? I thought the ecu did this automatically through readings
> from the co exhaust sensor. Any advice other than 'buy a new catalyctic'
> would be appreciated.