Im going to be buying some but Im not sure which ones to get! There are some with and without an air tube... .What one do I get and what does that air tube do? Anyone know where to get good deals on headers?

 

Air Tubes are for the egr system. If you state does any type of visual or OBDII scan for emissions, you'll need to get headers that have the Air connections.

 

Go longtubes or go home.

 

riiiiiggghhht... or go long tubes, fail emissions if applicable and have to tear into it to make it smog legal. LT's are not easy to pop on and off like CAI. If you don't have emissions in your state then go LT

 

doesn't practically every state have emissoins? If texas didn't have emissions, I'd be out there ripping parts out of my engine left and right. (not literally, but you know what I mean)

 

Thats ignorance right there!!! I live in CA and we have emissions... Im not going to put something on my car and possibly have to take it off and cause more headache, stress, time and money! Shorties are the next best thing to the stock manifolds! Im not sure if CAdoes an OBD II scan.... Does anyone know which one I need to get?

 

I don't remember if they do, but they do a full visual inspection. You'd fail on that part alone with LT's. JBA and BBK make CARB certified shorties.

 

I found some MAC ceramic coated shorties and they are California cert... I think I might go with those but I m not sure about the air tube!

 

The emission standards are federally mandated.
See:
http://epa.gov/otaq/consumer/11-vehs.pdf

the enforcement of which is delegated to the states since that is the most appropriate implementation: through each state's vehicle inspection program. in Texas, this further implemented through county-by-county state implementation plans, where ozone nonattainment, "maintenance" counties, and early action compact counties may have additional emissions measures.
see:
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implemen...forcement.html

a little edit: the reason why it changes from county to county is because there are several areas in Texas where even auutomobiles that have the minmum equipment (diagnostics, cats, etc.) are still in such bad shape that can't pass the emissions test. This is done in counties with recorded ozone level above or close to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Those other counties, such as those in west Texas where there is no ozone pollution levels of any concern do not perform these tests, but still the same can enforce the presence of or the illegal modification of emission control equipment.

Those are the basis in law and regulation.... now there are many people in this forum that refer to what may be describedas inspection stations of questionable reputation or knowledge that could possible pass an otherwise faulty or failing system.

I would not recommend breaking the law.