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CA Legal Exhaust Upgrades

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16K views 28 replies 13 participants last post by  ragtop69  
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#1 ·
As trying to figure it out on my own has left me more confused than I started, I was hoping some of you folks could help. What upgrades are legal in CA for exhaust upgrades? I know I can basically pick up any muffler, but what about headers, y/x-pipes, hi-flow cats, 3-inch mandrel bent pipes, etc...

There's many great upgrades out their, I'm just curious on what can be done to FSB's that doesn't have to be swapped out every two years to pass smog. Hell, if any of you have quick-swap set ups that are working good, I'd love to hear about those also.
 
#2 ·
Your best bet is to contact the manufacturers that you're interested in. The parts you buy need to have CARB certs and OBDII compliance for California 1996 and up.

Everybody will give you opinions and things that they've gotten away with, but the manufacturers will tell you what they have that meets Cali guidelines.
 
#3 ·
UHHH......I knew a guy once.....who cut out his cat's, in front of and behind, put flanges on them then made a pipe, the same length with flanges on them. Bolted in and out during smog time. it went infront of his x-pipe and behind his header. he gained 20-30 hp just taking off the Cat's....now if I were to do this......

First, you can't get a long tube header that has a carb number so you have to go shorty. At least I can't find one that does.

So, I would leave stock exhaust the way it is and cut it off like a foot behind the cat's. (You don't need muffler's to pass smog) To make it easy to store. Then I would get another system header back, get rid of the y-pipe, this way it would be true dual. Put on X-pipe, muffler's...this time around I would probably go with sweet thunder's...stop the muffler's right before the rear end. Shuoldn't be too hard to take on and off, maybe 15 minutes.
 
#29 ·
scox80 said:
UHHH......I knew a guy once.....who cut out his cat's, in front of and behind, put flanges on them then made a pipe, the same length with flanges on them. Bolted in and out during smog time. it went infront of his x-pipe and behind his header. he gained 20-30 hp just taking off the Cat's....now if I were to do this.....
Click to expand...
Would this pass the visual inspection? The flanges at the front and the back of the CAT are not stock and would be a basis for failure. If you were to do this wouldn't you have to install a dummy O2 sensor?
 
#4 ·
I have the pace setter headers, which are distributed by summit under summits name, they claim 50 state smog legal. I have a custom bent y-pipe that a shop made, into a high flow catco cat, which also claimed to be 50 state smog legal. Last is a flomaster 40 series with turndowns, which also is 50 state legal. I passed smog with this set up recently and I was WAY under the MAX allowed, so it seems to work great. I do have a rebuilt engine though so it runs real clean, but I think the set up works well and would smog as long as the engine was running reasonably well.
 
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#6 ·
Yep, as said, if you want to be legal, you have to make sure the parts have the CARB and EO numbers to go with them. For example, I have the Thorley headers, and they have a CARB #, so all is good...but I will warn you, keep the CARB and EO number certificates WITH the truck, because most of the numbskull smog techs will give you grief if they see anything non-stock...if you're armed with the info, will go much smoother.
 
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#8 ·
thank you guys for such a quick response. Just the fact that their are headers out there I can run is awesome. I knew about the catco hi flow, but I was under the impression that headers were a no go. I'm gonna look into those for sure. If I can legally run headers, a high flow cat, and a nice sounding muffler I'd be stoked and won't play the exhaust-swap game.
 
#10 ·
this won't help you at all, but my 78 bronco has no cats or smog pump from the factory, I can legally run any header I want including long tubes, as well as convert to true dual exhaust, which has been done all of course with no cats.....I knew there was a reason I dumped my 91 :)
 
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#21 ·
Allright, for my 96 5.8L friends. I've gone through http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php provided by Snow Tom and found all of the headers, parts (and approximate prices) listed and thought I would document my findings for anyone who may be interested.

Hedman - #89420, 89420-6, 89426 ~$270-$320
Edelbrock - #6649, 66492 ~ $630
Bassani - #58150, 58150s ~ $410
Gibson - #GP201s, GP201 ~ $430
Pacesetter - 851125, 70-1325, 72c1325 ~ $220

This is what I found, I'd love to get the Gibson setup because I think they sound great... but not for that price. Pacesetter and Hedman look around where I want to pay. Now I need to find a good muffler to go with it.
 
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#23 ·
This is not to say that the below information can not be fought in court. Oh and I have Magnaflow mufflers on my Altima and beat a modified exhaust ticket.

Hope this is what you are looking for:

Modification of Exhaust Systems
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.

(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to, nonoriginal exhaust equipment.

Amended Sec. 10, Ch. 92, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.


Adequate Muffler Required
27150. (a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.

(b) Except as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000) with respect to off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification, every passenger vehicle operated off the highways shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained so as to meet the requirements of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200), and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.

(c) The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not be applicable to passenger vehicles being operated off the highways in an organized racing or competitive event conducted under the auspices of a recognized sanctioning body or by permit issued by the local governmental authority having jurisdiction.

Amended Ch. 558, Stats. 1977. Effective January 1, 1978. Supersedes Ch. 579.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c5a2.htm
 
#24 ·
wow, i gotta say i am impressed by your digging into the details here...since were are in the CVC already, anyone have the info handy on things like bumper mods (inches from ground), max frame height, fender flare, and mud flap laws? Sorry to sorta hi-jack but Ive been meaning forever to actually dig into the CVC and figure some of these things out to make sure my truck is actually legal. Remeber if your vehicle is illegal in some way (say bumper height) your insurance probably will not cover you in an accident.
 
#25 ·
thats why you throw on those mean 29"mall terrainers to drop the truck about 3"s.


i believe:

-Body cannot be more than 5" above the frame.
-If your truck is 4,500 pounds, the maximum frame height is
27 inches
-If the GVWR is 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 30 inches.
-and for 7,501 - to 10,000-pounders, it's
31 inches.
 
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#26 ·
Found this after some digging. If you are looking for something specific, you can dig here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm

Maximum Height: Exceptions
35250. No vehicle or load shall exceed a height of 14 feet measured from the surface upon which the vehicle stands, except that a double-deck bus may not exceed a height of 14 feet, 3 inches. Any vehicle or load which exceeds a height of 13 feet, 6 inches, shall only be operated on those highways where deemed to be safe by the owner of the vehicle or the entity operating the bus.


Amended Ch. 1287, Stats. 1984. Effective September 19, 1984. Supersedes Ch. 849.

Total Outside Width
35100. (a) The total outside width of any vehicle or its load shall not exceed 102 inches, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, safety devices which the Secretary of Transportation determines to be necessary for the safe and efficient operation of motor vehicles shall not be included in the calculation of width as specified in subdivision (a).

(c) Any city or county may, by ordinance, prohibit a combination of vehicles of a total width in excess of 96 inches upon highways under its jurisdiction. The ordinance shall not be effective until appropriate signs are erected indicating the streets affected.

Amended Ch. 1452, Stats. 1988. Effective September 28, 1988.
 
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