Pontiac GTO 2004-2006 - Advice on headers

As a california resident, i have to comply with emissions and legal issues, which brings me to my question; if i were to install new kooks headers, would it be necessary to have new cats installed or would i be fine with just headers?

It is my understanding that there are no longtubes approved for California emissions. To stay legal cats must be in the OE location, meaning you are stuck with the JBA shorty headers with either stock midpipes or mid pipes that use an approved high flow catalytic converter. Also, those kooks headers will only work with kooks midpipes. You could have your stock cats welded into kooks midpipes or get kooks high flow catted midpipes.

In short, no. You can't install those headers and stay legal in Cali.

Legally you cant have anything other than shorties

There are plenty of special smog inspection shops if you have LT's and no cats....

Get your smog done now so its good for a while. Then go over to socalmuscle.net and get to know those guys..... ;)

if i were to install new kooks headers, would it be necessary to have new cats installed or would i be fine with just headers

I think what he's asking is if he need to buy just the headers or more. To answer that, you do need to get matching midpipes for the headers...you can't just go with headers alone.

Either way, none will technically be legal in California, though I'm sure there are ways around it.

move out of Cali and have the best set up. Kooks 1 3/4 straight pipes no cats :)

Yeah, i'm not sure how indepth the inspection is. However in Maryland, as long as you have cats and pass the smog test they will pass you and let you leave. Not too many out here get particular about where the cats are..

Kooks, and Kooks Catted mid pipes is a good look for you! I have a set of kooks high flow cats / mids fs on ls1 :)

Hell, in MD. I haven't had cats on for my last two testings.The last time the only thing the inspector did was ask how much it put to the wheels.

He lives in California. The most stringent emissions in the United States lol. He's going to want to keep it legal imo.