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Virginia Law and Exhaust

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Old 04-03-2003, 03:28 PM
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Default Virginia Law and Exhaust

My question is this. If the state says it's not a legal exhaust system without a functional baffled muffler then how can a Loudmouth or GMMG be listed as 50 state street legal to include California. I just want to put something on to increase performance and to sound a little stronger when I get my car this summer. SO......?
Old 04-03-2003, 04:49 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

ya i got a warnig from an A$$ Hole cop down here. he got out his little book and everything and showed me there is a law for "defective muffler". i was wondering, should i carry around a borla magazine so if they pull me over again i can show them <img border="0" alt="[shoot]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> "50 state legal" ! lol <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />
Old 04-03-2003, 06:19 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

Borla has a muffler doesnt it? Maybe there is some legal code thing. I know in Virginia it doesnt count unless it has a muffler with baffles. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> They wont accept chambered or resonators like the Loudmouth or GMMG as legal <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> Thats why I'm thinking I might get stuck with borla or corsa. Not that they are bad I just wanted to be able to choose without someone telling me what I can and cant have.
Old 04-03-2003, 06:47 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have a GMMG and live in Maryland. I was looking at purchasing a Firehawk which had SLP long tubes and a loudmouth on it when the dealer bought it from the auction. When the car had to go in for the state inspection before going up for sale, they would not pass it. Not because of the headers, but because of the loudmouth. The dealer ended up having to cut the loudmouth off and weld in a stock exhuaust. So that made me think about my car - if they ever decided to look, or I ever moved to a different state - would I be screwed??
Old 04-03-2003, 09:37 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I was a tech at a Chevy dealer in VA so I'll try to explain the rules to you. In the county I lived in we didnt have emision testing but we had the state inspection of course. As far as inspection goes the book says the cats need to be in stock location and be unmodified. After the cats really doesnt matter as long as it doesnt leak and it exits rearward of the passenger compartment. Dumps before the axle wont work but if you run it out the back you dont even have to have a muffler. This is where the problem lies. I can put an inspection sticker on a car with pipes out the back but without mufflers, and the guy get a ticket pulling out the shop parking lot. What theyre actually ticketing you for is excessive noise because of what they call defective equipment, which has nothing to do with the state SAFETY inspection. Theyre "law" book says any exhaust that is louder than stock is considered defective. Now as far as the 50 state legal thing, the aftermaket manufacturers have to have thier product certified for use on pollution controlled vehicles so they dont have to say "for race use only" This just means it meets the governments emission standards. So your really dealing with three sets of rules: state safety inspections, county noise ordinances, and the federal emissions regulations. So just because its 50 state legal, carb certified and all that jazz doesnt mean it will meet the county noise ordinances, and just because it meets noise ordinances doesnt mean it will pass a safety inspection, and just because it passes a safety inspection doesnt mean it is 50 state legal. Sorry so long and hopefully I havent confused you further.
Chris

<small>[ April 03, 2003, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: CW 99 Z ]</small>
Old 04-03-2003, 11:17 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

Wow. I can't beleive you guys give this stuff that much thought. I guess cops in your areas really have nothing better to do.

I thought they had some messed up laws here in IL, but I must say we seem to have it pretty good here. As long as your exhaust isn't stupid loud around here, you won't get hassled unless you **** off a cop or something. If your local law enforcement has nothing better to do but hassle people for loud exhaust, then you have way too many cops in that town. They need more real work to do! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

<small>[ April 03, 2003, 11:24 PM: Message edited by: RPM WS6 ]</small>
Old 04-04-2003, 07:37 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I agree with RPM WS6. The moral to this story is if you want to run a loud (LoudMouth) exhaust you need to live in a town with more drug usage. That way the cops stay busy chasing the drug users and the drug dealers that kill their cutomers that don't pay their crack bills on time instead of stopping you because you have a noisy exhaust.
Old 04-05-2003, 09:21 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by eallanboggs:
<strong> I agree with RPM WS6. The moral to this story is if you want to run a loud (LoudMouth) exhaust you need to live in a town with more drug usage. That way the cops stay busy chasing the drug users and the drug dealers that kill their cutomers that don't pay their crack bills on time instead of stopping you because you have a noisy exhaust. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL!- I guess I live in a druggy town.

