The catalytic converter "cat" contains a ceramic matrix (e.g. honeycomb
structure) that has platinum and other catalysts suspended on the surface.  The
catalyst can get "poisoned" (i.e. rendered ineffective) by a number of things
included leaded gas fumes (thus part of the reason for going to unleaded gas).

Anyway, that ceramic stuff is fragile and if it crumbles it can plug up your
muffler.  It's also no longer doing its job, so some people take the cat off,
empty the fragments out and reinstall it.  The cat is now "gutted."

Some claim more power because there's less backpressure.  Others will claim
that you're now spewing more nasty stuff into the atmosphere because the
catalyst is gone.  So gutting the cat typically has some ethical questions
associated with it, as well as functional questions.

-Karl

> Hi everyone... I'm new to the list!
> I need to know what you mean by gutted. Does gutted mean it is gone?  I
> just purchased an 82 Vanagon, but I just found out it does not have a cat.
>  We want it to pass emissions so we will have time to save up the money
> for the cat...any suggestions?  It has 106,000 miles, it runs great. Needs
> a tune up, but other than that it is great!! Thanks!! Margie : ) Albuq. NM

Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 195K miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/
PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon/