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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 10:25 AM
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Default "headers in calif."

just wanted to ask calif. vette owners who have headers,if they were worried about them being illegal!I was about to put some on next weekend,but now I'm not sure!Has anybody had any concerns!
later,{work calls}
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 11:53 AM
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I have always read that you can't move cat location in CA so you are stuck going with shorty headers which aren't worth doing. Some people actually install the stock manifolds for the yearly inspection, then swap the long tube headers back in. What a pain!
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 12:43 PM
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If the headers have a CARB certification, they're legal. Otherwise, not. Whether you might still be able to pass the emissions visual inspection is another question...

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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 01:46 PM
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Thank God i dont live in Ca anymore! all the Bs i dont have to deal with anymore
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 01:54 PM
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Hope this helps -
"Vehicles registered in areas subject to the biennial smog certification program are required to submit evidence of a smog certification every other renewal period. Owners of vehicles six or less model years old will pay an annual smog abatement fee for the first six registration years instead of being required to provide a biennial smog certification. The registration renewal notice mailed to you by the department will indicate if a smog certification is required. If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late fees. However, you will not receive your new registration or year sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV."

IF I read this correctly you won't have an "inspection" for 6 years....so, ENJOY your headers and whatever for that period and then see if you can sneak by the first one OR refit all the stock parts, pass inspection then re-install. Of course at this stage you will be doing smog inspects every other year......

No flames please if I'm reading the law incorrectly.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by mforman42
If the headers have a CARB certification, they're legal. Otherwise, not. Whether you might still be able to pass the emissions visual inspection is another question...

I've asked this question before, and no one makes a CARB certified header for CA Corvettes.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Volocty
I've asked this question before, and no one makes a CARB certified header for CA Corvettes.

I think Calloway does.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by natejohn

IF I read this correctly you won't have an "inspection" for 6 years....so, ENJOY your headers and whatever for that period and then see if you can sneak by the first one OR refit all the stock parts, pass inspection then re-install. Of course at this stage you will be doing smog inspects every other year......
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 09:08 PM
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hey guys,back from work!
thanks for all the input.I may just take my chances if headers will make that much difference!!
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 09:09 PM
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You don't have to smog test for 4 years in CA after buying a new car.
John
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 09:27 PM
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Hey John,I've heard from some people that it's 6 years?And do you live in calif?
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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I bought a used 05 C6 and at DMV they said it does not have to be smogged until 2011, not even for a transfer of title! My buddy bought a used 05 Turbo Porcha:~) that was originally sold in CA then sold at a wholsale auction to a dealer in Texas, he bought it and brought it back to CA and because it left the state he now has to smog it for transfer and every two years, he was pissed:~) I have never owned the same car for 5 years with one exception, my dads 70 GTO that I still have So Iam not too worried about modding this car, by the time I have to smog it I probably wont even have it anymore. At this time there is no LT header for the C5 or C6 that is CA smog legal, cats or no cats. With that said alot of my buds have smogged their C5's with LT's and cats just because most of the systems are so well made they look stock and alot of the smog techs just dont catch them. I was a tech here in CA for a long time and you would be amazed what some of these new gen smog techs dont know.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by mforman42
If the headers have a CARB certification, they're legal. Otherwise, not. Whether you might still be able to pass the emissions visual inspection is another question...

You have to have the CARB certification for any modifications in California.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 10:11 PM
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Except for catback systems... You can do whatever you want down streem of the cats.
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Old Apr 14, 2006 | 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Cucchiara
Except for catback systems... You can do whatever you want down streem of the cats.
That is true.
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Old Apr 15, 2006 | 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by natejohn
Hope this helps -
"Vehicles registered in areas subject to the biennial smog certification program are required to submit evidence of a smog certification every other renewal period. Owners of vehicles six or less model years old will pay an annual smog abatement fee for the first six registration years instead of being required to provide a biennial smog certification. The registration renewal notice mailed to you by the department will indicate if a smog certification is required. If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late fees. However, you will not receive your new registration or year sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV."

IF I read this correctly you won't have an "inspection" for 6 years....so, ENJOY your headers and whatever for that period and then see if you can sneak by the first one OR refit all the stock parts, pass inspection then re-install. Of course at this stage you will be doing smog inspects every other year......

No flames please if I'm reading the law incorrectly.
I believe you are reading the law correctly. However, there are plenty of smog places that only care if the car passes the "sniff" test, and look the other way when it comes to headers.
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Old Apr 15, 2006 | 12:44 AM
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To get off topic just a tad, I heard the B&B Bullets and Corsa Sport exhaust are not legal in California but I believe this is more due to the decibel level than C.A.R.B cert. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm probably going with Bullets either way but out of curiosity I'd like to know.
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Old Apr 15, 2006 | 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by natejohn
IF I read this correctly you won't have an "inspection" for 6 years....so, ENJOY your headers and whatever for that period
I have an 02, 03 (traded for C6), 04, 05 and now 06 of various makes. Not one has yet been required to submit to smog certification here in CA.
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Old Apr 15, 2006 | 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Volocty
I've asked this question before, and no one makes a CARB certified header for CA Corvettes.
Callaway and B&B have C.A.R.B. certified headers. B&B use a "snake pit" design with 22" primary tubes and a short collector feeding the stock CATs.
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Old Apr 15, 2006 | 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by oobatz
To get off topic just a tad, I heard the B&B Bullets and Corsa Sport exhaust are not legal in California but I believe this is more due to the decibel level than C.A.R.B cert. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm probably going with Bullets either way but out of curiosity I'd like to know.

The noise level is completely up to the officer. He can write you for it with no actual proof of what the decible output is. I have friends that have been written up for having drag radials and other completely legal full tread DOT tires on their car just because they looked like racing tires to the cop. Its really hit and miss on alot of these things here in Kali. Just be nice and hope if your cool with him he will be cool with you
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