Clogged catalytic converter???

[zx11_12]

I haven't had my '92 VR4 long so I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is normal or not.
When I really step on it....full throttle to redline, the car seems to pull really hard up to about 5000 rpms, but even tho it will rev to 7000, it doesn't pull as eagerly as I would expect. Maybe that's just how the engine is tuned, but I'm wondering if my catalytic converter might not be partially clogged. When I park it in the garage after running pretty hard, I can smell that distinctive "rotten egg" smell that a hot converter gives off.
Anyone know if this is normal? Or should it pull hard all the way to redline?

A second thought...I understand that the active exhaust is supposed to open up at higher rpms when in the sport mode. How can I tell if this is happening? I could be getting exhaust restriction due to it not opening up, but I don't know how to check it since it only works at higher rpms.

Thanks for any advice,

Steve

[3KSL95]

Could be any number of things, spark plugs wires etc... have you done the scheduled tune ups if not then thats prolly it, other than that i think the clogged cat is unlikely unless you have like a million miles on it.

[Im2Fast4U]

And it's nothing with your active axhaust. If your car has more than about 10 miles on it, the active exhaust is already shot and stuck in the open position (I've never heard of anyone's sticking in teh closed position, and you'd know it it was). Not exactly a quality part made by Mitsubishi.

I'm trying to think what could be letting you pull normally but then cutting back at 5K. Right now my mind is drawing a blank to any specific causes. I highly doubt it's the cat though (you could always unbolt it and check, but that tends to me a major PITA). Check all your vac hoses and connections in the engine bay, etc. I dunno man.

[zx11_12]

New plugs, wires, fuel injectors, timing belt, etc. Car has 77,000 miles on it.
It's not drastic, or anything like a miss. It just doesn't pull to redline as eagerly as I would expect a forced induction car too. Maybe my motorcycle has me spoiled. I have a 2005 CBR1000RR that will bang the rev limiter at 12,000 rpms in a heartbeat.
I've had many cars that run oout of breath before redline, this isn't that drastic. I just thought that under boost, it would pull hard all the way to the rev limiter. I find myself shifting before 6000 rpms because it seems faster than running all the way to redline.

[Igovert500]

Well our stock turbos don't hold full booost to redline, they drop to 10psi after 5k-6k (depending on how modded) So that could be it. However, the rotten egg smell does seem to be your cat. If you have a clogged cat, I would think you would get some minor backfiring and possibly a CEL (not positive about the light though)