No Cats = Illegal!?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Farmington NH
No Cats = Illegal!? I recently asked an inspector in my area (new hampshire) if it was illegal to have no cats according to state law. He responded with-- "its illegal to have the cats remmoved on any vehicle newer than 1980 according to FEDERAL law"
so my question to you guys is how the hell are you running no cats on your cars and not getting busted at the inspection stations (assuming this law is for real)?
so my question to you guys is how the hell are you running no cats on your cars and not getting busted at the inspection stations (assuming this law is for real)?
i heard that, not only can you not remove the cats, i heard you cant even move them to a different location, like if you get an aftermarket Y or soemthing. and theres always the option of finding the guy who will smog it clean for a price. i live in CA, so i know how much of a stickler smog rules can be. It prevented me from getting a 440rwhp cam only SS. Im still bitter about it...
Yes it is illegal to do anything to an emissions system. That is why most LT headers have a disclaimer that says "For Race Use ONLY"
Most states dont do inspections but that is changing every year.
The states that do test, some guys have 2 systems....one they put on for testing, the other they run all the time.
Most states dont do inspections but that is changing every year.
The states that do test, some guys have 2 systems....one they put on for testing, the other they run all the time.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Getting really tough to find someone to pay off here in CA, I got lucky last time as the lag is now five years, being an 00, last year when my registration rolled around, I was ok for another couple years without smog. Heard about OBD-II only testing in some states. I assume that's looking for the readiness integer and clear DTCs, anything else? That I could live with (work around).
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Farmington NH
Originally Posted by 93LS1RX7
some guys have 2 systems....one they put on for testing, the other they run all the time.
i really hope these emmissions laws dont hinder my plans for my longtubes
Trending Topics
Illinios only has the OBDII test for emissions. No visual inspection. As long as there are no codes when they plug in the scanner, you are fine. While it may still be illegal to remove the cats, no one is ever going to know.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by JL ws-6
I have longtube headers, and CT does a visual and obd2 test.. went thru no problem. There are cats in my y pipe... wether there's anythign inside them or not... remains to be seen 
If you get lucky and have an inspector that is ok then you are good otherwise you are swapping out systems.
Fortunately MD just does a scanner check right now, no visual. If you have edit or hptuners you are gold jerry gold!!
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
If the air system is gone (Which I havent ever seen on on LTs) then it isnt legal.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
while I couldnt find anything on the New Hampshire's state site, but I did find this article.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004ne...oria/54285.htm
Looks like they will be doing obd port testing. Well on our cars, you can disable codes that would be thrown from LT's and ORY. You can do this by getting a tune on the car at performance shops or by getting a programmers yourself, like hp tunners, hypertech, predator, or ls1 edit. I do not have LT's and for me the car is fast enough, but I dont take it to the track. It is a daily driver for me
http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004ne...oria/54285.htm
Looks like they will be doing obd port testing. Well on our cars, you can disable codes that would be thrown from LT's and ORY. You can do this by getting a tune on the car at performance shops or by getting a programmers yourself, like hp tunners, hypertech, predator, or ls1 edit. I do not have LT's and for me the car is fast enough, but I dont take it to the track. It is a daily driver for me
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
as a auto tech...yes it is illegal for you to remove cats and if you do custom exhaust, cats have to be put back in factory location.
as for texas, we only care about 81 and newer. we do visuals on everything and dyno/smog 95 and later. and only obdII 96 and newer.
as for texas, we only care about 81 and newer. we do visuals on everything and dyno/smog 95 and later. and only obdII 96 and newer.
Michigan does not have inspections anymore. Thank god. I remember a time when they did. It is still illegal for a shop to remove an emissions component such as a catlyst, but it's not illegal to own a car that does not have them. If you bought the car like that used, you're ok. If you did it yourself, they can't really prove you did it.
TECH Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Home
Originally Posted by spanky_55amg
as a auto tech...yes it is illegal for you to remove cats and if you do custom exhaust, cats have to be put back in factory location.
as for texas, we only care about 81 and newer. we do visuals on everything and dyno/smog 95 and later. and only obdII 96 and newer.
as for texas, we only care about 81 and newer. we do visuals on everything and dyno/smog 95 and later. and only obdII 96 and newer.
does the state pay for it?
Originally Posted by 01formula6
Illinios only has the OBDII test for emissions. No visual inspection. As long as there are no codes when they plug in the scanner, you are fine. While it may still be illegal to remove the cats, no one is ever going to know.
Launching!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by Zeus
you dyno you cars for smog inspections? that's bitchin'
does the state pay for it?
does the state pay for it?
