My cat is empty, looks like it came empty,  and I have had no trouble (knock on
wood) passing NC emissions (125k miles). I even was complimented by one garage
for still having the cat on the exhaust system.  I feel environmentally
responsible. Its just in other areas that I am not responsible.

jim

Ed Shultz wrote:

> Wow! I'm glad I'm not the only one. While inspecting my cat a few weeks
> ago, I saw that it was clean as a whistle inside! Just an empty can. I had
> thought that the P.O. did a great job at reaming it out. That explains it.
>
> Ed
>
> At 09:35 AM 10/15/2001 -0400, Gary Stearns wrote:
> >Depends on why you're asking.  If your cat is OK, it's unlikely
> >you'll  see additional power, just additional noise.  If your cat is
> >plugged, take it off, smash out the guts and reinstall it empty.  I know
> >that this seems anti-environmental, but get this:  VW delivered lots of
> >Vanagons with empty catalytic converters. Seems that they had designed the
> >U.S. exhaust to comply with California emissions specs. which required the
> >cat.  The rest of the country didn't need the cat to comply (something to
> >do with classification as a light truck).  Rather than redesign the
> >exhaust and have two systems, VW just installed empty cats on the Fed
> >spec. Vanagons.  Ours was one of those.  No sign of having been reamed
> >out.  No guts were ever in there!  If you get emission inspected where you
> >are, just be sure that your engine is in good tune.  The cat could make a
> >poorly running engine look clean to an exhaust gas analyser.
> >
> >Gary
> >-------Original Message-------
> >
> >From: <mailto:jermide@HOTMAIL.COM>Jermide
> >Date: Sunday, October 14, 2001 11:21:18 PM
> >To: <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Removal of cat converter
> >
> >How many out there have removed their catalytic converter? Any major
> >disadvantage beyond environmental concerns?
> >
> >Just curious.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Jeremy
> >85 GL
> >
> >_________________________________________________
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>
> Ed Shultz
> 1987 Syncro GL
> Photos: http://homepage.mac.com/eshultz/PhotoAlbum.html