I bought the car with this setup on it. It appears to have had headers on it before I got it.......my question is, what do I need to buy to make the most out of what I have? Does the rest of the exhaust appear to be stock? I'm new to this, so any help would be grateful. In my opinion it looks like it was done in a hurry, and cobbled up to move the car down the road. I bought the car from Mullen Chevrolet in Lilborn GA, but they supposedly don't recall anything being removed.


http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...rrior/exh2.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...rrior/exh1.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...rrior/exh3.jpg

 

 

Well from the pics I'd say someone removed the catalytic converters (a no no for the dealer to sell you a car with emission control hardware removed) and an after market X pipe welded in. Here in New Jersey this car wouldn't pass state inspection as they physically look for the cats.

 

Moving to Tech.

 

ttt

 

I also don't see any O2 sensors plugged in? hence that open plug you see above the exhaust flange that is bolted in picture #1...

They certainly removed the CATS- as for headers, it looks like they just fabbed up a pipe system to get the CATS out of the picture and bolted it back to the stock exhaust manifolds...perhaps they also programmed out the o2's in the cars computer as well...

I would certainly go back to them to find out if\what else in the cars computer was modified out...and I agree with the above post- I didn't think a dealer was allowed to sell a car w\o emissions control equip on it...I.E. CATS.

Did you hear the car before you bought it? reason I ask is that w\o CATS and that x-pipe, even with a stock catback it would be considerably louder then normal...plus you would smell the difference in the exhaust with no CATS...the exhaust would be raw compared to a more burnt off oder the CATS would give you...

 

I was a virgin to vettes when I bought it......Mullen Chevrolet sold it through EBAY to me. Won auction on a tues or wed, bought expensive *** one way ticket to Atlanta on thurs, and flew down on Friday. I heard it run, but didn't pay much attention to smell.....just knew I had just purchased my first vette FINALLY, and was still in shock......pumped!!!! You know the feeling It was purchased in Aug 2006.....not much I can do now is there?

 

This is from the Federal Clean Air Act

Sec 203 (a) (3)(A) for any person to remove or render inoperative any
device or element of design installed on or in a motor
vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regula-
tions under this title prior to its sale and delivery to the
ultimate purchaser, or for any person knowingly to remove or
render inoperative any such device or element of design
after such sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser;

Whoever did the work is in violation of federal law, and here in Calif., would also be in violation of laws administered by the CARB (CA Air Resources Board). Also in CA for a "dealer" to sell that car would be a violation of numerous laws administered by both the CARB and the BAR (Bureau of Auto Repair).

Your problem is the vehicle has crossed state lines. I'd consider two options ....

1) Ignore the problem. If the car is running OK, and it is passing (if you have them) smog tests, I'd think twice about hassling over the issue.

2) Call your local office for the Federal EPA. They should have someone (yeah ... right) that you can talk to who can help you in determining if you have any recourse against the dealer in Atlanta. CAUTION ... I'd try and not give them too much information to start, as you never know with the Feds, they could show up at your house one day and fine you for having an "illegal" vehicle .... unless you can PROVE you didn't remove the cats, they may fine you and/or require you to pay to return the engine/exhaust system to stock condition, and that would not be cheap.

Unfortunately you don't have a lot of "leverage" to use against the dealer. If you post a sign on your front lawn saying "Don't buy from them", I doubt it will hurt their sales in Atlanta. You could look into asking ebay to help you in this, maybe they will let you post a negative comment or rating against the seller, but I suspect ebay will put the burden of proof on you as so much time has elapsed since the sale.

Sorry to see such a hack job on what is otherwise, I'm sure, a beautiful car.

Good luck,

 

Don't think I will stir the pot.

 

Take your vette down to a shop you can trust and get a
estimate on getting your exhuast system back to something
resembling normal--good luck.
It's too late for a lawyer and too expensive.

 

Yeah, I'm wanting headers, so I will see what I can find for a system.

 

That's the ticket. Headers, high flow cats and an X pipe and you'll be good to go.

 

That welding job looks like it was done by the grade 10 shop class. My suggestion - a complete Kooks package to replace that monstrosity.

 

I disagree, grade 10 ???? NO WAY .... more like a guy that read "Welding for Dummies" and this was his first try at it ..... that is one **** poor set of welds .... I've seen Midas Muffler guys do a better job .....

 

dealer had to see this

 

How does it even run properly without Oxygen sensors?

 

Breathless performance did all the "performance work". When I called to try and find out all that had been done, they gave me the run around about not knowing where the work order went, and ""it was in their old system"".