Mid-pipes w/ cats (CA)

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flipnsac

Member

Nov 10, 2003

159

0

16

Northern CA

Sep 29, 2004

#1

• Sep 29, 2004

• #1

I need your help and opinions guys. My dilemma is I had to go with JBA shortys 'cuz California SMOG laws makes me. I also have Magnapack catback. I want some after market mid-pipes but they have to have cats. I hear x-pipes don't sound good with Magnapacks but I will consider them based on what you guys say. I've narrowed it down to these four. Which of these do you guys recommend? Or can you offer another alternative?:

MRT catted H http://mustangracing.mrt-direct.com/hpipe.php

MAC catted H http://proficientperformance.com/Me...tegory_Code=mac_cat_pipes_96-02&Store_Code=PP

Bassani catted X http://proficientperformance.com/Me...=bas_pipes_w-cats_ford_must_4-6&Store_Code=PP

Magnaflow Tru-X http://proficientperformance.com/Me...=mf_tru-x_mid_pipe_ford_mustang&Store_Code=PP

 

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scstanger

New Member

Dec 3, 2003

56

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Sep 29, 2004

#2

• Sep 29, 2004

• #2

I had the MRT SS catted H with 2 chamber flows on the stock manifolds 6 months ago. Sounded good, nice and deep. I'd assume the magnapacks would be louder than the flows. Either way I'm sure the MRT or MAC will sound sweet with your configuration.

I can say that I was impressed with the low end gains from the MRT catted pipe. Not like a supercharger or anything, but as far as a pipe with cat's, I can say that it exceeded my expectations.

 

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flipnsac

Member

Nov 10, 2003

159

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16

Northern CA

Sep 29, 2004

#3

• Sep 29, 2004

• #3

scstanger:

Have you had any problems passing the emissions tests?

 

boomshack

New Member

Jun 4, 2004

274

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Southern Cali

Sep 29, 2004

#4

• Sep 29, 2004

• #4

The ONLY legal mid pipe in CA is the factory H pipe. If you want more details, look up some threads here under the username bdcardinal (he works for the State as a smog referree). Sorry to rain on your parade. If you do go with the aftermarket midpipe make sure to keep the factory one for when you need to pass emissions.

 

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johnnyvista

New Member

Jan 15, 2004

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Sep 29, 2004

#5

• Sep 29, 2004

• #5

since you have to put the factory h back on to smog the car, you might as well put a no-cat x or h on the car. it's cheaper and you'll get a little more power. those ca smog laws are actually kinda counter-productive, aren't they?

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

3,612

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69

santa barbara, CA

Sep 29, 2004

#6

• Sep 29, 2004

• #6

only legal midpipe is the stock one. if you get pulled over, you wil get a citation for it, if the cop notices, the cats are in "plain view" with a mirror so a warrent isnt required to look for them. if you are unfortunate enough to be caught in a roadside smog test, and they catch you without the 4 stock cats, the fine is $2500 for evey missing cat, you cant fight it becaue the BAR itself issues the fine, and there are referees and BAR officials who impose it. btw im not a referee, i work for a referee as a lane tech.

 

boomshack

New Member

Jun 4, 2004

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Southern Cali

Sep 29, 2004

#7

• Sep 29, 2004

• #7

Sorry for the error on my part bdcardinal

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

3,612

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santa barbara, CA

Sep 29, 2004

#8

• Sep 29, 2004

• #8

no worries, however i did stay in a holiday express last night, so i am as smart as one haha.

 

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flipnsac

Member

Nov 10, 2003

159

0

16

Northern CA

Sep 29, 2004

#9

• Sep 29, 2004

• #9

bdcardinal said:

only legal midpipe is the stock one. if you get pulled over, you wil get a citation for it, if the cop notices, the cats are in "plain view" with a mirror so a warrent isnt required to look for them. if you are unfortunate enough to be caught in a roadside smog test, and they catch you without the 4 stock cats, the fine is $2500 for evey missing cat, you cant fight it becaue the BAR itself issues the fine, and there are referees and BAR officials who impose it. btw im not a referee, i work for a referee as a lane tech.

Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for your input.

The Magnaflow Tru-X and Bassani ads both say "50-state legal". How can they say that if the only legal mid-pipe is the stock H? I'm confused.

I guess I have to seriously consider moving to Nevada.......

 

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importkiller412

New Member

Sep 11, 2004

27

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0

Sep 29, 2004

#10

• Sep 29, 2004

• #10

Yeah nevada sounds like a good idea, I was gonna move to pacific beach, but being the true car lover I am it seems like CA is the worst possible state for me, im also thinking of moving to nevada, atleast prostitution is legal there .

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

3,612

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69

santa barbara, CA

Sep 29, 2004

#11

• Sep 29, 2004

• #11

they are only legal for use in CA if you can prove that your stock h pipe was damaged beyond repair. that being said, you cant just go and bash in your stock h pipe and call it a day. you must be out of the required 8 year 80,000 mile emissions warrenty. if you are in that range, you get another stock h pipe for free.

 

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flipnsac

Member

Nov 10, 2003

159

0

16

Northern CA

Sep 29, 2004

#12

• Sep 29, 2004

• #12

bdcardinal:

The Magnaflow Tru-X ad says they weld in behind the stock cats. Does that make it legal? The only thing gone is the stock H-pipe configuration but the stock cats are in place.

On second thought, doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of getting an after market X-pipe? You still have a flow restriction at the cats in the exhaust system.

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

3,612

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69

santa barbara, CA

Sep 29, 2004

#13

• Sep 29, 2004

• #13

we would still fail it at my work for being modified.

 

boomshack

New Member

Jun 4, 2004

274

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0

Southern Cali

Oct 1, 2004

#14

• Oct 1, 2004

• #14

bdcardinal said:

no worries, however i did stay in a holiday express last night, so i am as smart as one haha.

Click to expand...

, nice

 

MT1083

New Member

Sep 16, 2003

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Charlotte, NC

Oct 1, 2004

#15

• Oct 1, 2004

• #15

flipnsac said:

Thanks everyone for your input.

The Magnaflow Tru-X and Bassani ads both say "50-state legal". How can they say that if the only legal mid-pipe is the stock H? I'm confused.

I guess I have to seriously consider moving to Nevada.......

Click to expand...

I think Bassani is only talking about their catback when they say that. Their x-pipe does not have a CARB number.

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

3,612

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69

santa barbara, CA

Oct 1, 2004

#16

• Oct 1, 2004

• #16

boomshack said:

, nice

Click to expand...

ive been saving that one up for a while, saw the opportunity and went for it.

 

SonicB

Founding Member

Apr 29, 2002

239

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0

Oct 1, 2004

#17

• Oct 1, 2004

• #17

leave the mid-pipe stock. wouldn't want to see you get busted. your magnapacks probably already attract unwanted attention.

 

normster6969

Founding Member

Oct 6, 2000

558

4

18

Huntington Beach, CA

Oct 2, 2004

#18

• Oct 2, 2004

• #18

The Magnaflow tru-x is 50 state legal since it is welded in place of the h-pipe connector AFTER the catalytic converters. It is considered a cat-back modification that does not interfer with emissions...

Norm

p.s.
Yes, California does suck on numerous fronts. Hopefully Arny will terminate those smog nazis!

 

xtrm281gt

New Member

Jul 31, 2003

152

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0

Sacramento, CA

Oct 2, 2004

#19

• Oct 2, 2004

• #19

omg what a bunch of pansy's... i live in california and daily drive my no catted car to and from work every single day. I been pulled over numerous times and not once has anyone ever questioned my exhaust in all my years of living and driving in this tree hugging state. Bolt on your factory pipe for tests and store it the rest of the time. Its a one man 90 min max job, all you need is a jack, wrench, and brain. Grow a pair and live on the wild side there daredevil

 

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CaliSS2001

New Member

Jul 11, 2004

23

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Stockton, Ca

Oct 2, 2004

#20

• Oct 2, 2004

• #20

We Nor-Cal guys really dont get our balls busted by the police they only hassle ricers with all the BS CARB # and measuring headlights for the most part I get a for my exhaust sound.