Help factory catalytic con? Options

[bdog_v]

Well I am trying to install a new exhaust on my 94 celica Gt model and when I pulled the downpipe off the exhaust manifold I was surprised to see honey comb material in the exhaust manifold, like you would see in a catalytic converter????? Is the cat. located right next to the exhaust manifold on this car? If not what is this???? I don't have a cat anywhere else in my exhaust system.

-If this is the cat. I want it gone. Can you just punch out the honeycomb material and run it hollow or do you need to replace the cat. *if it is the cat.* with a straight pipe?????

-I don't have the heat shield off yet so I am not aware of how this is bolted together any ideas???? Thanks....

[bdog_v]

Two cats thats a crazy amount of extra exhaust restriction!!!

-Well does this motor need that much backpressure to run appropriately????

-I have owned a few other 4 cylinders and they all had only one cat. and they all ran better with it gone.


-Now has anyone gutted out the one in the exhaust manifold and ran it hollow or will this seriously mess with back pressure????



-It looks like a pain to take off and remove the honeycomb material, I was thinking of punching it from the bottom up with it still on the car, but this may not work......



-Basically I have to halt this project until I get a bunch of advice on what to do with this cat????? So please give me some info. cause this is my daily driver and it currently has no exhaust!!!!