I have yet to meet anyone in california that passes a sniffer test with cam, LT and cats. CA has three levels of testing depending on where you live. Cam overlap is most difficult mod to pass.

My experience:
Mufflex off road pipes (replace each cat) require O2 simulators. About 20 minutes each side to install asuming you dont have rusted out fasteners like I did.
Loud through a Magnaflow mufler with a rasp at ~1800 rpms. Sound bitchen at the track but annoying on the street

Random tech cats/y-pipe may require O2 simulators. 45- 1:15 minutes depending on difficulty at Y-I pipe connection. A little louder then stock cats, not much at all.

The other posts are correct assuming Ohio does not test emissions. Then all you have to watch out for is a visual test (choose the right shop) or OBDII test (edit it).

Your money would be better spent elsewhere first. Intake side of engine.

 

I changed my stock cats out for random tech cats and y pipe. $600 bones. It made a definate difference. Not the same as headers. But I would guess around 1.5-2 tenths in the quarter.

The stock Y pipe is a fuggin joke, flattend out for ground clearance.

If I was you I'd at least change out your Y Pipe for the SLP stock replacement. That should do wonders if you've already done the catback.

That said, if I had it to do over again I'd get Mac mids w/catted Y or Kooks Lt's with merge collectors and catted Y, depending on your budget number. The Mac option with a catted Y would be the best cost efficient bang for the buck.

Take it with a grain of salt.

 

Much of Texas has the same emissions laws...DFW in particular where I live. I just bought a 99 SS and the exhaust sounds pretty good but I'd like it to be better as well without having to switch the cats on and off. On ebay, you can buy "Carsound/Magnaflow" high flow cats ($40 a piece) and then get some shorty headers..($300) and you're done. If you don't have an aftermarket muffler...go with Borla...anything but flowmaster and you'll be looking at a freaking sweet sound and about 20-30 hp. Total cost, maybe $500+. Use your tax refund to pay for it...that's what I did one year with another car I have.

 

Blkz28spt... I don't know what to say. You're quoting me stating my experience being smogged IN OHIO - with visual inspection - and then say "He does not live in the POS **** state of California. You people have a WHOLE different ballgame when it comes to modding your car." Nate, don't get me started on POS West Lafayette, IN.


Come on man... just because I completely disagree with your theory that post count and wisdom are direcly proportional is no reson to be rude.

 

pdanrichey, i live in DFW as well, if you hadn't noticed my location. i'm gonna be running Kooks/ORY with stock exhaust here in a few weeks, and then by this spring I'll be tacking on GMMG to that. emissions aren't hard to pass around here as long as you can get someone to delete your codes, or if you put o2 sims on. all about what you want. albeit, my exhaust is going to run me about $1000 more than yours LOL. but i've budgeted myself accordingly over time for that, knowing damn well thats what i wanted

 

Ha Ha

PS My post count just went +1

 

Sorry about that, right before that you stated what CA has and I missed the "as is Ohio E-check" that followed. You don't need to get started on POS west lafayette, we have a few problems to say the least. (people here don't know how to F-ing drive!!!!!!!)

 

I don't mean to be rude, but I don't like being misrepresented either. To each there own I say. I believe people should state there own opinion and be able to support it and that is what you are doing (despite it being wrong ) and I respect that. You don't just roll with the crowd, you support what you have done and that's cool with me. If we all had the same opinion the world would be boring.

Peace.

 

Post count and wisdom are not always synonomous. I've got quite a few posts, but don't know **** compared to what I'd like to know. Hence why I'm always readin and always learning

 

Hey pewter, did you decide yet? Do you have any data (track times/dynos) for how the car sits now? I would like to see before and after results/opinions.
I too and learning.