Best Exhaust For Emission Restricted States
02-22-2012, 12:47 AM
#11
My experience:
I run a bassani catted x and a SLP catback with LM1's and stock headers. I have not been caught running the illegal midpipe, and I have had my car checked underneath by cops. MOST cops (unless they are car guys) do not know how many cats you are supposed to have.
I just swap the midpipe every other year to pass smog. It isn't a huge pain. I usually swap it a week or so before I plan to test to burn out whatever crap is in the pipe, and make sure they haven't clogged.
It seems cops are more concerned here with cars that are running off-road pipes (the smell is a dead giveaway) and the import car crowd.
I run a bassani catted x and a SLP catback with LM1's and stock headers. I have not been caught running the illegal midpipe, and I have had my car checked underneath by cops. MOST cops (unless they are car guys) do not know how many cats you are supposed to have.
I just swap the midpipe every other year to pass smog. It isn't a huge pain. I usually swap it a week or so before I plan to test to burn out whatever crap is in the pipe, and make sure they haven't clogged.
It seems cops are more concerned here with cars that are running off-road pipes (the smell is a dead giveaway) and the import car crowd.
02-22-2012, 09:24 AM
#12
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 1,452
Because carb laws are stupid, from what a few sfpd friends of mine have said, ANY modification to the stock oem exhaust that makes it louder is technically illegal. However, unless it's obnoxiously loud most chp/cops won't bother you for it, also read that as you not being a tool while on the road. The downside to that is, if you get a chippy or someone wanting to ruin your day and you get sent to a ref, you better explain why there is anything other than oem exhaust coming from the engine. I've heard of them taking the headers off a car in order to check for the carb stamp cause they couldn't see it from underneath or on top.
[rant]The way I see it is, if it passes the sniffer and is not obnoxiously loud, I don't see the reason why our tax dollars are going towards someone that does nothing but looks to see if you have aftermarket parts that has not spent the time/money to go through carb certification. Would like to see some of that cash go towards school or repaving the roads, was so happy a few months back with the budget crisis and carb closing down for awhile, only to have them reopen and lower the threshold for smog.
[/rant]
[rant]The way I see it is, if it passes the sniffer and is not obnoxiously loud, I don't see the reason why our tax dollars are going towards someone that does nothing but looks to see if you have aftermarket parts that has not spent the time/money to go through carb certification. Would like to see some of that cash go towards school or repaving the roads, was so happy a few months back with the budget crisis and carb closing down for awhile, only to have them reopen and lower the threshold for smog.
[/rant]
02-22-2012, 09:26 AM
#13
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 1,452
Spot on. I ran an o/r x for a bit and the smell is definately a dead giveaway! from what I understand thats what really brought in alot of negative attention was the whole import scene.
02-22-2012, 10:30 AM
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NY
Posts: 8
MAC or BORLA
i am stuck on 2 exhaust the mac or borla ATAK. i have an 07 GTand i am ready to change my exhaust. what would be best and why? i like both. both have a little give and take but both sound real nice also.
second part would you get the axel back or just cat back?
second part would you get the axel back or just cat back?
02-22-2012, 10:42 AM
#15
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SF Bay.
Posts: 3,035
if I had an s197 and had the cash for it, I'd love to go with the akrapovic setup....the pipes so ****ing sexy, other than that, borla's in my experience have a much nicer finished product than macs. Sound will be very opinion based.
02-22-2012, 12:54 PM
#16
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 113
According to the guy I talked to at the muffler shop, our cars are already setup pretty well as far as piping goes. The only real reason to go with the full catback would be if you want to go with bigger pipes, but even then after all the install the diameter at the bends will be right back at around 2.25" - 2.5" anyways. So he advised just going axle back. And I know the Borlas are expensive, but I don't think anything sounds as good. And I love the sound of the Macs, but Borla is hard to beat.
02-23-2012, 11:18 AM
#17
I would like to run a catted X pipe, but I just don't want the hassle of it not passing and performing a swap. Also, Borla has 4" tips!
02-23-2012, 01:32 PM
#19
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SF Bay.
Posts: 3,035
I dont think too many car guys have a deep love for the different carb and emissions testing but all of that crap started changing years and years ago and I heard Cali is the most strict about it. So obviously not too many ppl care about it and i doubt things would move backwards on it. The best thing to do is to find any loophole you can it will be different state by city and to ask questions about it from different car guys to see what you can get away with. Some guys love the sound of no cats but removing cats in some places can get you a $2500 fine and get the shop that did it heavily fined or shut down.
You'd be surprised at how things are in parts of the state, several guys from a local forum were pulled over by a chippy, behind the chippy was a truck trailoring a rolling smog station.
The state is broke, no bigger payout than finding people with modified mid pipes. Not saying to the op to not mod his exhaust, I ran around with straightpipes to lm1's for a few months before going back to a catted mid and lm2's, but just want him to know what he's getting into.
Sad thing is California probably has some of the better car enthusiast weather, but the legislature has to ruin it=/
02-23-2012, 06:10 PM
#20
In my opinion, I think going with a new catback setup would be ideal. I have the Borla Stingers on my car with the stock H pipe. My friend that smogs cars said it won't make a difference in the smog results. Btw, this is in California, the most **** emissions state out there!
I would like to run a catted X pipe, but I just don't want the hassle of it not passing and performing a swap. Also, Borla has 4" tips!
I would like to run a catted X pipe, but I just don't want the hassle of it not passing and performing a swap. Also, Borla has 4" tips!
Also, depending on where you live in CA, several counties do not require smog. Make some friends there!
We had one of the roller dynos show up today here in Roseville. Our state is broke, yet we are spending money to fund these things? I am sure that the funds could be put to a better use!
