Headers and california emissions
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: nothern california
Headers and california emissions
I have been thinking about getting a set of tpis headers but I am a bit concerned about emissions. Can the 2 pre cats be used with headers? has anyone done a header install that passes cal emissions?
Team Owner
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
To this point, no one makes headers for a C4 that are CARB compliant.
Keeping the cats will help pass the tests if the tech doesn't look too close.
Keeping the cats will help pass the tests if the tech doesn't look too close.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Shortys possibly if they have an EO#, but as far as I know no longtubes in CA. I dont understand why, as headers affect tailpipe emissions how???
Worst comes to worse do what you have planned and if they fail you demand to see an actual smog referee (state of Ca.) If everything is there, smog rails, cats, etc they just may issue you a sticker. Got it done on my Blazer years ago, even had a cam. Not likely to happen, but possible.
What one local did with his '88 was get a set of 1-3/4 shorties and make factory looking heat shields for them, passes with no problem.
Worst comes to worse do what you have planned and if they fail you demand to see an actual smog referee (state of Ca.) If everything is there, smog rails, cats, etc they just may issue you a sticker. Got it done on my Blazer years ago, even had a cam. Not likely to happen, but possible.
What one local did with his '88 was get a set of 1-3/4 shorties and make factory looking heat shields for them, passes with no problem.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by TAZO
I have been thinking about getting a set of tpis headers but I am a bit concerned about emissions. Can the 2 pre cats be used with headers? has anyone done a header install that passes cal emissions?
It's not whether they pass emissions but whether there are Kalifornia approved Long Tubes. So you should be asking which Long tubes have a CARB number.
Mike
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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There are none with CARB. You'll have to either live in a lenient county or know somebody to get around this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Texas
Edit: I so hate California. They changed the E.O. number within the last 6-8 months. It seems they either made a mistake or changed the terms of the E.O. number. Either way, there are no longer any long tube headers legal in California. Well, I know what I am going to be doing either this month or next month...
And the funny thing is, it just passed the sniffer test 2 years ago when I bought it with no problems. Did I say that I really despise the CARB system?
And the funny thing is, it just passed the sniffer test 2 years ago when I bought it with no problems. Did I say that I really despise the CARB system?
Last edited by Performance nut; Feb 19, 2006 at 11:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: nothern california
WOW great info! Now that really sucks that long tube headers won't pass. I'm not sure if I want to chance it or not. But, I would really like to open up the exhaust and make the L98 run like it was meant to. It is the start of a long prosses to have a really powerfull V8. Thanks for all your input.
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Some of the laws are for our own good, and some make no sense at all. Shouldnt matter if it has a blown big block as long as what comes out of the pipe itself is within range. The motor doesnt know any different 
Team Owner
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From: San Pedro CA
The problem with CARB is not only do they enforce EPA rules with such vigilance, they wrote have them damned rules.
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by bogus
The problem with CARB is not only do they enforce EPA rules with such vigilance, they wrote have them damned rules.
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
Hell, I read the other day that converting your gasoline car to run on only alcohol is considered tampering with federal emissions. I have no idea if its true but I wouldnt doubt it.
I just saw how much its going to cost me to convert back to the only legal exhaust manifold (stock) for my car: $746.10 (not including shipping and the time to put them in). Whatever happened to "if it isnt broke, dont fix it"?
Team Owner
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From: sw Ohio
We just got rid of the E-Check program where I live as of December 31, 2005 which means you can straight pipes all the way back, headers, whatever you want. You couldnt put headers (legally) on your car here back then either. Thats why i'm getting a dual exhaust kit for my car, no need for the catalytic converter anymore. Ohio is a great place to live, but its not as warm as California.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Originally Posted by bogus
The problem with CARB is not only do they enforce EPA rules with such vigilance, they wrote have them damned rules.
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
I wish CARB would give folks the right to modify, as long as the result passed sniff tests. Hell, I would be willing to be tested annually just to prove it's ok. If it fails, no black mark, just a 30 day grace to make it pass. BFD.
Is it all that hard to make things work this way?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Performance nut
I have been saying this for years. Does it matter what it is, who builds the engine, or what brand of parts you use... what comes out the tailpipe is all that matters.
Hell, I read the other day that converting your gasoline car to run on only alcohol is considered tampering with federal emissions. I have no idea if its true but I wouldnt doubt it.
I just saw how much its going to cost me to convert back to the only legal exhaust manifold (stock) for my car: $746.10 (not including shipping and the time to put them in). Whatever happened to "if it isnt broke, dont fix it"?
Hell, I read the other day that converting your gasoline car to run on only alcohol is considered tampering with federal emissions. I have no idea if its true but I wouldnt doubt it.
I just saw how much its going to cost me to convert back to the only legal exhaust manifold (stock) for my car: $746.10 (not including shipping and the time to put them in). Whatever happened to "if it isnt broke, dont fix it"?
