Best LEGAL mid-pipe in Cali

xtrm281gt · Mar 24, 2004

look all you got to do is keep your factory pipe in your garage for when smog time rolls around and enjoy your o/r the other 99% of the time you drive yoru car. Switching pipes for a smog inspection is as easy and fast as changing your oil. Even if you are running a after market catted x/h it is so easy to swap out to the factory why not just to be safe, its so fast and easy.. no harm no foul.

HKShooter · Mar 24, 2004

Blev said:
You PASSED with the Bassani catted X???? Is it with the crapco cats or the new ones?

Holy crap!!! I might stay a Bassani whore after all.

I have passed both times. It was at two different smog stations also. I live in Monterey County if that matters. They have never said word one about my exhaust. I left the baffles in when it was done, but that wouldnt matter. The person that did it knew it was aftermarket exhuast, but didnt seem to care.

xtrm281gt · Mar 24, 2004

actually i forgot to mention the last time i went in for smog the guy gave me a hard time over one thing and one thing only. Aparently my CAI was missing the eeoc or whatever its called number that proves its smog checked and smog legal. Can you believe that, hastling me over a CAI??

HKShooter · Mar 24, 2004

xtrm281gt said:
actually i forgot to mention the last time i went in for smog the guy gave me a hard time over one thing and one thing only. Aparently my CAI was missing the eeoc or whatever its called number that proves its smog checked and smog legal. Can you believe that, hastling me over a CAI??

Yes I do believe that. Both times I went they, for the life of me, couldnt find the CARB # (smog #) on the Vortech and wouldnt smog it. I had to tell him to look alot harder at the SC and the plate on it that has then #. WHen they found that it was all good

SonicBlue2v03GT · Mar 24, 2004

Sounds almost like a crap shoot, you may get lucky with a Smog shop that isnt that concerned about it. What i want to know is how often do you have to get it smogged, isnt it once every two years? I have owned mine for a year and a half now.

HKShooter · Mar 24, 2004

I think its every 2 years....Not exactly sure......All I know is when I received my registration those two times it said I needed to get it smogged. Both times it was smogged the worker did a visual on the car. Maybe all he cared about was it passing the sniff test, dont know and dont care as long as it passes. i wouldnt worry about.

SonicBlue2v03GT · Mar 25, 2004

Thanks HK. My 2 year mark is on Oct. so at that point all i will have is the flowmaster mufflers, so not too worried. But i was thinking that like the day after i want to run out and install a Dr. Gas o/r X

Then i wouldnt have to worry about it for another 2 years!

DaDDyGSp0T · Mar 25, 2004

if it wasnt for all these minorites here in southern cali for those of you that have never been to cali...its not that great (whites are the minority now in southern california). California has lots of hispanics and their busted ass cars with broken exhausts that blow out as much smoke as a factory, If the population was marked down about 30 mil (maybe a lil over exadurating) the emissions would be better....

Dominus_Servi · Mar 25, 2004

What if you get a smog cert and are running aftermarket exhaust...Any chance of getting nailed by a cop?

HKShooter · Mar 25, 2004

Im sure if the cop wants to be a real ass then there could be an issue. If he looks and says its aftermarket then I would just say my stock cats were damaged and I had to replace them. When he looks it would pass the visual. Most of the time your nailed because the exhaust is too dam loud.

Blev · Mar 25, 2004

HKShooter said:
Im sure if the cop wants to be a real ass then there could be an issue. If he looks and says its aftermarket then I would just say my stock cats were damaged and I had to replace them. When he looks it would pass the visual. Most of the time your nailed because the exhaust is too dam loud.

That's my maiin concern...being too loud! I WANT it loud, but not when officer piggy is around. I sure would love to see the bastid down on all fours doing a visual! I swear, I'll bust out my camera and take a pic and post it when it happens.

For those who are running an o/r X, how much louder is it? I'm more than likely gonna get a Bassani o/r X and when it's paired with Bassani cat back is it going to be crazy loud? There is this 92 F-Body who's car sounds sick. I'm pretty sure he's got some LT's and an o/r mid pipe cuz his $h!t is DEEP and sounds healthy as can be. So I want him to hear my car and be like "DAMN"!!

normster6969 · Mar 25, 2004

SonicBlue2v03GT said:
What i want to know is how often do you have to get it smogged, isnt it once every two years? I have owned mine for a year and a half now.

FYI

New cars don't have to be smogged for 4 years after purchase. After that, you are required every two years.

So no need to sweat...

And yes, CARB and all of their lame, sensless requirements that have nothing to do with what is coming out of your tail pipe sucks big harry, sweaty, you know whats!!!!!!!!

SonicBlue2v03GT · Mar 25, 2004

Thanks Normster. After reading a bunch on here im thinkin about getting a Dr. Gas o/r X combined with the sound of the flows =

I was wondering about that. I would think that if a cop did want to be an ass he would write a ticket. Has anyone heard about a cop doing a visual underneath the car?

and yes if he did take a pic, but the temptation sure would be great to give him a swift kick in the A** while he was down there. lol. Ive heard about welding on gutted cats, but i would have to slap the stock H back on there smog time anyways.