IMHO if you are looking for an exhaust to "sound a little stronger" Loudmouth is NOT FOR YOU. I dont care if you are john force this exhaust system will get on your nervs after a year of daily driving. Just read all of the posts about switching to something else.

I bought mine and drove it for three months until I added a dynomax muffler to the driver exit side of the exhaust (kills the drone). Then I added LT's this winter and I am going monday to get a borla incert in the I-Pipe........Yes that is right I now have the HEAVIEST MOST EXPENSIVE exhaust system ever made for an fbody <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Old 04-05-2003, 10:05 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I've come to the conclusion that I'll just buy the SLP duel duel that was on the firehawk or the Corsa. Both of those went on GM cars and are liscensed exhausts for GM that went on factory production cars. Corsa is still being used on C5's and Vipers. I seriously doubt they can ticket me for having a factory option exhaust mounted on my car after the fact since it origonally was available with regard to the SLP duel duel firehawk. As for Corsa, it's a GM liscensed option on show room cars.... Now If ANYONE has a sound clip or knows where to find a clip of the Firehawk with duel duel I'd love them forever since thats the one exhaust I havent been able to listen to. As for cops I dont think it's a big deal in my area too too much just that I live in one of those "planned" communities and dont want to have something that even at idle would like a loud mouth and give some Yuppie mommy a reason to complain.
Old 04-05-2003, 10:50 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

Factory dual/dual on the firehawks doesn't sound any louder than stock. The aftermarket dual/dual (this is the only one you can buy, the one that actually came on the Firehawk is different, it's queiter) is slightly louder, but it's still not really noticeable through stock cats and manifolds. If you want the queitest exhaust you can buy that flows well, get the dual/dual. Honestly though, all you're going to gain is some power. Exhaust note will bascially be like stock. I had a dual/dual for my car but I had to sell it because it was waaaaaay too queit for me. If you're not looking for just a power gain (meaning you also want more sound), then forget about dual/dual.

Corsa is the better choice by far for sound, IMO.

Seriously, you gotta try to calm down a bit! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> None of these exhausts are going to be remotly loud enough to cause you trouble if you keep cats & manifolds on the car. I've got a loud exhuast with no cats and headers and it's not even that bad. Unless you have eneimes in the neighborhood or like to sit in the driveway at 3am revving your motor, you really have nothing to worry about. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Old 04-05-2003, 11:32 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I have Borla. I usually keep it in the middle adjustment. I have been right next to cops at red lights and accelerated away and they don't even look at me. And if I put in the block off plate so all exhaust goes through muffler it's really quite. Then I can take out the plate and run it straight out. I like being able to adjust.
Old 04-05-2003, 11:48 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I just went through some crap down here in Lakeland, FL where we dont even have emissions testing!! I have SLP lt's with ORP's going to a hooker at the end, this is pretty mild IMO. I bought a qtec cutout so I could open it up when I wanted to and I had to go by 5 different shops before I found one that would weld in the cutout for me. They said it was illegal for them to work on my car cause it had no cats. Really pissed me off. I was lucky at the final place I went cause a guy who is into fbods went and talked to the manager for me or else I probably would have been turned away there as well. Man o Man the feds must be cracking down on these places or something.
Old 04-05-2003, 05:51 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by eallanboggs:
<strong> I agree with RPM WS6. The moral to this story is if you want to run a loud (LoudMouth) exhaust you need to live in a town with more drug usage. That way the cops stay busy chasing the drug users and the drug dealers that kill their cutomers that don't pay their crack bills on time instead of stopping you because you have a noisy exhaust. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Welcome to Atlanta... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Old 04-07-2003, 06:39 PM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

http://kickass.at/rpm

swing by sometime!

all my guys have never had a problem getting anythign inspected.. let us know if you need help.

i had a random tech on my car for over 2 years without a ticket, and we've got about every catback available in the club on some car.
Old 04-09-2003, 10:53 AM
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Default Re: Virginia Law and Exhaust

I drive around with an open cutout. The other day I was next to a Memphis officer at the light and he didn't do anything, even after riding beside me for a while.

