the golder state aka cali

kolkid · Apr 10, 2005

cali passing smog

first off i own a 97 gt
i was thinking of adding my xpipe in but my friend told me they were illegal, i researched a bit and found that in fact they are illegal in cali, but my other friend told me he has one on his 95 gt that he just got, his has a catted xpipe... the previous owner was the one that did the smog (it has to be smoged before it can be sold or some thing) did the previous owner bribe someone for it to pass or something, or is there a new legal xpipe i could get thanks

sorry i know thres tons of thread on this and i read alot of threads on this but im just woundering why it passed if every thing i read says it wont pass in cali...

EDIT title should read GOLDEN lol

sgarlic · Apr 10, 2005

Well, I don't live in CA. But I do know from what I've read here, that CA is by far the worst state to live in emmissions wise. Many people here have raised similar questions to the one you are asking, and the answer most often gotten is: "Any modification to the factory exhaust is illegal in CA." It's not just CA either, it's a federal law that you are not allowed to tamper with the exhaust on your vehicle.. if you read on the EPA website, it even says it's technically illegal to make a single exhaust vehicle in to dual.

Now, keep in mind, in most states, you proably won't be bothered about your modifications, except at smog testing time, which you should throw your stock stuff back on for anyway. But in CA, if you happen to be driving around with a loud ass car, there's a good chance the cops might bug you about it.

So in conclusion, no catted x-pipe is legal where you live. You can't legally modify the exhaust at all.. it's all a matter of what risk you're willing to take.

whyask · Apr 10, 2005

Alrighty then heres the low down:
Depending on who you go to they may look under the car if they do not see the required amount of cats they will fail yo ass... But if you car is super freaking low and they cant get under neath, as long as youve cleared you computer of any recent codes , when they plug in the obd2 sensor reading your gravy, but that getting lucky.. Just go to a junk yard or if you still have it but the stocker back on and the second you leave the smog shop put the x back on, thats what I do and never failed yet.. good luck bro.

CaliLifeStyle · Apr 10, 2005

whyask said:
Alrighty then heres the low down:
Depending on who you go to they may look under the car if they do not see the required amount of cats they will fail yo ass... But if you car is super freaking low and they cant get under neath, as long as youve cleared you computer of any recent codes , when they plug in the obd2 sensor reading your gravy, but that getting lucky.. Just go to a junk yard or if you still have it but the stocker back on and the second you leave the smog shop put the x back on, thats what I do and never failed yet.. good luck bro.

Keep the stock H pipe. When smog time comes around put the stock H back on. Just make sure to do it at least one week before the test. This gives your car enough time to blow out any crap in the stocker. Easy pass. Headers are a different story. I only know of two headers that are smog legal. JBA shorties and Ford Racing shorties. If you run long tubes or mid lengths you'll run into trouble. As for the cops, make sure to keep it under 2000 RPMs when they are around.

whyask · Apr 10, 2005

ya cops in cali have a habbit of hating on the nice muscle cars..loud is not good in cali

kolkid · Apr 10, 2005

yeah my buddys car is low to the ground low... and his did pass the smog but he didnt go get it smog'd personally the previous owner went, im not saying the old owner paid off the guy but if i dont see how else it would pass the visual...

i still havent installed my xpipe its just sitting in my garage right now...
im debating on wheather or not to install it since there after all illegal, would it make that much of a difference to be worth swapping a year from now when it needs to get smog'd?

whyask · Apr 10, 2005

ummm let me think ....HELL YA more trq, hp, and loundness , its very worth it, just get it smog first with the stocker still on , if its needed and then a year of fun... AS long as you can control your foot around the MAN your fine, ive been running with mine for almost 2 years now never a problem with the fuzz and i get tagged quite a bit for racing..YOUR FINE , dont fear the x

bdcardinal · Apr 10, 2005

id love to answer this question, but apparently the BAR doesnt like someone giving out smog advice online.

what i can say is that there are no CARB approved replacement cats for 96+ 4.6L stangs in CA.

you didnt hear it from me though. you heard it from someone who logged onto my account and said this.

whyask · Apr 10, 2005

who said that ???? DAMN hackers..!!!

sgarlic · Apr 10, 2005

bdcardinal said:
id love to answer this question, but apparently the BAR doesnt like someone giving out smog advice online.

what i can say is that there are no CARB approved replacement cats for 96+ 4.6L stangs in CA.

you didnt hear it from me though. you heard it from someone who logged onto my account and said this.

There's no big secret about what's allowed and what's not, as anybody with a computer can log on to the EPA website and read everything you'd want to know.

The bottom line is, as with any other law you violate, if you choose to violate federal laws, don't be surprised if it bites you in the ass.

If you get away with it, it's only your concience you have to deal with.. but be warned that modifying emmissions related equipment is punishable by hefty fines and potential jail time.. just tell yourself "$2500 per cat" every time a cop drives past you.

bdcardinal · Apr 10, 2005

sgarlic said:
There's no big secret about what's allowed and what's not, as anybody with a computer can log on to the EPA website and read everything you'd want to know.

The bottom line is, as with any other law you violate, if you choose to violate federal laws, don't be surprised if it bites you in the ass.

If you get away with it, it's only your concience you have to deal with.. but be warned that modifying emmissions related equipment is punishable by hefty fines and potential jail time.. just tell yourself "$2500 per cat" every time a cop drives past you.

CA and EPA rules are different. usually the CA laws are more stringent than the rest of the country.

if you want to know whats legal go here
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php

kstang69 · Apr 11, 2005

so if it is a federal law then even in georgia my flowmasters are illegal?

sgarlic · Apr 11, 2005

Basically.

I remember reading through the laws not too long ago, and came across one that just said any mods to the exhaust system on a 1996 or newer vehicle are not allowed.. the specific example I remember mostly was you can't turn single exhaust in to dual exhaust. I also remember thinking "ok how the hell do all these exhaust shops get away with it then?" while reading it. It was on the EPA website.

bdcardinal · Apr 11, 2005

generally mufflers dont apply. mostly they are concerned with are the catalytic converters.

GDawg · Apr 11, 2005

bdcardinal said:
generally mufflers dont apply. mostly they are concerned with are the catalytic converters.

Here in Nevada, as long as you don't touch your cats (unless they were damaged in someway and require replacement). The catbacks are legal.

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