the longer bolt would only have the same effect as if the operator never slammed the pedal all the way to the floor anyway. -This- did NOT ruin the cat.

I too wonder why they are wanting to replace the cat. what was the problem? very often, in my limited experience, (a little longer than catalytic converters have been common, 30+ years as a forklift professional) I have seen the cat blamed, for a problem not the cats fault, but that the cat was trying to clean up from.