Can anyone here explain in simple language what a catalytic converter is, what it does, how it does it and what would be the result if it was removed from the system.
Easy as ?
Thanks
Don

The cat is a device which burns off many of the nasty chemicals from the exhaust. They contain a "honeycomb" which is coated with thin layers of expensive materials (the catalyst) which makes these reactions happen. They only work over a narrow range of temperatures and oxygen content. That's why carburettors basically disappeared as soon as cars got cats. (They can get cooked very quickly if your engine is running rich.) Unless they get blocked they should not actually affect the engine's performance if they are of suitable size.

The catalytic converter was designed to deal with harmful pollution causing gases that are produced in the combustion chamber a vehicle's engine.

The catalytic converter turns gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into non-toxic emissions such as carbon dioxide and water vapour.

The toxic gases pass over the catalytic converter's chemical coated ceramic honeycomb and the resultant chemical reaction renders the gases harmless.

The catalytic converter only works at high temperatures, by mounting it near the manifold the converter heats up quickly. So when the engine is cold, noxious gases are getting through to the atmosphere until the engine warms up.

You cannot use leaded fuel with a catalytic converter as the lead coats the chemicals on the honeycomb and the gases can no longer come into contact with them, which renders it ineffective. Therefore only unleaded fuel vehicles are fitted with cats. Since the late 1980s all Australian-market cars are required by law to have them, and it's illegal to remove them.

While the catalytic converter requires no maintenance and would be expected to last the life of the vehicle with normal use, it can be damaged by impact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_converter 

None on the buggy Lee but there is one on the soob, had a small problem with the soob yesterday (actualy has been going on for a few days but wifie thought it "just needs a service") with the motor running on 3 under acceleration, NRMA fell told me that that means that one cylinder is pumpiung unburned fuel through the exhaust system (well that's obviouse) and that this can ruin the cat by blocking it up with the result of poor performance as the exhaust gasses can't get away properly, fella next door told me he just removed the cat from the system and the car goes just as well as ever, so with the exception of the legal and moral side of it (pumping more dangerous emisions into the atmosphere) it seems that removal will not hurt the engine. Correct?