Keeping it Legal in CA.
Keeping it Legal in CA. I've got a couple questions regarding the laws of CA smog (visual and sniffer). I want to make about 400whp yet maintain completely legal modifications. The car is currently stock, as I have not yet picked this one up.
I'm mostly concerned about exhaust upgrades. This is the area where CA seems to care the most.
If I could get some help regarding CA legal modifications to reach my goal, I would appreciate it very much.
-Kyle
I'm mostly concerned about exhaust upgrades. This is the area where CA seems to care the most.
If I could get some help regarding CA legal modifications to reach my goal, I would appreciate it very much.
-Kyle
Procharger P1SC is CARB legal (that's what I have) and is a good option, so is the STS as mentioned above.
You could also add a little nitrous, which is easily removed at smog time.
Rob (Bad30th)
You could also add a little nitrous, which is easily removed at smog time.
Rob (Bad30th)
I read about the STS kit. Thanks a bunch. I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on that situation. I would very much like to know what I should do about exhaust how-ever. are shorties really my only option as far as headers?
shorties are the only 'legal' option. the fi kits are very nice. a tr224 114 will get you close with supporting bolt-on's. thats a california legal cam. the exhaust cannot relocate cats, so a nice cat-back will do. i also live in california. it sucks. no fun.
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you can go with multiple aftermarket cams and heads and pass smog while still making +400rwhp ...and it will cost you about $2000 less than going with the STS
the visual is whats ***** you... shorties are the only way to pass while keeping the cats in the stock locations (although most shops are pretty leanent with that)
the visual is whats ***** you... shorties are the only way to pass while keeping the cats in the stock locations (although most shops are pretty leanent with that)
No modifications are legal in California unless you can show a CARB number for it. Very few aftermarket F-body parts have CARB numbers. If you want 400rwhp while being 100% legal, this will be VERY difficult. The Procharger may be your only option. However, if you are willing to "bend" the rules, 400rwhp is extremely easy to attain, even without a supercharger, and you will still be able to pass smog anywhere.
STS is NOT CARB legal on F-bod's.. only the 04 GTO got the CARB certification... even though when you call... they will still try and push it on you and say " oh well uh... its not carb legal... but it will be pretty soon".. then they dont give you a date when..
what ever you do DO NOT BUY AN STS TUNE FROM THEM!!!! its way on the lean side, and its not very good at all..trust me
what ever you do DO NOT BUY AN STS TUNE FROM THEM!!!! its way on the lean side, and its not very good at all..trust me
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Burlington, Ont. / North Van B.C.
Check into Magnaflo shorty headers. they are a nice piece of work, going on my car.
I am going with the lingenfelter gt2-3 cam very smooth (like stock)
Maby a set of edelbrock's new heads.
warren
I am going with the lingenfelter gt2-3 cam very smooth (like stock)
Maby a set of edelbrock's new heads.
warren
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From: The dirty taint of the country. ...Los Angeles
Who ever said that "no modifications are legal in CA." is right to an extent. We're all screwed out here. You need a CARB number for literally everything now. I personally don't think that you or any of us can hit that RWHP number "legally" in CA. unless your squeez'n or go'n the super-forced induction route(supercharger or turbo).
If you just want to be quick as ****,..... look into gears, shift-kits, suspention and handeling upgrades, tires, ECU reprograming and less weight. You know where im go'n with this. Too bad you got rid of the 2000 Z28 with the A4 cuz I would have said a TC if you wanted a rocket on a take-off!
Good luck though.
If you just want to be quick as ****,..... look into gears, shift-kits, suspention and handeling upgrades, tires, ECU reprograming and less weight. You know where im go'n with this. Too bad you got rid of the 2000 Z28 with the A4 cuz I would have said a TC if you wanted a rocket on a take-off!
Good luck though.
I would love to get this car to hook properly to. Bassically I want a fun car to drive, but still drive it everyday, 400whp now that I think about it is prolly to much.
350-360 seems a little more realistic.
I sold the A4 because the car seemed like a lemon to me. I would fix one problem and 3 more would develop. Before I sold it, I had everything fixed. 3 days before it was officially sold it sprung a new oil leak.
Besides, manuals are a HUGE comfort thing with me.
350-360 seems a little more realistic.
I sold the A4 because the car seemed like a lemon to me. I would fix one problem and 3 more would develop. Before I sold it, I had everything fixed. 3 days before it was officially sold it sprung a new oil leak.
Besides, manuals are a HUGE comfort thing with me.
^your sig is going to get deleted... you need to resize it
anyways like i said earlier you can easily accomplish +400rwhp with H/C swap that will still pass smog. probably the cheapest way to accomplish that mark
anyways like i said earlier you can easily accomplish +400rwhp with H/C swap that will still pass smog. probably the cheapest way to accomplish that mark
The problem is heads and cam are not CA legal, unless they carry a CARB number. I personally haven't seen any heads or cams that have a CARB number, I'm curious if there are any. The thing is... when the smog people inpect your car, they won't be able to see inside your engine to tell if you have a cam. Also, most ported heads look stock. The only clue would be the lope of the cam, but that could just be due to a "poor idle" or the exhaust or something, whatever you want to tell them. So again, this begs the question, how legal do you really want to be?
You'd be FINE with heads and a cam. They won't be able to tell the difference. Just get a cam w/ a small lope. Or you can take your car back to stock every two years. OR you can always pay an inspector a little $ to pass you 
