California Headers definately!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Fremont California
California Headers definately!
I am curious how many california corvettes have headers and pass emissions inspite of the visual which depends on the person doing the inspection having a clue or just having the right connection. California is a BS rogue state. So in that case I will get long tube headers installed and be a rogue citizen. Please let me know what your experiences are as fellow Californians. Thanks...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I am curious how many california corvettes have headers and pass emissions inspite of the visual which depends on the person doing the inspection having a clue or just having the right connection. California is a BS rogue state. So in that case I will get long tube headers installed and be a rogue citizen. Please let me know what your experiences are as fellow Californians. Thanks...
if you had any concept of what air quality was like in the LA Basin 40 years ago, you would understand why they have the laws they have, and why the CA laws are the basis for not only the EPA requirements, but the laws that 4 other states are following.
In short, CA's laws are not that much more intense, they are just enforced. Something that was screwed up on when the Clean Air Act was created.
I do agree, they are a bit draconian on enforcement. They are now running infrared road side testing units.... and all that proves is that the smog testing system isn't working.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 3
From: Citrus Heights California
I've seen the smog police in my area. They like to pull over the ricers and cars with loud exhaust. If your caught running illegal headers or no cat your car will be towed and impounded. There is a fine for altering smog control here. You can buy some shorty headers with a carb #. You can upgrade to a high flow cat and bigger pipes and still pass smog. You can't run long tubes legally here.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Palo Alto California
My Corvette has passed many times with long tubes in Cali. The previous owner may have gone to a friendly place the 3 or 4 times that I have paperwork for, but they also didn't notice last year at the local gas station. 
If you do get long tubes, then the biggest things are that it passes the sniffer fine, it has the egr/air tube fully functional, and that the rest of the engine looks stock.
There is always the risk that you will have to convert to stock upon failing.
If you do get long tubes, then the biggest things are that it passes the sniffer fine, it has the egr/air tube fully functional, and that the rest of the engine looks stock.
There is always the risk that you will have to convert to stock upon failing.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ.
Sorry, but I have to comment...
I have and that is utter BS.
Again BS...
A bit draconian ??? It is the worst state for enforcement. How many cars burned because of MTBE? and how much of CA's water supply has been lost because of MTBE? How many classic cars have been crushed or lost because of unreasonable smog regulations?
LA's air quality has been bad long before even cars were in the state. It has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with the basin, wind currents and other natural phenomenon.
They are only running road side testing units because they think it will generate money for the state. Ca. practices punitive control of its population to support the massive state bureaucracy.
I speak from not only living there for 40+ years, but also a former mechanic that held all the smog certs and spent 7 years issuing them and finding ways of protecting owners of classic cars from the way over reaching punitive measures being used.
Dont call me jaded though...
no. they are not a rogue state... at least not anymore.
if you had any concept of what air quality was like in the LA Basin 40 years ago, you would understand why they have the laws they have, and why the CA laws are the basis for not only the EPA requirements, but the laws that 4 other states are following.
if you had any concept of what air quality was like in the LA Basin 40 years ago, you would understand why they have the laws they have, and why the CA laws are the basis for not only the EPA requirements, but the laws that 4 other states are following.
LA's air quality has been bad long before even cars were in the state. It has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with the basin, wind currents and other natural phenomenon.
They are only running road side testing units because they think it will generate money for the state. Ca. practices punitive control of its population to support the massive state bureaucracy.
I speak from not only living there for 40+ years, but also a former mechanic that held all the smog certs and spent 7 years issuing them and finding ways of protecting owners of classic cars from the way over reaching punitive measures being used.
Dont call me jaded though...
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ.
I know of several in the central valley area, or at least they have their cars registered in the central valley or areas where regulations are far less stringent. This is how I was able to run turbo's on my Alfa's, along with many other mods, for many years and still not worry.
I am curious how many california corvettes have headers and pass emissions inspite of the visual which depends on the person doing the inspection having a clue or just having the right connection. California is a BS rogue state. So in that case I will get long tube headers installed and be a rogue citizen. Please let me know what your experiences are as fellow Californians. Thanks...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Ma.
I'll put it to you this way. With long tubes, my car passes the analyser part with flying colors. It even passed with no AIR hooked up to it, no precats, and no EGR. Just failed visual. That's why a lot of guys think it's a BS rule. If it passes smog requirements out the tailpipes, who cares about an EO or CARB number. Isn't emissions the bottom line?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ.
I'll put it to you this way. With long tubes, my car passes the analyser part with flying colors. It even passed with no AIR hooked up to it, no precats, and no EGR. Just failed visual. That's why a lot of guys think it's a BS rule. If it passes smog requirements out the tailpipes, who cares about an EO or CARB number. Isn't emissions the bottom line?
And also correct ! It's never been about the air, but about money. Some stations would fail you just because of visual. The state does not care, they just want their pound of flesh from your wallet.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Fremont California
Thanks for your experienced input. I will have all the emissions equipment still hooked up but with high flow cats. Most people know that the headers will not suddenly make smoke come flying out of your exhaust and it has been proven with the equipment provided by the BS state of california the headers do NOT make emmisions worse. It is all about money and jack *** politicians passing laws to make their campaign funding partners happy. Remember folks these are the same idiots that made the oil companies put MTBE in the fuel just to find out it pollutes our environment more.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 5
From: Hayward CA
CARB EO numbers are all about $$$. The cost to get an EO number is crazy. That's why many aftermarket parts suppliers choose the 49-state legal route.
VerdeRacer is right when he says
VerdeRacer is right when he says
Ca. practices punitive control of its population to support the massive state bureaucracy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Never quite saw CA's emissions rules as draconian - gee we've had CATs for something like 30 years and if any of you can demonstrate that the average Soccer Mom's van doesn't need them you won't need to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets. The law is outlined at the EPA site; the penalty for removing them is a bit more than a speeding ticket, and there's a link for turning in anyone your heart desires - in any State or Territory for that matter. So before you get zapped by an Al Gore Laser Pen (or have a Jerry Moonbeam Brown experience), you might want to get use to it. And I doubt anything is going to change anytime soon - well except that most of us will be driving something with an electric motor in it, especially if we continue to buy Toyotas. As to headers and CATS, Hot Rod Magazine does demonstrate a pair of High Flow units this month that bolt directly to the headers (with something like a 2 hp penalty - BFD). They look compact and with the ingenuity around here (it's a GEN 3 motor) I'm sure some of you can make it work on whatever you're running.
