Best way to run catted section 1 for CA smog ?

[jpy1980]

How are you guys getting by with no visual check? Do you think I can pass with oem headers but with a csl intake and custom tune? I’m in LA fwiw

[jpy1980]

Also another question is why are you guys running careless headers only to add a catted section 1? Does the exhaust sound different since the cats are downstream? Or does it flow better that way?

[amiao]

How are you guys getting by with no visual check? Do you think I can pass with oem headers but with a csl intake and custom tune? I’m in LA fwiw

I also live in LA. Visual will pass only without any aftermarket parts and tunes on the car. You will have to revert back to factory tune and box in order to pass.

My CSL headers and OEM box pass visuals no problem as you cannot tell its aftermarket. Catted section 1 can’t be seen on visual inspection.

I have a Karbonious box I plan on installing myself to understand how to install and revert back to factory due to this exact issue. But waiting to pass my next smog inspection so I can enjoy it for 2 years without having to do what I mentioned above.

[amiao]

Also another question is why are you guys running careless headers only to add a catted section 1? Does the exhaust sound different since the cats are downstream? Or does it flow better that way?

If you run catless headers you won’t pass smog in CA. In order to pass smog and continue to run catless headers run a catted hi-flow section 1. Still get the performance gains of the catless headers, and still pass smog. The catted section 1 will likely reduce power a very slight amount, but that’s part of the price to pass emissions.

[Way2Slow]

Also another question is why are you guys running careless headers only to add a catted section 1? Does the exhaust sound different since the cats are downstream? Or does it flow better that way?

Also imo the car sounds much better with catless headers. Even my wife noticed the change in tone after I installed euro headers + euro section 1.

[jpy1980]

Ah ok, thanks for the info guys! I may end up selling the Karb CSL box and just go for euro header and sec 1 then. I think I may be the minority, but I enjoy a better exhaust sound than the intake box.

[dukeofchen]

Ah ok, thanks for the info guys! I may end up selling the Karb CSL box and just go for euro header and sec 1 then. I think I may be the minority, but I enjoy a better exhaust sound than the intake box.

Eventuri can get you some of the CSL sound while being much easier to revert to stock come smog time

[bavarian3]

How are you guys getting by with no visual check? Do you think I can pass with oem headers but with a csl intake and custom tune? I’m in LA fwiw

aftermarket intake is a pretty much guaranteed fail.

we get away with cat modifications because they're way more difficult to spot and tech's don't always know the factory cats are on the manifolds.

[bavarian3]

My CSL headers and OEM box pass visuals no problem as you cannot tell its aftermarket. Catted section 1 can’t be seen on visual inspection.

It can certainly be seen.

[6spd_flo]

gabylonfive & L0okitzRaj , when you both disabled 'Rear O2 DTCs" and "Cat Efficiency DTCs" using Martyn's ECUWorx tool was the catalyst in a "Ready/OK" state right away after reflashing the DME with the new settings? Or did you have to attempt to do a drive cycle in order to get the monitors ready for SMOG?

Following up on my post. So you all were correct that the catalyst was ready immediately when I turned the engine on after coding it in ECUWorx. I didn't need to worry about it.

I took the car to one smog location and failed the visual. Also went to another smog shop in the most hood location I can find and also failed the visual check. I just ended up finding a part out car and installed the OEM headers to pass. My area must be strict compared to you SoCal guys. I ended up selling the catless headers because I am not going through the hassle or reinstalling the OEM headers every 2 years.

Side question: I do miss the exhaust tone I had from catless headers. Currently I have stock headers, 2 high flow 200 cell cats in section 1, stock section 2, and an aftermarket section 3. Should I go...

1. Straight piped section 1
2. OEM section 1 (1 resonator)
3. 2 resonator section 1

[jpy1980]

Following up on my post. So you all were correct that the catalyst was ready immediately when I turned the engine on after coding it in ECUWorx. I didn't need to worry about it.

I took the car to one smog location and failed the visual. Also went to another smog shop in the most hood location I can find and also failed the visual check. I just ended up finding a part out car and installed the OEM headers to pass. My area must be strict compared to you SoCal guys. I ended up selling the catless headers because I am not going through the hassle or reinstalling the OEM headers every 2 years.

Side question: I do miss the exhaust tone I had from catless headers. Currently I have stock headers, 2 high flow 200 cell cats in section 1, stock section 2, and an aftermarket section 3. Should I go...

1. Straight piped section 1
2. OEM section 1 (1 resonator)
3. 2 resonator section 1

Where are you located?

[jpy1980]

aftermarket intake is a pretty much guaranteed fail.

we get away with cat modifications because they're way more difficult to spot and tech's don't always know the factory cats are on the manifolds.

The K and N intake system doesn’t fail because of the carb sticker. I made need to reinstall it once smog time comes.

[PSUEng]

OK, Ignorant non-CA person here, but how do these inspection shops "know" you have aftermarket headers/cats by doing a visual check? Do they have some visual reference on a computer to go off of, or what? This car is 20yrs old and how many are out there? Sorry off topic, but I'm curious.

[jpy1980]

Hmm do the aftermarket headers retain the heat shield? Maybe if they don’t then it’s a clear giveaway?

[Nate047]

OK, Ignorant non-CA person here, but how do these inspection shops "know" you have aftermarket headers/cats by doing a visual check? Do they have some visual reference on a computer to go off of, or what? This car is 20yrs old and how many are out there? Sorry off topic, but I'm curious.

There’s an emissions diagram in the system for every car as far as I know. And if you look with a flashlight you can see if the headers have integrated cats, or if they are just tubular with no big bulky pieces. Basically it just comes down to the competence and/or honesty of the shop. Unfortunately I don’t know any incompetent smog shops lol. And the ones who live in the grey area are asking $350-$500 for dirty smog.

There are some counties in CA that don’t require smog. You can attempt to register a car there but I dunno if you need a physical address or if a PO Box will work.

You can do the Montana LLC thing and probably be fine. There are articles saying CA is cracking down on this but it really just comes down to the cop who pulls you over. Legally, if you say the right things, the Montana LLC registration holds up. But you kinda need to be prepared to go to war if you do get popped for this and spend a ton of time and money to smooth it over.

So the question is, how long does it take to swap headers, and how much is your time worth per hour? And how much do you really care about sound and a small bump in power?