Walking the thin line of CA smog laws

[johnnyvista]

i have a 2000 GT and i'm replacing the engine with a 5.1 stroker. then i'm looking to get a stage 2 head port job and install a set of comp cams mildest cams. the guy from comp cams told me that the cam will definitely pass CA smog.

does anyone know if the rest of this set up put together will pass smog?

thanks!

 

[Beau]

it sounds like it will pass ok. good luck.

 

[stallion98gt]

it should be ok..any exhaust mods ?

 

[johnnyvista]

i've got a plenum, throttle body, and a cold air intake on top. on the bottom, i've got a bassani catted X-pipe and a mac cat-back. assuming i pass a visual inspection, i guess the parts that worry me are whether or not the stroker will affect the computer check and sniffer and how head porting will affect emissions. what can you do as far as porting is concerned and what can't you do?

 

[Beau]

well unless you go to a "friendly" smog tech or a totally retarded one, there is no way in hell you'll pass the visual.

if your computer is custom tuned to the stroker and your emissions are within the allowable limits, you'll be fine. remember, the smog people cannot see what is inside your engine and as long as you tell them its the stock 4.6 and they see its sniffing clean, all you have to worry about is the emissions.

 

[bdcardinal]

ya i think all you gotta worry about is the visual inspection. that bassani x-pipe will be an immediate failure.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

What 1990LX said is true, it won't pass if they find out what you got in your motor. However, what they don't know won't hurt them Therefore, I'de be more worried about passing the smog test. If you're afraid the smog level your car produces is too much, then get some Amsoil PI quick shot and put it into your gas tank whenever you fill up. It is a fuel system cleaner but it actually reduces emmissions up to 90%. That should help you pass the smog test when they put the "magic wand" into your exhuast.

 

[johnnyvista]

have people been having problems failing visual tests with catted x-pipes? is there a X that will pass?

 

[bdcardinal]

well, no offense if i got your car into work and saw that i wouldnt pass it, but thats my job, nothing personal. there are NO x or h pipes that are legal in california except for one instance. Magnaflow has CARB approved aftermarket cats, however there are stipulations on their use, you have to have proff that you stock cats have failed. also your car has to be out of the CA required 8year/80,000 mile emissions warrenty period.

 

[johnnyvista]

hmm. good to know. so my best bet is putting my stock cat pipe back on for the test?

 

[johnnyvista]

can i get away with short tube headers? if i swap my cats on and off just for the test, will that show up on the computer?

 

[Beau]

you can run shorties just fine. most are smog legal in cali.

 

[johnnyvista]

what are other CA stangers doing about the x-pipe delimma? are 'friendly' test stations hard to find?

 

[Roger_4.6_96]

ya i think all you gotta worry about is the visual inspection. that bassani x-pipe will be an immediate failure.

So everybody with a saleen fails inspection

 

[Liquidshadow22]

No Sales in the Forums! Use the classified section.



Jason

 

[spree]

what are other CA stangers doing about the x-pipe delimma? are 'friendly' test stations hard to find?

where do you live?

 

[stallion98gt]

r u getting the Coast High 5.1L stroker ?..who is your engine builder ?

 

[bdcardinal]

i think the saleens have a waiver, but they have to be genuine saleens. i mostly deal with ricers and people that do stupid engine changes( 94 s10 with a 96 LT1 without cats who we made convert the truck to OBD2 with stock impala, camaro, or vette exhaust). there are issues with "small volume manufacturers" in CA. like its technically illegal to buy a cobra kit car and have someone such as factory 5 build it for you, you must to all the work yourself. there are exceptions for body and interior, but the owner is supposed to do the majority of the work, stupid i know.

 

[johnnyvista]

los angeles.

yeh, i'm getting the coast high 5.1. it's been on order for about 7 months. i haven't decided on an engine builder yet. any recommendations?