headers
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola Florida
headers
I may be moving to California and I have long tubes on my 02 c5. If you run Cats and o2 sensors in the front and rear then why cant you use long tubes in Cali. I really dont want to have to put shorties on my car , i just as well go back to stock exhaust. Is there any way of getting around this problem or should I sell the car and start over once I get out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
It is my understanding that long tube headers are illegal in Ca. as they move the O2 sensors from their original position. Only shorty headers that have CARB certification are allowed, along with stock manifold. Good luck.
As a side note, I bought my Z06 in Ca about 3 years ago. It had long tube headers on it.
As a side note, I bought my Z06 in Ca about 3 years ago. It had long tube headers on it.
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 243
Likes: 44
From: west LA CA
By the letter of the law you cant modify anything to do with emissions in CA. and everything motor wise has to be CARB approved. intakes headers, everything. but the way ppl get around it is that most shops dont know what they are looking at. if the car passes smog and the pipes look semi stock most shops will pass you. the way i do it with my infiniti is shorty headers and switch out my stock headers and test pipes every 2 years for the smog check.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
You will need to find a "cool" smog shop to take it to. Some will pass you as long as it runs clean, others will give you hell the whole way. I still have yet to do LT's living here. Havent found a smog station I can trust yet.
The trick here is doing things sleeper style. My P&P 243 heads and cam are visually undetectable. They cant tell the LS2 TB from the LS1/6, the K&N is visible, but CARB exempt. They cant tell if you swap an LS6 intake onto an early model etc, same with the 85mm MAF. I do run a FAST intake, but thats easy to swap out ever 2 years when testing, and same with my BBK shorties I have on there. As long as the visible aftermarket parts are easily interchangeable with the stockers, you are good to go. For me its just the intake and exhaust manifolds that need swapped out. Everything else is unseen.
The trick here is doing things sleeper style. My P&P 243 heads and cam are visually undetectable. They cant tell the LS2 TB from the LS1/6, the K&N is visible, but CARB exempt. They cant tell if you swap an LS6 intake onto an early model etc, same with the 85mm MAF. I do run a FAST intake, but thats easy to swap out ever 2 years when testing, and same with my BBK shorties I have on there. As long as the visible aftermarket parts are easily interchangeable with the stockers, you are good to go. For me its just the intake and exhaust manifolds that need swapped out. Everything else is unseen.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 749
Likes: 13
From: SoCal CA
Do the shorty headers bolt up to the C5 H-Pipe?
Also, madmatt9471 has a good write up on adapting the C6 ZR1 manifolds and X-Pipe for the C5. He said it flows almost as well as the Kooks LTs he replaced.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...-b-fusion.html
Also, madmatt9471 has a good write up on adapting the C6 ZR1 manifolds and X-Pipe for the C5. He said it flows almost as well as the Kooks LTs he replaced.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...-b-fusion.html
Last edited by john8642; Jun 30, 2013 at 01:00 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Yes, shorties are not as good as LT's, but do have their perks. Buy a set with air tubs and for your particular year, and they will swap in and out with ease. However I do not recommend shorties to anyone without head work. A before and after dyno with my BBK shorties showed Zero gain for me. If you have the stock exhaust, just use that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 749
Likes: 13
From: SoCal CA
Yes, shorties are not as good as LT's, but do have their perks. Buy a set with air tubs and for your particular year, and they will swap in and out with ease. However I do not recommend shorties to anyone without head work. A before and after dyno with my BBK shorties showed Zero gain for me. If you have the stock exhaust, just use that.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Thanks for the reply. I have an '03 Z06, and my plan eventually is to get the stock heads and intake ported, and put in a new cam and valve springs. For the exhaust, I haven't decided weather to go with a shorty, or try the C6 exhaust I linked to in my last post. That might be a cheap way to go if I can find the parts used.
You pretty much have to think of it like this. In cali, everyone is restricted by the same limitations. Of course there are some who are not legal and do things anyway, but for the most part, you will sacrifice on some power that others on this forum can achieve because of our emission standards. But everyone here is subject to that. So it is not a big deal if you consider that. No, you cannot make 30whp more with LTs... but neither can your competition. So it doesn't matter.