Long tubes and Calif. emissions
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Ca./Kona, Hawaii
Probably OK
A few vette owners, including myself, have passed
the visual part with no issues. Most smog techs
don't care about headers as long as the car passes
the sniffer. (AS IT SHOULD BE ANYWAY!
)
As one of the other posts stated, get a PRE-TEST
done. Everything is off the record during a pre-test.
IF they say no problem, then proceed with the
real test.
the visual part with no issues. Most smog techs
don't care about headers as long as the car passes
the sniffer. (AS IT SHOULD BE ANYWAY!
)As one of the other posts stated, get a PRE-TEST
done. Everything is off the record during a pre-test.
IF they say no problem, then proceed with the
real test.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by davette
Most smog techs
don't care about headers as long as the car passes
the sniffer. (AS IT SHOULD BE ANYWAY! )
don't care about headers as long as the car passes
the sniffer. (AS IT SHOULD BE ANYWAY!
)----------TN Stnd------------05------------06
HC--------220ppm ----------1.00----------54.02
CO--------1.20%------------0.01-----------0.39
As you can see, while it passed the local sniffer with no problem, there was a significant increase in emissions, as the factory setup emitted almost nothing. I am assuming that CA standards are much stricter, and include a NO limit.
Last edited by fdxpilot; Mar 24, 2006 at 05:31 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Ca./Kona, Hawaii
I could give you the max numbers from my 2005 test on my 1998 vette.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Montara Ca
Originally Posted by davette
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
Last edited by dudleyd; Mar 24, 2006 at 06:58 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by davette
I could give you the max numbers from my 2005 test on my 1998 vette.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Ca./Kona, Hawaii
Yes, IF you are in a non-enhanced county, you still just have the idle test. However, 80% of californias cars are registered in enhanced areas and are subject to the rolling test. Eventually all of california will have the rolling test, as I suspect the rest of the states. California tends to set the trend in smog control. Good or Bad 
Last edited by davette; Mar 24, 2006 at 07:26 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,160
Likes: 7
From: Chandler Az
I passed with my TPIS and high flow cats the guy didnt care about anything other than if it was clean or not. I just passed with my LGs too but the damn check engine light from the sensors failed the rest of it. But i got those cleared so its time to go do it again. Its just matter of finding someone who is not **** about mods and only care if the car is clean. Goodluck if u need any help finding someone that doesnt care about looks shoot me a pm.
R.
R.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by davette
I could give you the max numbers from my 2005 test on my 1998 vette.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
However, I think the numbers get lower each year.
So, your 2002 may have to meet stricter standards than my 1998. Somebody can confirm this.
Your 54.02 HC number would barely FAIL the california
test. The cutoff for a 1998 car is 54.00, however, this
is at 15mph. At 25mph, the max HC is 37ppm.
Remember, in California, we get tested at two speeds
on a rolling meter. No more idle tests.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Montara Ca
Test results on my totally stock 99 coupe @ 105k mile on Nov. 05
RPM=722, %CO2 meas=14.9, %O2 meas=0.8, HC( PPM) Max=100 meas=8, CO (%) Max=1.00 meas=.05
RPM=2541, %CO2 meas=15.2, %O2 meas=0.1, HC( PPM) Max=130 meas=1, CO (%) Max=1.00 meas=.05
RPM=722, %CO2 meas=14.9, %O2 meas=0.8, HC( PPM) Max=100 meas=8, CO (%) Max=1.00 meas=.05
RPM=2541, %CO2 meas=15.2, %O2 meas=0.1, HC( PPM) Max=130 meas=1, CO (%) Max=1.00 meas=.05
Last edited by dudleyd; Mar 25, 2006 at 03:14 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by dmitry_1998
my brother is big on the import scene and on his prelude he had a full exhaust system, headers, ported/bored motor. He would just take it to a test only facility, which costs around $25, if everything would be ok, he would let them smog the car. Rememeber TEST ONLY is OFF the record, so if they don't say anything you can run the smog and get your certificate. I plan to get my longtubes and dont think there will be any complications.
I personally think the no LTs law is a crock of
as the exhaust doesnt know if its traveling through a manifold or not. If it passes the sniffer it shouldnt matter whats under the hood. OF course if you have LT's, you must be some street racer or hoodlum, cant have that. 
Ill be putting them on my ZR1. If I have to fight it and take it to the state referee for a sticker Ill do it. Like to see their argument when I tell them those manifold/cat setups were a 1 year only piece, not avail.
Read: Not replaceable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 161
From: Atwater CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
In CalEfornia, TEST ONLY does NOT mean off the record! It means the shop does TESTs ONLY and does not do repairs. In fact the 'test only' guys can be stricter than the regular smog techs because they have nothing to gain or lose if you pass or fail, they don't even care if they get 'more' business from referrals because they have built in business from their 'test only' status. Some smog shops that do repairs will do a "pre-test" that IS off the record. If a tech fails you for the visual because you modified the factory smog equip (which includes the exhaust manifolds, etc) you aren't going to get approved at that shop until you return it to factory equip or CARB approved equip. If you fail the smog test twice, you run the risk of being fined and/or of your car being branded a gross polluter. It is very expensive to be in the smog cert business in California and if you find someone who is willing to look the other way, they are taking a tremendous risk with little to gain. So, if you want headers in CalEfornia that are not carb approved (i.e. all long tubes to my knowledge) it really boils down to, do you feel lucky?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Montara Ca
Originally Posted by C5X2C
I'm not going to worry about it until Oct 2007!
Having drivin my 99 coupe for 7 years bone stock compaired to now, Z06 suspension, LG LT, CAI and a few other mods. I'll put the stock smogable bits back on for a day to get it to pass, it will be worth it cause I'm lovin the way it runs now.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
Glad I live in NV!
Originally Posted by RstyNutz
Wish I had seen this before I got my shorties, that is a great concept..let then burn in and maynot be spotted by the smog tech...
So, the "shorties" are CARB certified and would pass a smog test?
We do have to pass a smog test in Reno and Las Vegas...its pretty simple with the sniffer and very little inspection!
However, as things change in CA, they tend to follow it here in NV!
Sully
