Smogging a C6 with Headers in Calif
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 25
From: Apache Junction AZ
BJK
Last edited by 07MontRedcp; Jan 19, 2009 at 09:54 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 6
From: LOS ANGELES CA.
I lived in So Cal for thirty years before moving to AZ. Although I never had a car with that concern while there, I did hear that there were certain places that were "sensitive" to your problem for the right price. Contact local vette clubs and speed shops for recommendations. You need to be sure your car will pass the sniffer while having a semi blind person for the visual.
BJK
BJK
Some stations won't say anything about headers and some won't pass the car.Its a flip of the coin toss in certain areas.You may have to look around.
:fl ag:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 38
From: A galaxy far, far away...
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
Good Luck to you Sir 
It's one thing to find a friend that knows somebody that'll pass a visual for you (Headers), it's entirely another to get someone to pass the sniffer for you (Hi-Flow Cats). That requires two cars, one of them clean & yours to take the test together.
If you can find someone who'll pass a visual for you, put the OEM cats on and take the sniffer test, it should pass. If not you'll be R&R'n the headers also.
If it's not a DD & you don't mind the extra $$$ to R&R things every two years it's not that big a deal, but it's a PITA on a DD that's why I'm staying away from those mods in CA on this car. 20 something hp isn't felt enough for the hassle IMO, at least not to me anymore.
If you haven't figured it out by the deadline don't forget to get an extension tag to hang in your back window from the DMV. BTW, don't just go from shop to shop & continue to fail, that's kind of a red flag.
Again, Good Luck to you Sir
It's one thing to find a friend that knows somebody that'll pass a visual for you (Headers), it's entirely another to get someone to pass the sniffer for you (Hi-Flow Cats). That requires two cars, one of them clean & yours to take the test together.
If you can find someone who'll pass a visual for you, put the OEM cats on and take the sniffer test, it should pass. If not you'll be R&R'n the headers also.
If it's not a DD & you don't mind the extra $$$ to R&R things every two years it's not that big a deal, but it's a PITA on a DD that's why I'm staying away from those mods in CA on this car. 20 something hp isn't felt enough for the hassle IMO, at least not to me anymore.
If you haven't figured it out by the deadline don't forget to get an extension tag to hang in your back window from the DMV. BTW, don't just go from shop to shop & continue to fail, that's kind of a red flag.
Again, Good Luck to you Sir
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
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Gonna have to R&R the headers anyway, the stock cats are connected to the exhaust manifold and will not work in the cat location that headers use. My guess is that it will not pass, and you will be very hard pressed to find someone willing to take the responsibility of substantial fines that will get imposed if caught.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,893
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
In So CA you will find several smog stations willing to do some "tweaking" to get your car to pass regardless of what mods you have. 
You just have to know the password: D-I-N-E-R-O.
You just have to know the password: D-I-N-E-R-O.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 3
From: Buena Park CA
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Race Director
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I'm afraid that all enthusiasts may face this challenge in the near future. Currently, in Tennessee, emission testing is done on a county by county basis. One county may require testing, the adjacient one may not, so it's easy to basically run whatever you wish, all you need is an address in a non-testing county (friend or relative), then, when tags are due, simply drive to the courthouse and pay for them. Easy, and usually 1/2 the cost of a testing county.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Montrose Colorado
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
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From: A galaxy far, far away...
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,893
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
You just have to know the right places to go to. One not far from my house I use and it's amazing what they can get to pass with a little extra $$ incentive..
They gave me a 2 year waiver. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: San Clemente CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,360
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From: San Jose California
My mustang was considered modofied, not because of the supercharger, but the boost gauge. It then had "test only" stamped on every smog notice after that. I couldn't find any shops to deal with, so I had to R+R the factory cats for smog. I have also had a shop open my hood and close it, and then tell me to go away.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!