One last thought CARB =

MachOut · Mar 25, 2004

DaDDyGSp0T said:
if it wasnt for all these minorites here in southern cali for those of you that have never been to cali...its not that great (whites are the minority now in southern california). California has lots of hispanics and their busted ass cars with broken exhausts that blow out as much smoke as a factory, If the population was marked down about 30 mil (maybe a lil over exadurating) the emissions would be better....

I hear that.. Not to get off topic, but it seems like every single problem we face here in S.Cal when it comes to high cost of living, overpopulation, housing costs, gangs, crime, traffic, smog etc etc can be traced to the MILLIONS of illegal immigrants we have living here.

Don't get me started on the reason we have high housing costs here either.. They always said California belonged to Mexico, well after the 70's, 80's and early 90's of them swarming in and pooling 4-5 families together to buy a 3 bedroom house, it nearly is.

SLOW04GT · Mar 25, 2004

Yeah CA sucks for emmisions

I got pulled over for speeding and I had a catback on my '02 Z28 at the time and the officer looked under the car to see if there was anything illegal under there. There wasn't so I just got the speeding ticket and a fix it for not having a front license plate (I hate front license plates too).

About 6 months later I had custom dual exhaust fabbed up with mid-length headers, x-pipe, Dynomax mufflers, and no cats. The Camaro was loud as hell but I never got pulled over for it. Mostly around where I live they pull over the ricers with loud exhausts and leave the Camaro/Mustang/Vette guys alone for some reason.

I had to put the exhaust manifolds and cats back on in order to sell the car. But it was kind of a pain to always wonder if you were going to get pulled over and get hit with a big ticket (I think I heard the fine for altering your smog equipment is like $5,000). But since the Mustangs have such an easily installed/removed mid pipe setup I would do it, and I probably will be here soon. The only thing to be careful of is if you street race or speed a lot. If you get pulled over then they are going to hit you for everything they can.

Sorry for the long post ha

Blev · Mar 25, 2004

That's my main concern. Only concern actualy. I want to put a frickin o/r pipe on so bad I can taste it...and it taste's good!! ESPECIALY when lame ricers try and rev. Will they give a written warning for the first offense, or is it a fix it ticket or a straight up hefty fine? I would think you would get a warning the first time around.

wms004 · Mar 25, 2004

thinkalert said:
What is it?

Get a magnaflow catted X. I live in cali and the cats that come on it (carsound cats) are very high quality and will easily help your car pass the sniffer. You can easily find a gas station to smog your car based on sniffer only.

-wade

2k3gt · Mar 25, 2004

I've got a few questions for those of you with answers...

I live in Los Angeles, and every time I read about how bad we get shafted on the legality of aftermarket parts, I get pissed. Everything from tint, front plates, smog, etc... anyways...

Since every aftermarket exhaust piece will fail either the sniffer or the visual portion of California's tight-assed smog test (or so I've read in this thread):

1) Wouldn't it be more sensible for me to just buy an O/R X (cheaper, better gains, sexier) and switch it on and off with the factory when smog time rolls around?

2) Seeing as I don't have any tools to work with, nor a level surface to work on (I live in the Santa Monica foothills), and none of my friends owns/works at a place with a lift, how much would it cost me to have someone do it for me, and then switch it back?

3) Would getting the MIL eliminators for my O/R X mess me up for when I put the stock midpipe back on for the smog check?

Thanks in advance fellas... We should talk to Arnie about this ****...

P.S. Do any of you So. Cali/LA guys know of a good domestic/stang shop with some experience? All I can find around here are ricer/import tuners...

normster6969 · Mar 25, 2004

SonicBlue2v03GT said:
Ive heard about welding on gutted cats, but i would have to slap the stock H back on there smog time anyways.

I think the only time the cop is going to really hassle you is if 1) your car is ridiculously loud, 2) your give the cop attitude when he comes to your window, and/or 3) you've been pulled over for hot rodding. Remember, hands on the wheel at 10 and 2. Great the cop with a nice smile, be cooperative, etc...

I second Wade's comment below. I have the magnflow catted X. Great sound with the Magnaflow catback. All stainless, great quality/fit. If I don't jump on it, it's deep but not obnoxious. However, if I jump on it, it screams. Also, the incremental gain of an off-road midpipe is negligable, assuming you are not running a major power adder (e.g., blower, turbo, nitrous). Also, you won't have to worry about buying MIL eliminators.

Regardless of which midpipe you get, make sure to keep your stock one in the garage just in case! They're really easy to install/remove.

wms004 said:
Get a magnaflow catted X. I live in cali and the cats that come on it (carsound cats) are very high quality and will easily help your car pass the sniffer. You can easily find a gas station to smog your car based on sniffer only.

normster6969 · Mar 25, 2004

2k3GT said:
We should talk to Arnie about this ****...

I second this. Since Arnie has a serious budget crunch, we need to send him every letter we can to end this CARB BS. CARB should care about only one thing: what comes out of the tail pipe. Who cares what you add or change in your car so long as you pass the sniffer.

As for the catted X-pipes, they fail the visual only. I know the Magnaflow X-pipe will easily pass the sniffer test. Unfortunately it will fail visual since it does not have an EO number (Executive Order number from CARB).

As for the closest speed shop to you, I would say Chicane is the closest. I think they're in Torrance. Search the boards to see how good their customer service is prior to going (I've only used them once to do an alignment so I don't have much feedback).

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