california exhaust
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
california exhaust alright living with california smog sux. when i look for exhausts all i find are longtubes. well if i were to get shorties and an O/R Y would it be a huge waste? is it pretty much keep stock manifolds and cats unless you get longtubes? i have no problem doing the switch(shorties and o/r y) every 2 years for smog, but longtubes seem like a lot of work for the gains.
any ideas besides moving?
comment please
any ideas besides moving?
comment please
Last edited by sk8co; May 2, 2007 at 02:25 AM.
You aren't going to be able to connect shorties to the stock manifolds. 
However, yeah, I would just get a catback that is legal and call it a day. Shorties will be the same amount of work every 2 years. The pain in the *** is just getting them off the block without losing your mind.
Go longtubes and ory. Just switch back to full-on stock right before smog time. I think that the difference would be worth it, if not the sound alone.
I would do it if I were you like that.
Shorties will just be a waste. Go with your gut feeling.
However, yeah, I would just get a catback that is legal and call it a day. Shorties will be the same amount of work every 2 years. The pain in the *** is just getting them off the block without losing your mind.
Go longtubes and ory. Just switch back to full-on stock right before smog time. I think that the difference would be worth it, if not the sound alone.
I would do it if I were you like that.
Shorties will just be a waste. Go with your gut feeling.
To have a car in CA you need to have real goals in terms of how fast you want to go. If all you want to do is run low 12's, then you can run with the stock manifolds and cats without a problem. However, if you need to run 10's, then you need to consider long tubes and working around the law. For the grief of changing out exhausts every 2 years for a couple of days, I would put long tubes and ORY on the back burner. Do the rest of your work, and see if you're happy with the car.
I was looking at a pair of shorties, and decided to go with QTP longtubes and a catted Y instead (both currently sitting in garage), that will pass emmissions and i can find someone to overlook the visual 
.
There are gains to be made from any setup. The more mods, the more they will compliment each other. If you have an 01-02 LS1, dont bother with shorties. If you have a 98-00 LS1, get some shorties on there, a nice cat-back, ported TB, FTRA, LS6 intake (look for one with EGR, might need to go SLP) and throw in a cam and give it a nice tune. I have a CheaTR cam from thunder racing in my 98 TA, and it works VERY will with stock manifolds. I imagine that that cam with shorties is better than a cam with stock manifolds.
Also, suspension and better gears will make your car a little faster or at least pt a lil more HP down, those things will ALWAYS pass smog.
.There are gains to be made from any setup. The more mods, the more they will compliment each other. If you have an 01-02 LS1, dont bother with shorties. If you have a 98-00 LS1, get some shorties on there, a nice cat-back, ported TB, FTRA, LS6 intake (look for one with EGR, might need to go SLP) and throw in a cam and give it a nice tune. I have a CheaTR cam from thunder racing in my 98 TA, and it works VERY will with stock manifolds. I imagine that that cam with shorties is better than a cam with stock manifolds.
Also, suspension and better gears will make your car a little faster or at least pt a lil more HP down, those things will ALWAYS pass smog.
Originally Posted by orangeapeel
Don't bother with shorties period. Just keep the stock manifolds if you decide to go that route. You would be wasting money for the results a ported TB would yield you.
You really feel that on a 98-00 car, there would be no gain? Sure, for about $500 (edelbrock shorties or non-coated JBA's) its a waste if you ONLY do shorties. But surely with a cam, and full intake, a cat-back and a good tune you'll see slighty more hp (say, 10rwhp depending on the cam) than if you stick with stock manifolds. Of course you wont see the same gains as Mids or LTs, but you wont see nothing. It just depends on how much you consider a "waste" of money.
If sk8co or anyone else wants to stay SMOG legal in CA, there's a price we'll hafta pay. Either buy completely compliant parts and accept miniscule gains, supercharge the damn thing, or pay a little extra to have someone look the other way on the visual.
Im not trying to start an agrument, just really wondering. In California every little bit counts
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
so to me it sounds like im pretty much SOL unless i go illegal. you say that longtubes with catted Y pass? if so i know a guy who will "overlook" but what about a cam. any cams that will still keep me legal and provide a decent amount of power?
also i know of a guy in Irvine who will convert my car to be smog exempt then i can convert it back and keep the smog exempt cert. that may be one of the best bets also.
also i hate the bottle and im not a fan of supercharging, thats why i have problems haha.
also i know of a guy in Irvine who will convert my car to be smog exempt then i can convert it back and keep the smog exempt cert. that may be one of the best bets also.
also i hate the bottle and im not a fan of supercharging, thats why i have problems haha.
Nah, you need a street address, but I like your 'screw the government any way I can' way of thinking.
And yes.
And yes.
Originally Posted by Mystic 98 TA
Good idea!! Can you get away with just a PO box 
??
*sidenote, did you get my PM, silverbird?
?? *sidenote, did you get my PM, silverbird?
Originally Posted by Ahern
I got longtubes with no cats goin to a cut out all day. Just keep your stock exhaust when it comes to smog your car.
And i have LT's with no cats and duals dumped
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Originally Posted by 9silverbird8
Nah, you need a street address, but I like your 'screw the government any way I can' way of thinking.
Originally Posted by BayAreaSS
I wouldnt waste money on shorties. Just get Lt's and or buy some spray.
Or be like me and have both
Or be like me and have both
Sorry,
sk8co: you'll figure it out, but there are cams that'll pass SMOG, quite a few i believe. And some heads too, if im not mistaken.
Originally Posted by Mystic 98 TA
Do you have the spray installed yet?? What size shot??
Sorry,
sk8co: you'll figure it out, but there are cams that'll pass SMOG, quite a few i believe. And some heads too, if im not mistaken.
Sorry,
sk8co: you'll figure it out, but there are cams that'll pass SMOG, quite a few i believe. And some heads too, if im not mistaken.
No i dont
I'm still buying parts for my kit. I hope to install it in about a month. I will start at a 75 and then i'm going to leave it at a 100 shot.
Its taking me a while because i'm buying almost every extra accessory....i want to keep it safe.
Originally Posted by RevGTO
I used to do that in the 80's living in San Diego. My car registration went to a PO box in a small town in the mountains. I'd drive up there once a year to retrieve my reg. I was thinking that would still work if I move back. Sorry to hear they're on to it.
And to whoever asked, yes im being serious. Why would I make that up?