C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Test Pipe, anybody?

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Old Feb 6, 2025 | 02:03 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by 84 4+3
Most states are moving towards pre OBDII vehicles being exempt. At this point in time that would mean ~1995 and older. Mainly because they just want to be able to plug it in and go... you know, the bar is very low for the amount of knowledge expected of your average inspection worker. California is a unique example only because the topography does hold a lot of pollutants there. On top of that you have a disproportionately large amount of old vehicles still around there compared to elswhere. Enough to cause real smog that hasn't been seen since the mid 70s? No. I think it should move up to that 95 mark like everything else. Anything beyond that is quite literally a disposable appliance aside from a few select vehicles anyway.

My 84 as it sits has literally everything deleted. Long tubes new exhaust no cats or air pump. The only operable part of the emissions system is the EVAP for the fuel tank. And it's nice not having the garage reek of fuel vapors. So by all counts. Yes I am part of the problem lol.
Haha! Yeah, my mom remembers how gnarly the smog issue was growing up here. I am thankful for emissions and catalytic converters for the large amount of modern vehicles that are hitting the road every day. It just seems punitive at this point here because of the exact thing you mentioned: Older vehicles here are absolutely appliances. Yeah, we have a lot of older vehicles on the road here because we don't salt the crap out of roads and they still exist. I would even be ok with a mileage restriction for older cars and trucks.

But California has made it extremely difficult for businesses to function who use trucks in their fleet. Did you know that in California any light truck (F150 - F350, for example) is considered a commercial vehicle and gets taxed as such? Just outrageous policy.

/rant
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Old Feb 6, 2025 | 02:38 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by marshallnoise
Haha! Yeah, my mom remembers how gnarly the smog issue was growing up here. I am thankful for emissions and catalytic converters for the large amount of modern vehicles that are hitting the road every day. It just seems punitive at this point here because of the exact thing you mentioned: Older vehicles here are absolutely appliances. Yeah, we have a lot of older vehicles on the road here because we don't salt the crap out of roads and they still exist. I would even be ok with a mileage restriction for older cars and trucks.

But California has made it extremely difficult for businesses to function who use trucks in their fleet. Did you know that in California any light truck (F150 - F350, for example) is considered a commercial vehicle and gets taxed as such? Just outrageous policy.

/rant
NJ charges registration by GVWR. While not as outrageous as California, a new f150 is like 250$ a year for registration for personal use.

NJ had a milage restrictions for classic vwhicles before they changed the guidelines... well more so what it could be driven for. Exhibition, education etc. If I put 500 miles a year on the vette its a lot. My daily gets 30k miles a year minimum.

For our fleet, if it is owned by the company it has to be plated commercial as well. No exceptions to cars either. They all fall under the same guidelines.
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Old Feb 6, 2025 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Kilobuck84
The EPA cracked down on the manufacture of emissions defeat devices quite a while ago. Technically, if a vehicle was built with emission controls it is illegal to remove them regardless of the age or use of the vehicle. Hence the disappearance of the "test pipe."

You're going to have to make your own.
So what your saying is that if a guy made something that could be used as a test pipe but he sold it as a lamp he could make a little money on the side ..... selling lamps of course.
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Old Feb 6, 2025 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 84 4+3
NJ charges registration by GVWR. While not as outrageous as California, a new f150 is like 250$ a year for registration for personal use.

NJ had a milage restrictions for classic vwhicles before they changed the guidelines... well more so what it could be driven for. Exhibition, education etc. If I put 500 miles a year on the vette its a lot. My daily gets 30k miles a year minimum.

For our fleet, if it is owned by the company it has to be plated commercial as well. No exceptions to cars either. They all fall under the same guidelines.
My 1995 F-150 just cost $238 a year. A new truck is probably $3K to register.
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Old Feb 8, 2025 | 12:53 AM
  #25  
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PO threw in this "test pipe" and an extra ECM when I bought my '84. I'm just too lazy to try it but maybe someday.

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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 06:49 AM
  #26  
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https://www.etwasbauen.com/shop/p/co...-kit-1982-1985
Don't know anything about them, but found this....

