Emissions
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
My buddy has an '09 Shelby Mustang, tune and headers. He could not get it inspected here in NYS, so he registered it in Florida where he is for 7 months out of the year. Seems to me they don't even have inspections in FL but either way, he had no problems getting it registered and legal.
Maybe the Florida guys could chime in here and fill in the blanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
What does your state say about that? There is no nation-wide ban on LT headers. Here in NV, we can run LT legally, and if the system checks out, we are good to go. In CA, you cannot even change out a muffler. So, check your state emission requirements.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
BS - As far as Federal is concerned you can make any changes you want as long as your vehicle meets federal emission standards after the changes have been made.
This ^^^. Some states allow changes as long as the emission standards are met, others, like CA, don't allow any changes even if your vehicle meets the standards … my brother found this out the hard way. Additional, some states/counties don't have inspections or ha exemptions; for example Clark county in Nevada requires inspections, but the City of Mesquite, where I live, is exempt and we don't have any inspections.
This ^^^. Some states allow changes as long as the emission standards are met, others, like CA, don't allow any changes even if your vehicle meets the standards … my brother found this out the hard way. Additional, some states/counties don't have inspections or ha exemptions; for example Clark county in Nevada requires inspections, but the City of Mesquite, where I live, is exempt and we don't have any inspections.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,034
Likes: 3,568
From: Central MO
St. Louis area emissions checks are currently OBD-II checks only. As long as you don't have any codes due to the rear O2 sensors being too cold, since they are further downstream, you will pass. Any decent tuner can also tune out the OBD-related rear O2 sensor codes so they are not reported, and you can also pass emissions that way with long tube headers.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
Like others have said, it depends on your state and county. "Tampering" with federal emissions is illegal, however some states do not have inspections, so no one knows. Other states have inspections and must comply. Then, there are counties within states with inspections that are exempt from bi-annual inspections, until you sell the vehicle. Research the laws in your state and county before modifying any emissions components.
Emission requirements change, so don't assume what was true 5 years ago is true today.
Technically, relocating the catalytic converter downstream is "tampering" because the further you move the cats away from the exhaust manifold (LT's) the less efficient it becomes.
Emission requirements change, so don't assume what was true 5 years ago is true today.
Technically, relocating the catalytic converter downstream is "tampering" because the further you move the cats away from the exhaust manifold (LT's) the less efficient it becomes.
Last edited by Mike's LS3; Jul 1, 2018 at 12:08 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
Still it is against Federal law to remove and leave off any emission part and run the vehicle on the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 192
From: El Cajon Ca.
California isn't quite that bad. Change from cats back is no problem. I installed Corsa Sport axel back and it passed smog. West Coast Corvette is in Anaheim. They sell and install lots of axel back systems.
Last edited by Batman75; Jul 2, 2018 at 02:55 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 343
Likes: 58
From: Santee Ca.
Long tubes are a no go in Ca. though...unless its pre-1975 then you can pretty much do whatever you want...
There are a few counties in the state of Ca. that don't even require smog unless the vehicle changes ownership so that's another option in Ca.
Last edited by jchappies; Jul 2, 2018 at 03:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
There is no Federal law saying you cannot change you're OEM emission system or parts thereof; Federal law requires you meet the standards (i.e. you pass emission tests). The Federal government has left it up to individual states to implement the minimum standards or, like California and other CARB states, to implement even stricter requirements.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
There is no Federal law saying you cannot change you're OEM emission system or parts thereof; Federal law requires you meet the standards (i.e. you pass emission tests). The Federal government has left it up to individual states to implement the minimum standards or, like California and other CARB states, to implement even stricter requirements.
Thank you for the answer, though. BTW, do you know Kevin Holt in Mesquite? If you see a very clean '08 JSB coupe, it is probably him. My former car that I sold him. Nice guy, plays a lot of golf.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,110
Likes: 7,402
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
In Pa, We have a emission exempt law on the books if you drive less than 5,000 miles per year, no test/inspection needed ...bring those headers on!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
I knew that, Buddy. I was trying to get the poster to just say that he did not know if there was actually a law like he stated. Yes, enforcement is a state's issue, and states have the right to implement minimum standards. That is as it should be, given that the Fed cannot even keep track of....well, never mind.
Thank you for the answer, though. BTW, do you know Kevin Holt in Mesquite? If you see a very clean '08 JSB coupe, it is probably him. My former car that I sold him. Nice guy, plays a lot of golf.
Thank you for the answer, though. BTW, do you know Kevin Holt in Mesquite? If you see a very clean '08 JSB coupe, it is probably him. My former car that I sold him. Nice guy, plays a lot of golf.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
I have searched for the link and came up empty. I do remembering reading that it was illegal to change a oem emission component unless it is faulty. I understand that mufflers are ok it is back from them that needs to meet laws.
Air cleaners, cats etc.
I understand the some aftermarket parts have applied for CARB # showing compliance.
There is data collection going on that will show if a car has been tuned, this is the future maybe become another issue point.
Air cleaners, cats etc.
I understand the some aftermarket parts have applied for CARB # showing compliance.
There is data collection going on that will show if a car has been tuned, this is the future maybe become another issue point.