On the Air Cooled 80-83.5 2.0 models this is true.  The California models
have the converter with mounting flanges on each end and is located on the
left side of the engine just below the valve cover.  The Federal 49 state
model has only one mounting flange and just a pipe on the opposite end that
slips into the muffler, thus it is located in the rear of the vehicle
in-line with the muffler/tailpipe.

83.5-85 1.9 Waterboxers have the converter similar to the California Air
Cooled and is mounted in-line next to the muffler for all 50 states.

86-91 Waterboxers are essentially the same as their 1.9 predecessors with a
bung (threaded hole) for the O2 sensor, again for all 50 states.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM, David McSparron <covrambles@yahoo.com>wrote:

> I just had my catalytic converter replaced (more on this later...). The
> mechanic said my AZ van (originally from NY or so I thought) had a CA
> catalytic converter fitted (why I cannot imagine). Anyway he said it had to
> be replaced by another CA cat otherwise some other piping had to be changed
> because the connecting pipes are different beween the two. Was he spinning
> me a yarn or is it true? Is there any way to find out where a van was first
> registered?
>
> I found an interesting web page on cats which goes into great detail about
> them.
> http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf
>