Last edited by '78CorvetteS.A.; Feb 9, 2025 at 08:10 AM.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by '78CorvetteS.A.
https://www.etwasbauen.com/shop/p/co...-kit-1982-1985
Don't anything about them, but found this....
200 bucks and it ain't even oval shaped!
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 08:09 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by ex-x-fire
200 bucks and it ain't even oval shaped!
Oh, I agree...I was only pointing out the option, as you do have to dig really deep to find anything available. Personally I would just put a new CAT in or completely upgrade the whole exhaust!
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by ex-x-fire
200 bucks and it ain't even oval shaped!
The more I read this thread and now seeing the prices would you guys pay a forum member who welds to make these? Through work I have a business account with Send Cut Send. I could have them make the ends. I could probably source the tubing locally. After looking at the welds in that picture I know I can do better. You would be on your own for gaskets and bolts. But it would be WAY less than $200. I'm always looking for ways to make a little money on the side.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 11:27 AM
  #30  
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An interesting angle here would be to manufacture and sell them as intended for Private Track use only?

I mean that is legitimate.


On track, the rules don't matter as its not on public roads. Similar to the offroad community selling things as offroad use only.



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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 11:30 AM
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I could even make them out of stainless. Now mind you my stainless welding isn't perfect, but it would work. That would be more expensive though just because of the cost of tubing.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by VikingTrad3r
An interesting angle here would be to manufacture and sell them as intended for Private Track use only?

I mean that is legitimate.


On track, the rules don't matter as its not on public roads. Similar to the offroad community selling things as offroad use only.
I'm still thinking about selling them as lamps lol.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 12:18 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Phobos84
I'm still thinking about selling them as lamps lol.
When you make a matching pair to fit LT1 cars, then you'll make some real money. I hollowed mine out years ago.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 05:22 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Phobos84
I'm still thinking about selling them as lamps lol.
As long as you mark it Fragile.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 09:39 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by '78CorvetteS.A.
https://www.etwasbauen.com/shop/p/co...-kit-1982-1985
Don't know anything about them, but found this....
I talked to this guy. He only makes them for 82-85 (too expensive). I have an '89.
I don't know if there's a diff between '85 and '89?
Anybody?
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 09:56 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by spaceweasel
I talked to this guy. He only makes them for 82-85 (too expensive). I have an '89.
I don't know if there's a diff between '85 and '89?
Anybody?
Later cars use a slip fit on one side and a bolt on socket style flange on the other if memory serves... much easier to make.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 09:59 AM
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I've got flanges on both sides. Already bought new flanges. I think I know somebody who can whip this up for me.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by spaceweasel
I've got flanges on both sides. Already bought new flanges. I think I know somebody who can whip this up for me.
Can you take a picture of what you have? Like what was already said 82-85 is one style and then 86-91 is another.

I'm probably going to start making these and selling them to be honest. I didn't realize that they were hard to find. But I need a CAD file for the flange pieces. So that's what I'm working on. If anyone has a .DWG file or similar of the bolt flanges for 82-85 or the one flange for 86-91 please let me know. If you share it with me I'll either buy you lunch or only charge you shipping for a test pipe if you want one. Then you can be my guinea pig lol.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Phobos84
Can you take a picture of what you have? Like what was already said 82-85 is one style and then 86-91 is another.

I'm probably going to start making these and selling them to be honest. I didn't realize that they were hard to find. But I need a CAD file for the flange pieces. So that's what I'm working on. If anyone has a .DWG file or similar of the bolt flanges for 82-85 or the one flange for 86-91 please let me know. If you share it with me I'll either buy you lunch or only charge you shipping for a test pipe if you want one. Then you can be my guinea pig lol.
'86 - '91 don't use the flanges that earlier used. '86 front is slip fit w/saddle clamp and the rear is a ball/socket 2 bolt flange. There's already male ball flanges available.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by WVZR-1
'86 - '91 don't use the flanges that earlier used. '86 front is slip fit w/saddle clamp and the rear is a ball/socket 2 bolt flange. There's already male ball flanges available.
I wonder if the two bolt flange on the 86-91 for the ball and socket is the same bolt spacing as an off the shelf flange from a parts store? Looking at pictures they seem to be bigger but it's hard to tell.
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