LT headers in Califonia
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
LT headers in Califonia
was just wondering on the guys that have LTs on there c5s and live in the state of the sniffer. do you change them out every 2 years for the smog or should i buy shorties and just get like 10 hp and leave the headache behind
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I went with the LT's--The 1st time I had it smogged I just tried to see what would happen--They didn't even look much under the hood--It is so busy under there , you have to hunt to try and find the exhaust--I've had several Lt's cars smogged since and never have had a problem--As long as it has the AIR tubes and a stock appearing engine and it passes the sniffer i think most smog guys just overlook them---
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 11
From: Aliso Viejo So. Cal.
Beware of long tube headers in this state
. The above poster has been lucky.....period. I'm having shorties installed as I type this along with high flow cats. I'm only doing the cats because every time I had my cars and trucks smogged, they never put them on a rack for a visual of the cats. Just be careful.
. The above poster has been lucky.....period. I'm having shorties installed as I type this along with high flow cats. I'm only doing the cats because every time I had my cars and trucks smogged, they never put them on a rack for a visual of the cats. Just be careful.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
It is true--the cats need to be no further back than they were in the stock location or they will not heat up properly--I tried some aftermarket cats that were supposed to be "calif smog legal"--however they were not--they were not even close--I had to put my stock cats back on--You can buy Hi0flow cats but they have to be Calif compliant and those are very expensive--I am in Stanislaus county and as far as the long tubes go--I have them on my '98 C5 / 2001 4x4 chev PU / and a 2004 2500HD 6.0---So far here no shop has ever NOT passed them because of the LT's---As mentioned every location is different and you have to be careful--
Depends on your attitude---You can play it safe and put the shortys on OR go for it and do the LT's-- LOL
Depends on your attitude---You can play it safe and put the shortys on OR go for it and do the LT's-- LOL
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I put JBA big tube titanium coated shorties on my 2000. Got them from Tybyrn Motor sports. I think they are in Flordia. They have a carb exempt badge on the drivers side. Just had my car smogged. Passed with flying colors even with a supercharger. Longtubes, you are just asking for trouble especially if the CHP pull you over and take a look under the hood.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
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
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
I would forget it!!!
Just take your car to Andy @ A&A in Oxnard have him put on his Vortech kit with meth injection and you won't need headers!
He got my stocker up to 600 RWHP following his tuning and will pass somg all day long!
Just take your car to Andy @ A&A in Oxnard have him put on his Vortech kit with meth injection and you won't need headers!
He got my stocker up to 600 RWHP following his tuning and will pass somg all day long!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: Turlock CA
Long Tubes with cats will have no problem passing the sniffer. I have yet to find a smog shop that has done a detailed enough visual inspection to even notice long tubes. As long as it doesn't have a check engine light on and passes the sniffer, most smog places could care less.
BTW, I live in the People's Republic and my C5 with Melrose LT and high flow cats just passed from a Smog Only station last month.
BTW, I live in the People's Republic and my C5 with Melrose LT and high flow cats just passed from a Smog Only station last month.