Thanks for all the responses. Gilly, I appreciate your feedback. What I am trying to do is have options when this "california catalytic converter upgrade" fails; and it will fail as all converters have life expectancy. I was given this advice from Hatch & Sons (restorer of all models of MB). I agree that there is only minimal output gain from its removal. What I want to do is have fabricated a similar pipe that is on the Ch.124 and Ch.126 engines. Thats all. I appreciate any feedback.