BBK H-Pipe with Cats in Kommiefornia...

[Mikey1968]

I'm thinking about upgrading my mostly stock 86 Capri with AOD to the BBK catted H-pipe both for a HP/MPG improvement and to clear my new HPM 4 point brace.

Anyone have the BBK catted H-Pipe on their 'Stang in Kommiefornia (CARB approved)? Any problems with passing smog? Do you like the pipe? Could you feel a difference from the stock H-pipe in terms of HP? MPG? How about sound? Good fit??? Best place to buy from?

Thanks!
Mike

 

[cevtv]

It's not CARB approved for CA. It only has 2 cats, and you would need 4 (same as stock) to pass the visual check.

 

[Mikey1968]

It's not CARB approved for CA. It only has 2 cats, and you would need 4 (same as stock) to pass the visual check.

That's exactly what concerns me...however, I looked at the inspection reports and the screens the techs use and they don't list the number of cats. Sooo...only a Ford guy would know.

From a technical side, Ford put the pre-cats separate from the cats creating two cats per pipe. The Hi-Flos and others combine them into a single cat and with today's technology, they aren't much bigger than the older ones.

This is why I hate Kommiefornia smog so much as it's not based on technology. BBK didn't pay CARB to approve them. My opinion is if I blow clean and still won't pass, then blow me!

Not pickin' on you, ya know...just venting.....

Anyone try to pass smog with just two cats??

 

[HISSIN50]

Cali is not the only place you flunk for having fewer cats than came on the car in OEM form. I understand your frustration.

It's unfortunate. If running two cats was allowed ubiquitiously, more people would run cats year around (with a nice aftermarket two-catted H). Instead people just put their OEM H on for two hours a year since the aftermarket catted H fails the same as an O/R pipe.

 

[90mustangfan]

I have just 2 hi flow cats and I have no problem passing smog, Ive done it on 2 other stangs also that have 2 hi flow cats, But i dont go to places that are strict, I have a few places that I go to and they dont really care about visuals as longs as it passes. It also depends on where in cali you some citys are stricter than others. I would just go with the 2 hi-flow cats, you should be fine, as around at the smog stations before you take it to test, they let you know either way if its ok, or feel them out to see how strict they are.

 

[Fast63]

yeah it really depends on the place you go to whether or not they will fail you for having fewer cats. I bought a 2 cat H-pipe for my 85 (Y-pipe single cat originally) and I found a place that would smog me. Pretty stupid that they are usually strict on that kind of thing because with the 2 aftermarket cats that aren't supposed to be CARB approved, I was putting out 0% CO2 and 9 hydrocarbons. That is practically nothing.

 

[Mikey1968]

Sounds like I might be able to risk it then......