>>Probably the best solution would be to simply knock the insides out of
the
 >>cat and keep it in the system.  Be careful as there may be dangerous
(i.e.
 >>carsenergenous) stuff in cat guts. If you took the cat out you would
have
 >>to make a custom bracket to support the muffler.

 > I would recommend that if your cat is still good don't destroy it.  You
might
 > need it later. Get an old cat from a salvage yard.

There is another, simpler option.  Checking my catalogs, I see a $29.95
pipe that simply replaces the CAT.  Has the same flanges as the CAT, and
connects the same way, but is a simple straight pipe. That way you could
save your good CAT in case you need it later.  (FWIW, both selling a used
CAT and gutting a CAT are against the law.)

  >  Midas (yes, Midas) has a perfectly good cat for the Vanagon for under
$200.

 But I (yes, I ) have them for $99.95.

-Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 (Why go anywhere else?  :-)
 http://www.busdepot.com