Ls1 mods in ca?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 17
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From: Visalia, Ca
Ls1 mods in ca? hi I'm new to ls1tech and I was just wondering what mods I can do to my 02 ws6 to increase hp. I live in california so emissions are a problem but Id like to know what I could do legally or what I can get away with. Thanks
you can do headers intake manifold lid exhaust, pretty much as long as it can pass the sniffer if you are in so cal there are a couple places that may or may not pass you visually. Look through the forum I would start in the intro section on the top of the board I found a lot of helpful stuff there in there they have the modification section and it is great reading, legally you can get shorty headers and be ok you get some tq but don't gain hp.
heres the link to the thread about it. very good reading also they should have the links to install university which has some free mods to do.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...e-posting.html
heres the link to the thread about it. very good reading also they should have the links to install university which has some free mods to do.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...e-posting.html
Only shorty headers with a CARB # are legal here, anything else would change the location of the cats. Aftermarket intake must be 50 state legal with a CARB #, and you must retain EGR on any car originally equipped with an LS1 intake. Any lid is fine, just about any exhaust is fine from the cats back. I think a cut out is legal (somebody help me out on this one). I'm sure the boys here can help you pick out a cam. Blah blah blah...
It helps if you do your research on the smog shop first, too. They might not know to look for the egr difference between an ls1 and an ls6 intake, etc...and anything is legal if you know a guy.
It helps if you do your research on the smog shop first, too. They might not know to look for the egr difference between an ls1 and an ls6 intake, etc...and anything is legal if you know a guy.
well guys if he has an 02 he doesn't need to worry about egr stuff. you already have an ls6 intake on there, i say open the exhaust a bit. if you are worried about passing smog, start with a nice catback exhaust system. you will get a little power and a great sound. then when you decide to take the plunge and find a smog friendly shop, throw on some long tube headers. or maybe exhaust cut outs would be more your thing? loud when you want, quiet when you want.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Visalia, Ca
ok thanks for the info. I just bought my car so I don't really know a "guy" yet haha. As far as cams what would I be able to do? Keep in mind my car is bare bone stock ws6. Also would i be able to use a diablosport predator tuner without anybody being the wiser here in ca? Thanks again
ok thanks for the info. I just bought my car so I don't really know a "guy" yet haha. As far as cams what would I be able to do? Keep in mind my car is bare bone stock ws6. Also would i be able to use a diablosport predator tuner without anybody being the wiser here in ca? Thanks again
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If you mean that you want to use the Diablosport before you get a cam, you'll "get away" with that.
No smog-shops can detect if you have a tune or not.
However, depending a bit on where in CA you live, you should probably go to one of our excellent tuners, as they will be able to do a much better job than a handheld programmer ever will.
No smog-shops can detect if you have a tune or not.
However, depending a bit on where in CA you live, you should probably go to one of our excellent tuners, as they will be able to do a much better job than a handheld programmer ever will.
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yes just need a tune, the 224 will be the biggest you can use to pass, call one of the sponsors and they can tell you the specs you can get away with, then go ahead and buy a used one in the classifieds.
if you want smoggable power, get a n02 kit
legally in good ol CA, you cant mod your car at all...technically cant even lower it.
however, thats not any fun.
do a search for "cheater cams" and see what comes up, there are certain custom cams that pass the sniffer, use stock exhaust manifolds with a good tune etc.
if youre concerned about keeping your car legal, just dont touch the motor. strap on some full suspension, lowering spring, lower control arms, shocks, control arm brackets, torque arm, sway bars and a good 9in or 12 bolt suspension with a good set of drag radials or slicks, and have some fun!
legally in good ol CA, you cant mod your car at all...technically cant even lower it.
however, thats not any fun.
do a search for "cheater cams" and see what comes up, there are certain custom cams that pass the sniffer, use stock exhaust manifolds with a good tune etc.
if youre concerned about keeping your car legal, just dont touch the motor. strap on some full suspension, lowering spring, lower control arms, shocks, control arm brackets, torque arm, sway bars and a good 9in or 12 bolt suspension with a good set of drag radials or slicks, and have some fun!
**** it, for first mod do a cam. best bang for the buck! do u think you can do it yourself? or for a free mod try to port the throttle body by yourself, impressive throttle response gains
dont waste your time with a handheld programmer... just do the basics: intake, exhaust, suspension.... maybe a stall converter if you're an auto and get it tuned by someone local with actual software. after all that then pick a cam to really wake it up and it will still pass smog
I was in your same situation a fews months back but man trust me being legal is no fun plus LT's are a really good mod for these cars. You'd be pleased with a bigger cam and it would be way better off with LT's anyway. If I where you I'd do exhaust (borla my personal favorite), lid and all that other stuff that doesn't touch the manifolds, cats, or the inside of the motor. You'll find someone to pass your car anyway we all do.
What's legal and what you can get away with are two different things 
Personally I'd start with gears, 3.73 - 4.10's depends on if its an Auto or stick. Not the cheapest mod but definately a big performance gain and no smog issues.
There's a few shops north of you in Fresno/Clovis, mine and Fresno Performance if you can't find any installers in Visa.
Personally I'd start with gears, 3.73 - 4.10's depends on if its an Auto or stick. Not the cheapest mod but definately a big performance gain and no smog issues.
There's a few shops north of you in Fresno/Clovis, mine and Fresno Performance if you can't find any installers in Visa.
Hey, correct me if I'm wrong but I've read that no2 is legal as long as the bottle is "empty" on the street. So, not that I would do this, but you could technically get away with it if you had a dummy gauge that always read zero...right?
Actually the bottle can be full, it just can't be connected.