I remember seeing junked vanagons with complete exhaust system
available for pulling. I pulled a pair of cylinder heads from
one and left everything else there. If I remember correctly
the CAT was still on the Vanagon. Well, this was probably 5 years
ago. I am not aware that it is illegal for wreckers to sell
used CATs. Last year I was offered one from a small wreck yard
(a very small though). It might have been illegal as you said.
I did not buy it because it wasn't an OEM one.

David

--- On Tue, 2/10/09, mdrillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:

> From: mdrillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
> Subject: Re: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 9:23 AM
> The California you-pull yards don't sell used cats. It
> has been illegal
> to do so for years!
>
> They cut them off and sell them to recyclers for their
> precious metals
> content.
>
> Mark
>
> David Kao wrote:
> > 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
> >>