A $100 cat is effective for less than 2 years and is nowhere near as
efficient as an OE cat.  

If you really want to do it right, buy a cat that meets OE specs... about
$500.

Cheers, 

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
den jolliffe
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 5:46 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Catalytic Converter???? Anyone go without it???

Aren't we talking about a $100 part that helps emissions and the air we all
breath. Say it lasts as long as the original or less (20 years)...that's $5
a year...less than a pack of smokes or a gallon of gas A YEAR.
�
It's a no brainer for me...NAPA has them.
�
Dennis2

>________________________________
> From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 6:38:50 PM
>Subject: Re: Catalytic Converter???? Anyone go without it???
>  
>David, that is true.� Some folks try to do something about, others rail
that it is too much to bear to clean up the act.
>
>It is true that transportation is the single largest polluter, however, and
the only way to control that is to make sure that each vehicle complies with
standard.
>
>We all pay, but then we all should.
>
>mcneely
>
>---- David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM> wrote: 
>> Meanwhile US industry pumps out millions of tons of pollutants every year
while us poor suckers pay over $1000 to get thru the emissions test
(happened to me twice).
>> If you look at the statistics you will be shocked at what goes into the
air every year.
>> �
>> -David, 1987 Wolfsburg
>> 
>> --- On Sun, 3/18/12, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
>> Subject: Re: Catalytic Converter???? Anyone go without it???
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 6:14 PM
>> 
>> 
>> Luckily for many the federal government relies on the states for 
>> enforcement. However the general requirements start at the federal 
>> level (EPA),especially for the design, maintenance, and operation of 
>> motor vehicles.� Disabling or removing parts of the emission control 
>> system are federal violations. Engine upgrades are also regulated 
>> with the major requirements being that the replacement be same year 
>> or later and all of the emissions equipment that goes with that 
>> engine goes with it. This can include all the controls, exhaust after 
>> treatment, and fuel tank vapor recovery systems and maybe even the 
>> transmission/drivelien. All the state emissions programs require that 
>> all the original equipment is there. Keep in mind that depending on 
>> use, (load, time under load, accelerating curves, etc.), a more 
>> efficient engine may not mean a cleaner engine. Some states actually 
>> operate these programs as private shops can both look the other way 
>> or take advantage and abuse customers. As for just relying on 
>> tailpipe tests, they are just too limited in scope and function. They 
>> can only look at percentages or parts per million (ppm), not actual 
>> pollutants per mile especially under different conditions. Again they are
designed to identify "gross" polluters, not certify your vehicle works
perfectly.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
>> Behalf Of Scott Daniel - Turbovans
>> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 3:27 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Catalytic Converter???? Anyone go without it???
>> 
>> what does that mean 'move issue up to the Fed level ' ?
>> there are no Fed smog stations.
>> I'm sure there is conflict between state's rights to set there own 
>> emissions requirements and what the Feds want.
>> 
>> I think it's interesting that where smog is not an issue locally ..
>> say where ocean air blows emissions inland ..
>> ( not talking about Ca. )
>> there can be no local smog checks at all, yet the cars are still 
>> emitting, it's just blowing somewhere else.
>> 
>> fortunately for many of us smogs checks are not required.
>> I would be in favor of basic tail pipe checks..
>> 
>> and an example of how silly the whole thing is ..
>> in Ca ...
>> officially, they will not allow people to put newer more fuel 
>> efficient, less polluting engines into their older vans.
>> Pretty stupid.
>> They could/should PAY people for putting in a late model less 
>> polluting and more fuel efficient engine into our old beaties.
>> But then anyway� ...'logical/practical' and 'government' have never 
>> been known to coincide.� Durn shame.
>> 
>> 
>> On 3/18/2012 9:36 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> > It will run just fine with the guts removed. There may be a very 
>> > slight performance penalty as the gasses bounce around in the 
>> > hollow cat. Not having a local emissions testing/enforcement 
>> > program just moves the issue up to the federal level.
>> >
>> > Dennis
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
>> > Behalf Of marc rose
>> > Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 11:54 AM
>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > Subject: Catalytic Converter???? Anyone go without it???
>> >
>> > I went to change out my worn out and rusted muffler on my 90 Carat
"Rosie"
>> > yesterday and noticed that the converter was all busted up and the 
>> > ceramic is all but gone.� I live in an area that has no enforced 
>> > emission tests or anything like that. My question is can i can 
>> > safely run without the convertor.� I was going to just bust out the 
>> > rest of the ceramic and reinstall but was not sure how it would 
>> > affect the overall operation of the engine.
>> >
>> > Any thoughts??
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Marc
>> >
>
>--
>David McNeely
>
>
>