Smog legal lt4 headers?
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On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2020
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Smog legal lt4 headers? Hi Everyone,
I am new to the site, I purchased a 96 z28 m6 the previous owner installed a LT4 engine (smog legal). In my list of to-dos is to let the engine breather better. I am looking for a quite low sound that is SoCal legal. Any information would be great. I also own a 72 camaro that is soon going to have a holley sniper & tko600 installed along with some other small things & so I purchased the Z28 to have a more driver friendly and fun car.
Vince
I am new to the site, I purchased a 96 z28 m6 the previous owner installed a LT4 engine (smog legal). In my list of to-dos is to let the engine breather better. I am looking for a quite low sound that is SoCal legal. Any information would be great. I also own a 72 camaro that is soon going to have a holley sniper & tko600 installed along with some other small things & so I purchased the Z28 to have a more driver friendly and fun car.
Vince
Unless you "know a guy" who can pass you and you still have to follow strict guidelines with inspection and emissions just leave it alone until you can register it as a historical vehicle. You would have to get legal-for-CA/Executive Order number shorty headers due to not legally being able to move the catalytic converters. Performance gains would be next to nothing.
I don't know about what's available these days. If you want loud then the SLP loudmouth or Borla are good options, but I think both of those have gone the way of the dodo bird. You may be stuck with some sort of inferior china virus cat back crap. Check out the sponsors on the right column of this site to see what's available.
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OP
The market for CARB headers on a 96 car is next to nothing so no one is making CARB headers for the LT1/4 anymore. You may be able to find a used set of Edelbrock but you would also need the CARB sticker that came with them new that identifies their exemption and the # matches the model # stamped on the Edelbrock header plate on DS
You likely will get a "test only" smog test notification and those shops have a shorter rope to F around and do a "friend" deal like years ago. CATS can only move 3" from stock location here in CA so shorty header is the only way to allow that vs long tubes
I have had my Edelbrock shortys on for over 20 years because it was the only game legal back when they were available. SLP supposedly "offered" a sticker for theirs back when those were available
The market for CARB headers on a 96 car is next to nothing so no one is making CARB headers for the LT1/4 anymore. You may be able to find a used set of Edelbrock but you would also need the CARB sticker that came with them new that identifies their exemption and the # matches the model # stamped on the Edelbrock header plate on DS
You likely will get a "test only" smog test notification and those shops have a shorter rope to F around and do a "friend" deal like years ago. CATS can only move 3" from stock location here in CA so shorty header is the only way to allow that vs long tubes
I have had my Edelbrock shortys on for over 20 years because it was the only game legal back when they were available. SLP supposedly "offered" a sticker for theirs back when those were available
Keep an eye out for old edlebrock or mac mids. I have the edlebrock mids because I got tired of finding a smog evey2 years. I found them on the forum and they were NOS just sitting in someone's garage. I pass CA emissions without issue and dont notice any seat of the pants difference from the longtubes. In fact, as little sense as it makes I kept dead even with a 5.0 coyote up to ~110. I credit the 3200rpm converter for that.
