FWIW, I had a similar experience when I lived in San Diego.  Being
basically broke, I hollowed it out and reinstalled it.  When the next
smog inspection came due, still being broke, I tried the inspection
with it still empty.  Passed just fine. In the SCAMD, (South Coast Air
Management District) at the time the toughest emissions standards in
the world.

IMHO, if all else is within spec, it doesn't do much.

Jim

kenneth d lewis wrote:
>
> Alan;
>         My cat clogged up far from home so I hollowed it out to contnue
> my journey. It was that way for a while until I had time to repair it. I
> noticed no benifits in gas milage or performance.  For the sake of air
> quility I desided to fix it.
>