Ticketed for emissions tampering ?

[4.6andSlicks]

Has anyone ever been hassle for removing their cats? I'm about to punch mine and I understand the EPA fine can be pretty steep.

 

[MineralMan]

It really depends on where you live and what the laws are around emissions testing.

Here in California, they are very strict on things. There are about 6 other states taht use the same CA EPA regs, most located in New England area.

When I lived in New Mexico, the city of Albuquerque was the only one that required emissions testing. Anywhere else in the state, you could damn near run with open headers... although they would snag you for it being too loud.

 

[Todd00GT1]

I'm from Pa. I've been running an O/R H-pipe for a couple of years now and haven't had any issues. They do have emissions testing here, but if you drive your car less than 5,000 miles per year it's emissions exempt, which is the category I fall in. I know that some of the local law enforcement jurisdictions can be jerks and pull you over if your car is loud, but I don't have that issue where I live.

 

[Rocketman]

Not yet

 

[Shiroelex]

Just a heads up, but hollowing out the cats makes the exhaust sound a bit crappy, and wreaks havoc on backpressure. You're better off cutting them out, putting straight pipe in place, and welding the casings over the pipe (for looks). I've had no cats on my car since a month after I bought it, and have never had a problem in Michigan, or the few months I was in Cana....er... Ohio.

 

[03ghoststang]

well in any emissions coontrolled state tampering with a properly working catylitic convertor is a big and if you are caught with a O/R pipe can face some hefty fines, but swapping out a muffler is ok or the entire C/B system..Also there is a decibel level that you cant exceed, well atleast here in California i know that all this applies too

 

[4.6andSlicks]

Thanks for the input. I'll go with the O/R X and take my chances.

 

[03ghoststang]

Thanks for the input. I'll go with the O/R X and take my chances.

be sure you keep the stock mid-pipe around you never now when you might need it

 

[Mike97gt]

I live in a california emmisions state and never had a problem with any of my performance cars. None of them had cats. I had a O/R X on my mustang if I had to run it on the dyno for emmisions testing then I have the stocker to swap in.

Many states do a OBD2 test instead of the dyno. In Massachusetts as long as you have no codes then you get a sticker. On older cars they runt hem on a dyno.

 

[H What 4.6]

I've been driving in Jersey for 2 years without cats, yet to be hassled. I get more for not having a front plate then the exhaust, most cops etc. tell me it sounds great.. For inspection here in a 97+ vehicle they hook into your computer for emissions. I used the MIL eliminators and went to the DMV for inspection. The guy checked out my car and I told him the box in my Pro-chamber was a high flow cat..........even if you do get ticketed its not that hard of a ticket to get out of. A friend of mine had straight pipes on a 87 monte carlo SS and got a letter/fake bill saying he had a hole in his exhaust and it was fixed and the ticket was dropped. You better off-road pipe it.....its the best sound and more power

 

[gtvertsoon]

Guess I'll be the first on here to say yes. I guess my car was running lean or rich or whatever and smelled pretty bad with the o/r H pipe. Cop pulled me over on Rt. 1 just up the street from UMD. He must have smelled it cuz I was doing exactly the speed limit at 10pm on a sunday. I asked him how he knew and he said "it was either you or the LX next to you".

Ticket was 50 bucks but no repair order. Cop said it coulda been $225 and to just get hi-flo cats. He knew his ****.

 

[FoxRod87]

I think slp makes there o/r x pipes where you can swap cats on in about 15 min. Might want to see about that cause you can have them for emissions and then put your pipe back in place of the cats.