The converter has a radiation heat shield on it. I would be leary of wrapping the converter with anything - risk of fire.

Don't mess with the PCV system. It's part of the visual inspection, and modifying it will be an automatic failure.

I would recommend getting the car retested. Run it at 2500 revs until the tech is ready to take the car and run it through the test. If you have another marginal failure take your situation to the next higher level of management in the state emission test bureaucracy. Been there, done that with the CA BAR. More than once!

Duke