Need help, are headers legal in VA?
09-05-2006, 02:29 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '07
Need help, are headers legal in VA?
My friends getting ready to do some pretty heavy mods to his Camaro, and all he has to do first is clear it with his dad. His dad gave him the go ahead, but he swears headers are illegal in VA. Does anybody happen to know the exact law about this? I told him as long as its a streetable part, and he can still pass emmisions he should be ok, right?? Thanks!
09-05-2006, 03:13 PM
#2
Somba master
Headers are legal if you are running stock cats, and your exhaust doesn't make more than 95db.
Then again, some folks believe that anything's legal if they don't catch you.
GM
Then again, some folks believe that anything's legal if they don't catch you.
GM
09-05-2006, 04:24 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Here is the problem with headers. On a LT1 long tubes are illegal. The reason being, by strict interpation of the law, you cannot move the location of the cats. On a LT1 they are mounted to the exhaust manifolds so they have to be relocated.
Now I believe hooker makes a kit for the L98 that eliminates the 2 precats and uses a new main cat. This kit is supposed to be 49 state legal.
On the camaro who knows, but again, if you get someone who is strict the cats have to remain in their orig. location.
Now I believe hooker makes a kit for the L98 that eliminates the 2 precats and uses a new main cat. This kit is supposed to be 49 state legal.
On the camaro who knows, but again, if you get someone who is strict the cats have to remain in their orig. location.
09-06-2006, 01:56 PM
#6
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St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by jesters94
As far as I know there is no emissions testing in VA
Not in So VA. But NOVA has emission tests every 2 years.
09-06-2006, 03:38 PM
#7
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I had long tri-y headers on my Trans Am and it passed emissions every two years, and the state inspection every year.
The headers had air tubes and all emissions equipment was in place - no issues.
The headers had air tubes and all emissions equipment was in place - no issues.
09-06-2006, 04:53 PM
#10
Race Director
Originally Posted by 93 ragtop
Here is the problem with headers. On a LT1 long tubes are illegal. The reason being, by strict interpation of the law, you cannot move the location of the cats. On a LT1 they are mounted to the exhaust manifolds so they have to be relocated.
Now I believe hooker makes a kit for the L98 that eliminates the 2 precats and uses a new main cat. This kit is supposed to be 49 state legal.
On the camaro who knows, but again, if you get someone who is strict the cats have to remain in their orig. location.
Now I believe hooker makes a kit for the L98 that eliminates the 2 precats and uses a new main cat. This kit is supposed to be 49 state legal.
On the camaro who knows, but again, if you get someone who is strict the cats have to remain in their orig. location.
09-06-2006, 05:13 PM
#11
Race Director
The law and how its looked at by each inspector will vary......but here is the law:
§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.
No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise; provided however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.
The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.
Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.
§ 46.2-1047. Muffler cutout, etc., illegal.
It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale any (i) muffler without interior baffle plates or other effective muffling device or (ii) gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate on the highways in the Commonwealth a motor vehicle, moped, or motorized skateboard or scooter equipped with a gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust.
19VAC30-70-300. Muffler, exhaust system and trailer venting.
A. Flexible tubing may be used anywhere in the exhaust system.
B. Inspection of exhaust system does not concern noise level.
C. INSPECT FOR AND REJECT IF:
1. There is any leakage of exhaust gases at any point in the system. Do not reject "built-in" drain holes in muffler or tailpipe.
2. A muffler or catalytic converter has been repaired in any manner. The exhaust pipe may be welded to the muffler or catalytic converter. Holes or cracks in the exhaust line have been repaired with a patch or caulking.
NOTE: If a vehicle is inspected that does not have a muffler, the inspector should explain to the customer that although the vehicle will pass inspection without a muffler, it is a violation of state law for the vehicle to be operated on the highway without it.
3. Tailpipe opening is mashed or pinched.
4. Brackets are loose, broken, or missing.
5. The exhaust system fails to discharge the exhaust to the rear or sides of that part of a property-carrying-vehicle that is designed for and normally used for the driver and passengers and to the rear or sides of the passenger and trunk compartment of passenger vehicles.
