Thanks Volks for the comments.  After a few well placed love taps on the
cat' I've decided that it's got a few marbles loose in there (at least one
big one).  Making the parts call tomorrow AM.

Cautionary note to the community...
On an environmental note...Aside from the emmisions issue, as the elements
in the converter decays or "meltsdown" it is quite likely that it will emit
sparks capable of starting fires during dry conditions. (humm...summer,
during a dry year....Yeup)

Thanks,  Chris A.
     '87 Vanagon GL
     '87 Honda Accord (201k)
     '86 Honda Civic Si (236k)