Hello, I am in the process of buying an 83-4speed from a family friend. The car runs fine with one exception, after about 10/20mins of it being turned on the passenger side floor panel heats up and starts smoking up the carpet or burning it up. My thought is that the Cat needs to be replaced along with the heat shield. Engine temp seems to be okay but this area of the car would literally put my friends in the hot seat LOL Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thanks guys

 

It sounds like you have a hot cat, or a leak that is forcing hot exhaust gasses right up to the floor board. Fix it asap. I just had a diesel exhaust leak that melted a fuel tank and caused all kinds of damage....the worst part is that I had know about the leak for at least 6 months and did nothing about it.

 

Definitely a hot catalytic converter. It is clogged up. Either replace it, or gut it depending on your state emissions laws.