§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.
No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise; provided however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.
The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.
Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.
§ 46.2-1047. Muffler cutout, etc., illegal.
It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale any (i) muffler without interior baffle plates or other effective muffling device or (ii) gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate on the highways in the Commonwealth a motor vehicle, moped, or motorized skateboard or scooter equipped with a gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust.
19VAC30-70-300. Muffler, exhaust system and trailer venting.
A. Flexible tubing may be used anywhere in the exhaust system.
B. Inspection of exhaust system does not concern noise level.
C. INSPECT FOR AND REJECT IF:
1. There is any leakage of exhaust gases at any point in the system. Do not reject "built-in" drain holes in muffler or tailpipe.
2. A muffler or catalytic converter has been repaired in any manner. The exhaust pipe may be welded to the muffler or catalytic converter. Holes or cracks in the exhaust line have been repaired with a patch or caulking.
NOTE: If a vehicle is inspected that does not have a muffler, the inspector should explain to the customer that although the vehicle will pass inspection without a muffler, it is a violation of state law for the vehicle to be operated on the highway without it.
3. Tailpipe opening is mashed or pinched.
4. Brackets are loose, broken, or missing.
5. The exhaust system fails to discharge the exhaust to the rear or sides of that part of a property-carrying-vehicle that is designed for and normally used for the driver and passengers and to the rear or sides of the passenger and trunk compartment of passenger vehicles.
09-06-2006, 07:39 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Let me back up and say, as some of you know, I too, have Long Tube Headers. They have the factory emission hook ups but they are not legal. Bottom line is, you cannot legally move the factory location of the cats or for that fact use a cat that is not designed and approved for your car. I personally moved my cats to where the resonator sets, at least when its being inspected.
Most inspectors would never know the difference, but if they want to be **** about it, they could reject it.
This is also the reason that hooker only made long tubes for the L98 and made shortys for LT1. The L98 can be 49 state legal (carb approved) by long tubes and eliminating the precats and using a new main cat.
Here is a link about it as well. http://www.racingbeat.com/emissions.htm
Edit to add one paragraph out of this link.
Can I remove my stock exhaust manifold/catalytic converter and replace them with a header/catalytic converter combination on my RX-7?
Not legally. As mentioned above, CARB or the EPA does not allow replacement or relocation of any of the stock catalytic converters. They require that all original catalytic converters be in their original positions, and replacement of multiple catalytic converters with a single non-exempt "high flow" performance unit is not allowed.
But this being a camaro and not knowing what year, this may all be a mute point.
Most inspectors would never know the difference, but if they want to be **** about it, they could reject it. This is also the reason that hooker only made long tubes for the L98 and made shortys for LT1. The L98 can be 49 state legal (carb approved) by long tubes and eliminating the precats and using a new main cat.
Here is a link about it as well. http://www.racingbeat.com/emissions.htm
Edit to add one paragraph out of this link.
Can I remove my stock exhaust manifold/catalytic converter and replace them with a header/catalytic converter combination on my RX-7?
Not legally. As mentioned above, CARB or the EPA does not allow replacement or relocation of any of the stock catalytic converters. They require that all original catalytic converters be in their original positions, and replacement of multiple catalytic converters with a single non-exempt "high flow" performance unit is not allowed.
But this being a camaro and not knowing what year, this may all be a mute point.
Last edited by 93 ragtop; 09-06-2006 at 07:44 PM.
09-08-2006, 03:36 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
But this being a camaro and not knowing what year, this may all be a mute point.
09-08-2006, 04:05 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by merlot566jka
- not to bust ***** or anything, but its moot point. just thought id make you a little smarter! click here for definition of moot
Gee, thanks for "making me smarter"
Did you take the time to look at the links I referenced where the EPA has very strict guidelines on relocating the cats? That was the point I was trying to make. Again, a lot of us have relocated the cats and get by with it. But if it is a LT1, there is no way to run long tubes legally. And if an inspector wants to be **** about it, he can fail the car.
