We
finally found the pics.
See if you can figure out the upstream from downstream sides.
We removed the 'obstructing' material and welded it back together. On start up, I immediately noticed a smoother and quieter idle. Throttle response was faster and turbo spool was much faster. It also ran a bit cooler. I then did an Italian tune up and briefly made a
THICK smoke/particle cloud bad enough to be a visual obstruction out on the two lane country road I was on.