New Catalytic Converter is Smoking - Help

Just installed this new Walker (front) catalytic converter in my 2004 tacoma:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...10252-p?searchTerm=catalytic+converter+walker

And this new AF sensor:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...t-denso_20471798-p?searchTerm=denso+o2+sensor

I replaced the stock catalytic converter that had two AF senors in it in the bank 1 upstream area before the catalytic converter. I purchased truck used and the previous own put an aftermarket AF gauge in, which explains the additional senors in that cat.

I installed the new cat as mentioned above with correct gaskets before and after the converter. But there seems to be smoke coming from behind the heat shield of the cat as well as the area where the down pipe of this cat meats the top manifold. Smells like burning rubber a little.

Question: is this normal? Could it be the gasket burning/molding into place? There was a bit of plastic wrapping/adhesive on the converter when I got it from Advanced Auto...could it be burning that? I made sure the connections were tight. I also applied some anti-seize on the bolts where i connected the cat...could it be that burning?

Also, check engine light is now throwing: P0420 (which it was doing prior to new cat install) as well as P0031 (http://www.obd-codes.com/p0031)

Any help is much appreciated. So much for installing what seemed to be a pretty easy job

Thanks
ken

 

Most new exhaust system parts will smoke until they "burn" in...Might take a few days to a week.