Exhaust manifold with integral catalytic converter

A pollutant reducing exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a) a plurality of header pipes connected to and receiving exhaust gases from respective ones of a plurality of exhaust ports of the engine;
• b) a catalytic chamber having at least one inlet connected to receive exhaust gases from said plurality of header pipes and an outlet therefrom connected to an exhaust pipe;
• c) a catalytic converter structure having a catalyst disposed on a supporting substrate disposed in said catalytic chamber between said at least one inlet and said outlet so that all exhaust gases from the engine must pass through said catalytic converter structure;
• and,
• d) wherein said plurality of header pipes and said catalytic chamber are of a structural fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite material comprising fibers of a generic fiber system disposed throughout a pre-ceramic resin in its ceramic state.