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]

Well I have decided to buy a used cat that bolts onto the exhaust manifold and gut it and then run a pipe through it to keep the exhaust flowing as it should. It looks way too difficult to make a tube to replace the cat seeing how weird it mounts to the exhaust manifold the whole looks huge!!! However, I can't find a junk cat that mounts to the exhaust manifold on a 2.2 litered celica. Does anyone have one I could buy for cheap..
bdogg_v@hotmail.com
-I have come to the conclusion that the sound I want simply cannot be achieved with that bloody thing mounted right to the motor...... It muffles the sound too much for my taste.......