I think this came up some time ago. Rather than have a separate and different exhaust
piece for those areas that didn't require cats, they just used an empty cat. Same
spacing, clearance, etc. I know someone quite well who emptied his cat on purpose (no
inspections where he lives) and experienced slightly better performance and gas
mileage and no apparent adverse effects (except maybe air quality). I believe others
have done similar.
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger VanTill" <Rvantill@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 9:39 AM
Subject: My Cat is empty

> I replaced the muffler on the Syncro last week and found out why the exhaust
> smells like a car twenty years older. What looked like a cat was just an
> empty can. Why is this done, and what effects does it have on tuning,
> performance, etc.?
>   We don't have inspections in this part of Michigan so I'm not worried about
> that. I may put one in so my clean air conscience doesn't bother me though.
>
> Roger VanTill
> 89 Westy "The Moose Lounge"
> 86 Syncro "HUMMVW"
> 92 Escort "The Turd" (sorry,it runs)