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Catback/TD, legal question

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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 07:16 PM
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Default Catback/TD, legal question

Alright, can you run something like a true duals setup and keep the cats/stock manifold on your car??? Sorry if its a stupid question, but I dont see what the difference is if you run a Y,H or X pipe from the catback legal-wise.....its still legal as long as the cats and manifold are on there, right? Sorry, the whole situation is confusing me ...its all CA's fault too
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 07:31 PM
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You can have TD's fabbed post cat on stock manifolds.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 07:39 PM
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hmmm forget GMMG then....by fabbed you mean welded or what? haha, sorry....is it expensive to do that though??? I want my car to have the same quality sound of GMMG but LOUDER!!!!!
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by 98Trans
...its all CA's fault too
So you live in CA then?

What you can get away with all depends on the state you live in.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 07:49 PM
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Fabbed as in fabricated.
Any good custom exhaust shop can either weld it on or make provisions for flanges so that you can bolt it on.
The place I used to go to would have not had a problem making either.

A custom, slip fit, bolt-on 3" X-pipe dumped at the axle cost me $450 installed.
Under the axle out the back will cost less than over the axle. Over the axle involves a lot of bending and much more pipe length, making costs much more. If you want a "legal" setup, it should go out the back and exit under the bumper.

As to the legalities involved, nothing is defined other than keeping the cats in their stock locations. Some states are more lax than others regarding exhaust exit locations.

If you want a good setup, just get a catback for starters. It will save you a ton of headache.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:18 PM
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So should I buy my own X pipe and bring it to a shop? ....will the TSP TD's work?? and also will this be louder than a GMMG? Thanks, I appreciate it!
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:25 PM
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TD's with bullets dumped at the axle are louder than anything besides open headers, open cutouts or NASCAR boom tubes. If you're concerned about legalities, you're already in trouble.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:28 PM
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I agree with southfl. The sound is the most illegal part about changing the exhaust after the stock cats. Still worth it though IMO.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:33 PM
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If you don't mind spending some money, I would go for the Bassani "true dual" if you want duals that bolt up to the stock cats. The sound will not draw as much attention as the dumped bullets, thats for sure, but the flow and performance is still great.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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I just forgot TSP's are dumped.....I will run my setup all the way out the back. So everyone that is running all the way out the back....where are they getting their X's??? custom made or just adding on to TSP's etc....?
I cant decide about over or under the axle.....but even going all the way out the back with TD's will still be LOUDER than GMMG, right? haha, I just really wanna scare people and Mustangs/Ricers of course
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 08:55 PM
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A few things to consider:

-TD's out the back sound great in tone, but I've heard a few rather stealthy setups. It's all about pipe diamter, cats/no cats, muffler/bullet selection.

-Contact SpeedInc. about their out the back setups. $$$

-See the Bassani mentioned above.

-No use in having a loud/scary car unless it traps 125mph in the 1/4 and runs high 10's. (this last one is my editorial statement)
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:09 PM
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I havent heard much about Bassani, judging by LS1sounds.com I really dont like it. Could you take an LM and put a Sweet thunder in the I pipe, in place of the resonator??? How do you think it would sound? I was thinking of doing something like that, or going with duals and Sweet Thunders........or theres Dynomouth/Borlamouth/Magnamouth.....cant decide
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:11 PM
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I would say that you will definitely be louder, but it might not have that GMMG tone that you would be looking for.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:14 PM
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Would it get rid of that rasp and drone everyone complains about? Would it be a good or bad loud? I also just realized I could go TSP Rumbler with a Sweet Thunder as well.......theres just so many options. Want to be loud, but no backfires/popping/rasp. Thanks for all the comments guys!
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:27 PM
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Run cats and dump it and you wont get that farty popping noise.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:45 PM
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I would dump them, but I want tips and CA wouldnt like dumped pipes. I will be keeping the cats of course....so this is what I'm thinking.....
1.-Get a TSP Rumbler or LM and put a Sweet Thunder on them.
2.-Get an X or H pipe with Sweet Thunders.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:46 PM
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and have them go all the way out the back. that is where you will run into cost unless you fab yourself.
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Old Jan 14, 2006 | 11:50 PM
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Yea, thats the only benefit I'm seeing of going with the Rumbler/LM is cost. How much is it to run out the back......do you lose an extreme amount of clearance going under the axle? I dont plan on lowering my car, but who knows in the future. Over the axle looks like a lot of work which=expensive.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 12:06 AM
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There is a thread with pics floating around in this section with under the axle. looks like he has great clearance.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 12:53 AM
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Dumping your exhaust will not affect your smog checks, unless the tech gets pissed that he has to crawl on the ground to get the sniffer in the pipe. I had turn downs on my truck for a while and smogged just fine with them on there. Technically the "exhaust code" reads: the pipe must exit the vehicle's body at least one inch, away from fuel lines or other flamable stuff. You can find that somewhere deep in the DMV website. I see so many cars on the road here in CA with dumped exhaust that I would not worry about the legallity of it. If you desire the sound that comes from that set-up, by all means do it. (my $.02)
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