My Van passed California smog with this "49 states" version from Van Cafe
for $145.00

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_704_275/catalytic_converter.html

A nice surprise is that they now have the California version for only
$265.00

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1678_275/catalytic_converter_calif_wextras.html

When I was shopping for the Cali version about 1.5 years ago the only ones
I could find were all $450 - $500.

Roland

On Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 6:14 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> >
> >
> >
>