Clean Catalytic Converter?

I'm wanting to know two things, one is what is a catalytic converter and 2, what should I do to clean it out? Take it to a shop, do it yourself, replace it, etc.

The CC is part of the exhaust system, and part of the emissions control. It has beads inside that super heat when hot gases pass through it (your exhaust gases). The extra heat built up in the CC burn off the unburnt gas in the exhaust as it passes thru, thus less toxic emmissions escaping to the air.

There isn't much you can do to clean it. It is a sealed unit. About the most you can do is to run a higher octane fuel to keep everything a little cleaner. When they puke, they just puke. They do go cause the high heat that it builds up inside, eventually burns out the guts, including the beads. Then it doesn't do what it's suppose to, and you don't pass your emmissions tests, plus you loose drastic power. The pro with having a CC is that you help keep the environment clean. The con, is that it robs HP and mileage. I replaced the CC with a straight tube on my '80 Firebird, and I picked up and extra 10 HP and added 4 mpg on a 301 ci engine. Straight tubes, and removing the CC if the vehicle has one from the factory, is illegal for street use.

Thanks a lot for telling me about this, I actually didn't know that the CC was a environmentalist peice of sh*t. I'm gonna go down and see if anybody can do something about it.

Thanks for everything. :)