Side Exhaust Legal?
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TECH Senior Member
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From: Long Island, NY
Side Exhaust Legal? I live in New York state. Does anyone know if side pipes are legal here? I know some must be because I see Ford Lightnings and some cobras with the side exhaust. Im wondering if they are only legal if they come from the factory.
Does anyone have any info on any laws pertinent to side pipes?
Thanks,
-Tony
Does anyone have any info on any laws pertinent to side pipes?
Thanks,
-Tony
Not sure about NY but, here in NH we have a law that specificly says that all cars must have a rear exiting exhaust. Trucks are allowed to have their exhaust dump anywhere after the cab. If a car comes with a factory side exaust I asume it's excluded from the law. I believe most states simply say that your exhaust must retain the facotry lay out, appearance, and sound.
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From: Northern Va
those cars are considered specialty cars. If im not mistaken i believe ford actually set out to get some states to allow it, however here in Virginia, all i see is SVT lightnings with rear exit exhaust. Personally, i did a rear exit on my car, I love it. But i got long tubes so im returning to the rear exit, just for teh sole purpose of not taunting the local law enforcement.
Do what you want with your exhaust, paying the Improper exhaust fine (usually 45-80 bucks) id consider just part of getting the sound and look you want. but usually cops look for two things...a muffler and catalytic convertors, if they pull you over. atleast thats the info i gathered from va state cops who are probably second worse only behind california's law enforcement
hope that helped some
Do what you want with your exhaust, paying the Improper exhaust fine (usually 45-80 bucks) id consider just part of getting the sound and look you want. but usually cops look for two things...a muffler and catalytic convertors, if they pull you over. atleast thats the info i gathered from va state cops who are probably second worse only behind california's law enforcement
hope that helped some
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From: NJ(Born in Texas)
New Jersey cops are a$$holes, although i ve been pulled over for speeding and was in an accident(my fault, rotors were shot and leaked hydraulic fluid in my '89 Maxima and i slid into this guy) and didnt get a ticket, but my friends, fellow students, family and nieghbors have been pulled over the cops are a$$holes
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Marysville, OH
I believe the law here is that the exhaust must exit the vehicle behind any passenger compartment. So if the exhaust exits on the side close to the rear wheels I would think that would be ok, as long as it has "mufflers and cats" as well.
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I believe generally the law is it has to exit after the passenger compartment. trucks such as the ford lightning have the exhaust exiting after the cab.. bed is not part part of the passenger compartment. for the f-cars though technically the passenger cab continues all the way to the very back as its all one airspace so the exhaust to be legal has to exit there as well but... cops generally won't care. Now if you have to pass inspection... that might be different story.
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I believe generally the law is it has to exit after the passenger compartment. trucks such as the ford lightning have the exhaust exiting after the cab.. bed is not part part of the passenger compartment. for the f-cars though technically the passenger cab continues all the way to the very back as its all one airspace so the exhaust to be legal has to exit there as well but... cops generally won't care. Now if you have to pass inspection... that might be different story.
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i was looking for a muffler so i can do my side exit pipe and i like the flow master outlaw mufflers. but my question is i have a four cylinder car and i am afraid it will sound horrible and if it would cause me to get tons of tickets from those bored cops? is some one able to give me some advise? 