I've passed many cops with the cutout open, they never say anything. I guess that means we have too much drug traffic.
Old 02-19-2004, 12:36 AM
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tiger i live up in northern va. by far one of the worst areas for cops with nothing to do. local sherrifs dont care much, however state cops up here look to hand out tickets for modified cars every day. i use the question "aren't harleys louder than my car douche bag" which has landed me a few extra tickets from time to time. but hey, i get paid by my job even if i miss a day so ill take that day off to go argue my case. I put a slp loudmouth on with 2 hi-flow cats, i keep getting the thumbs up by most police officers. inspection wise just find a decent place that you can get buddy buddy with someone. Thats what i do. btw in fine print the va law on mufflers they dotn stipulate original equipment or how loud it is, just that fact that for each pipe you need a air cleaning device aka a cat, and a sound deadening device aka a muffler. it doesnt stipulate that you need anything more. at most they can give you an improper exhaust ticket which ranges from 35-80bucks depending on where you live in Va. I have about 8 friends who are now in law enforcement. they're rule of thumb...fire trucks. if you're car can be heard easily over a fire truck, then you are beraking teh rules and they'll usually give you a ticket. which can be over turned simply if you bring ina shop receipt that you had it fixed. aka, tell them to write you up a receipt for a muffler patch. and you are free to go.
there are ways around every law. not that im condoning it but still some are slightly rediculous. i ran long tubes and straight pipes in my stang for 3 years, never had a problem usually got the tumbs up for the sound by most cops. the one time i got pulled over i was honest with the cop and told him everything that wasn't legal on the car and he took me as being a dumbass and told me to drive home right away cause i was a mile from my house. so i got lucky. i wouldn't worry toomuch about it man. just get the catback you like. if you wanna stay completely legal, hooker makes a good catback that sounds wicked at wot. and its cheap as beer nuts.
good luck sorry this was so long
Old 02-19-2004, 09:04 AM
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Here is a link or two to the VA Code that covers exhaust.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1047

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1049

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1051

I've never had a problem with the PoPo, here is what one person said my car sounded like

Originally posted by 35AN Z28
i remember going thru the HRBT one day and traffic slowing down as i entered. was kinda like wtf? then i hear this sound like someone ripping sheetmetal apart with a jack hammer. when i got thru the tunnel there was a silver firebird. I proceeded to hang around him till traffic cleared and when we went at it... it was that end of the world sound again and this silver blur pulling away from me like i was stopped. but it made me smile real big.
Tunnels make a great sound room for your car Yea, that is with Mac Headers and Flowmaster cat back with a 36 inch Dynomax Bullet muffler in the after the "Y" pipe. Only really bad from 2500~3000 rpm.
Old 02-19-2004, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by rncotton
I drive around with an open cutout. The other day I was next to a Memphis officer at the light and he didn't do anything, even after riding beside me for a while.

I've passed many cops with the cutout open, they never say anything. I guess that means we have too much drug traffic.
Reminds me of the time I was going down Yale in my Chevelle...
I had small tube LTs, 3" pipe, and a pair of 2.5" Warlocks then dumps just before the axle.
Sounds mild doesn't it?
Besides a little interior drone, it was not that loud.
A Memphis cop actually took time to make a U and pull me over.
He gave me a ticket that said I had "NO" mufflers.
I told him to lean his head just a little and he would see the mufflers and exhaust under the car. He didn't even have to bend to see them from the angle we were standing!
He said: "I don't need to look. I can tell by listening that you don't have mufflers. It is not my job to see them with my own eyes."
Ticket was dropped after a day at court and missing work.
Dave



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