I have a cheap CAT on my 84 GL. I believe I paid around $50 only
in the late 90's. It looks cheap and I never liked it. But it does
the job fine. My 84 just passed a smog test last December. The smog
test tech told me that my Vanagon did well considering its age.
Since I don't like its look I have been looking for a used OEM
one. It is usually available from you-pull junk yard kind of cheap
when I wasn't looking. Last time I went to a junk yard there wasn't
even a Vanagon to be found. I guess I don't really need one anyway.
I am in California. I am not aware of any new specific requirement
regarding smog/CAT on old cars.

David

--- On Mon, 2/9/09, Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:29 PM
> This has been covered before... the main reason California
> is requiring all
> new catalytic converters to meet OBD-II standards is to
> improve the overall
> quality of the cats sold in CA.  OBD-II cats must come with
> 50k mile/5 year
> warranties.
>
> That pretty much eliminates those cheap $100 Vanagon cats.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Scott Daniel - Turbovans
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 5:51 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?
>
> thanks for posting the Jerry.
> I'll be real curious to find out what the real deal
> is......
> since what's quoted below doesn't make a lot of
> sense.
>
> partly what doesn't make sense, as far as I know, is
> that a cat for a 1996
> car, for example, isn't any different in how it works
> from a cat from a 1986
> car ...........
> the later cat might have a spot of a post-cat oxygen sensor
> .........
> but the material used in the cat isn't different or
> anything like that, as
> far as I know.....
> it's the entire engine management system that's
> different in OBD-II compared
> to OBD-I and pre-OBD cars.
>
> what they are leaving out is the very very fine print
> ....the fine print
> from Ca that says ( we, the State of California,  are
> trying to get all
> older cars off the road in Ca. )
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "azsun99" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:43 PM
> Subject: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?
>
>
> >I was browsing a parts catalog (not one of the usual
> list vendors) and when
> >I looked
> > up the catalytic converter for a '90 Vanagon,
> there was this note on the
> > page:
> >    "With oxygen sensor hole. New CARB regulations
> that went into effect on
> > January 1,
> > 2009 now require all exhaust catalyst devices that are
> sold in California
> > regardless
> > of model year must meet the tougher OBD II emission
> standards that were
> > introduced in
> > the 1996 model year. Until further notice, this
> catalytic converter should
> > not be used
> > on vehicles registered in California."
> >
> > Anyone in California subject to CARB rules care to
> comment?
> >
> > Just wondering.
> >
> > Jerry