For those who are in California what are the best performance headers to use in this state and pass smog? Are midlengths even legal in CA?

 

There are several Long Tubes available and they will say if they are legal in California. Don't waste your money on midlengths, they won't give you anymore then your stock headers.
And remember you get what you pay for, headers really range in price.

 

Ok, here is the nitty gritty on headers for any place that does emissions inspections. Any midlength or long tube header is technically not legal for use on the street because it changes the position of the cats thus changing the temps which the cat lights off at. Now, alot of inspection stations do not care about this eithor because they don't care or don't know that the cat position has been altered. Some places just do an OBD II readiness test and leave it at that and don't even pop the hood so you could even get rid of the EGR (if you have it), cats, and AIR pump and all would be fine because you can tune out the error codes. This is only if they do the readiness test though. If they do a tail pipe test you might have problems by removing these systems. AIR pump is least likely to show up though on a tailpipe test because all it does is help the cat light off. Next would probiably be the EGR, and then obviously the cat.

In any event the only thing that is going to have a SMOG certification is going to be a shorty which isn't the best thing and I've heard them being just the same in terms of performance as a set of manifolds to only giving 15 hp. It's up to you but that's pretty much the skinny on it. HP and emissions compatability don't mix well.

 

Midlengths/LT's make a shitload more power, but JBA and Edelbrock shorties have a CARB exemption and are smog legal (but don't make the same big power gains). There are no legal midlength or long tube headers in Cali, because they relocate the cats from the factory location. That's why I went with JBA shorties on my new setup. Going with shorties you'll be leaving 20 rwhp on the table with a stock car, more with mods (I could probably pick up 40rwhp easy with LT's) - but at least you won't have to worry about smog testing or getting pulled over by the Cali gestapo.

"Hvat do vee have heer ? Zis looks like zee modified exhaust mit keine cats ! Out of zee car and get on zee ground !!!".

Cali laws make baby Jesus cry.

Rob (Bad30th)

 

heres something to consider for CA:


50 states legal, CARB #D-439-6,xhas provisions for all smog and engine management hook-ups is the CARB # i got for my Jet Hots!!

 

LT's, Mid's or shorties?


Edit!

DOH...LT's..in the sig.... really 50 states legal?

 

They still look like shorties to me... 1 5/8 primaries and a 2" collector. While the manifold to cat connection is 2.5" vs. the header's 2" collector, it's important to know the factory Y-pipe is but 2" ID as well. Not a lot of sense in having a huge collector that will flow a ton, only to have the air plugged by a smaller pipe downstream.



...but there are CARB exemptions for some years Camaro/Firebird/Corvette :

More on the CARB info :
Put D 439 6 into this page: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php

or go here for the CARB Datasheet that lists our motors and Pacesetter's part numbers for these headers:
http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...eo/D-439-6.pdf

Rob (Bad30th)

 

the problem in california is that long tubes move you catalytic converters further back away from the engine. thus they will not be as hot, and not work as well. that is why california will not let you run them. although i do.

 

There are NO smog legal longtubes, and NONE come with a CARB#!

 

Those are "mid-tube" not "mid-length." The name is mis-leading. They are nothing but shorties, and weak ones at that!

 

Anything that moves the cat’s back are illegal period.

 

As far as I know, all longtubes, midlengths, and even some shorties (because of moving the cats) are illegal in California. I feel sorry for you guys out there because you can't really have a full exhaust setup without being worried about it. If you're going to change the stock manifolds to some type of headers, I'd reccomend just going with the longtubes. Pretty much anything is going to be illegal anyways, so you might as well get all you can out of it.

 

Anytime you have to relocate your cats its an automatic fail. Thus all LT's and Mid's are illegal.

I just swapped my LT's for the stock **** last time I had to get tested...it wasnt that bad, it was definitely worth it.

 

So the best thing to do is get the longtubes and when I do the smog test just put the stock headers back on. thank for the responses.

 

Hey dnm12 where did you get your headers and how much were they?

 

the header CARB # is all the info the smog techs need thats the header you have how can they tell the difference, my carb # is not for my headers in particular

 

The best mod anyone in california can do is.........MOVE.......LOL

 

to where?????? 91 is going nationwide here soon.....

 

Just run the LT headers with no cats. I've been doing it for a while now and no worries here. Come smog time swap them out for stock maifolds and cats. If you get caught by the cops they will most likely send you to the smog ref, now for the twist, you can go back to stock, go to the ref get your fines and ticket taken care of, or you can skip the ref by paying a higher fine, all the while keeping your mods on. Either way you have to pay to play, lol!

 

How much are the various fines...?