Do you have friends or a PO box out of state, where you can register your car?
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
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From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
I've been investingating this dilemma alot lately as I plan on something better than what my stock manifolds can do.
I've found that 'shorties' available, none have AIR fittings or EGR on them. Shorties might hit the motor mount frame rise piece. This would be ideal as the smog monkeys wouldn't be able to mess with them. I could just weld the AIR fittings on them (no EGR as 1985 had none), coat them and voila!! ISSUE: front pipe might hit the frame.
I've been considering LT1 manifolds as they are alledged to flow enough to produce 300 odd hp at 6000rpm. I need to test fit them.
They have the AIR fittings for sure.
Long tubes would be ideal. Compromise: uninstall them prior to each smog test
...oh well. Long tubes are yummi excpt for the heat issue.
I've found that 'shorties' available, none have AIR fittings or EGR on them. Shorties might hit the motor mount frame rise piece. This would be ideal as the smog monkeys wouldn't be able to mess with them. I could just weld the AIR fittings on them (no EGR as 1985 had none), coat them and voila!! ISSUE: front pipe might hit the frame.
I've been considering LT1 manifolds as they are alledged to flow enough to produce 300 odd hp at 6000rpm. I need to test fit them.
They have the AIR fittings for sure.
Long tubes would be ideal. Compromise: uninstall them prior to each smog test
...oh well. Long tubes are yummi excpt for the heat issue.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: nothern california
So, I was just wondering, for all you california folks. Has anyone put long tube headers in with all the emissions hook-ups and passed smog? I just had the smog test last week( stock motor with msd and open air lid) and it passed. The tech actually said it was a very clean running motor. Maybe I should think about a nice set of heads and a better cam? I just have the itch for more power. You can never have to much power!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Heads and cam definitely, Long tubes, pretty iffy. Probably fail you if you get called into a test only facility, maybe youll get lucky though and get ahold of an "under$tanding" tech.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 2
From: 1993 Quasar Blue 'vert Scottsdale AZ
Originally Posted by GRX
I've been investingating this dilemma alot lately as I plan on something better than what my stock manifolds can do.
I've found that 'shorties' available, none have AIR fittings or EGR on them. Shorties might hit the motor mount frame rise piece. This would be ideal as the smog monkeys wouldn't be able to mess with them. I could just weld the AIR fittings on them (no EGR as 1985 had none), coat them and voila!! ISSUE: front pipe might hit the frame.
I've been considering LT1 manifolds as they are alledged to flow enough to produce 300 odd hp at 6000rpm. I need to test fit them.
They have the AIR fittings for sure.
Long tubes would be ideal. Compromise: uninstall them prior to each smog test ...oh well. Long tubes are yummi excpt for the heat issue.
I've found that 'shorties' available, none have AIR fittings or EGR on them. Shorties might hit the motor mount frame rise piece. This would be ideal as the smog monkeys wouldn't be able to mess with them. I could just weld the AIR fittings on them (no EGR as 1985 had none), coat them and voila!! ISSUE: front pipe might hit the frame.
I've been considering LT1 manifolds as they are alledged to flow enough to produce 300 odd hp at 6000rpm. I need to test fit them.
They have the AIR fittings for sure.
Long tubes would be ideal. Compromise: uninstall them prior to each smog test
...oh well. Long tubes are yummi excpt for the heat issue.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Redding Ca
For all the whining and notions of ulterior motives, the reason Ca is so tough is three-fold: 1. we have more cars than anyone else and had smog so thick I had to have my headlights on when I drove through LA in mid-afternoon when I drove home from the service (seriously !) years ago, 2. we have a very environmentally friendly state government (not necessarily a bad thing), and 3. The fed govt threatened to cut off all highway funding if Cal did not come into compliance. 
So it was a money deal, but not as has been suggested that the state is getting rich off this.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, for an L98, there are no long tubes or shorties with an EO#. Maybe our criticism might be better directed to our header manufacturers. When I was looking for these for my 1988, I found JBA actually had a shorty with a Cal EO#, but they never made it available to the public.
I could not believe it! 
I even called JBA and gave them the part number and was told, "Sorry Charlie!"
!) years ago, 2. we have a very environmentally friendly state government (not necessarily a bad thing), and 3. The fed govt threatened to cut off all highway funding if Cal did not come into compliance. So it was a money deal, but not as has been suggested that the state is getting rich off this.Meanwhile back at the ranch, for an L98, there are no long tubes or shorties with an EO#. Maybe our criticism might be better directed to our header manufacturers. When I was looking for these for my 1988, I found JBA actually had a shorty with a Cal EO#, but they never made it available to the public.
I could not believe it! I even called JBA and gave them the part number and was told, "Sorry Charlie!"