I'm going back to a stock(ish) type exhaust, from longtubes. I was going to use shorties or ported oem 00-02 manifolds, and using these direct fit cats http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-23477/, like I had on my car before the longtubes.

The problem is, it doesn't look like anyone can sell non oem cats to California. I don't want to pay a rediculous price to the dealer for oem cats, but I'm not finding options. Are there really no legal cats other than oem, in CA anymore?

 

yup you can only use OEM cats. alot of exhaust shops wont even touch aftermarket cats anymore.

 

Why dont you see if you can just pick up a set of stock cats from someone that went long tubes? It will save quite a bit of money.

 

pretty soon people wont take the **** from the BAR about spending hundreds on a cat

 

This isn't Califronia legal, but I passed smog with it in Oct. 2009.
98-99 LS1 Random Technology Y-Pipe System
Part# 172-25905

 

Non OEM cats aren't legal anyway so why bother?

 

to pass the sniffer, when the last time the smog guy got under your car?

 

There's places that will check you even with aftermarket cats, you just have to find them.

 

How often do they check you? Its every two years right?

 

yupyup 2 years, just go to the most ghetto place u can find and they wont give a **** what u have long as u got cash haha

 

Contact your local BAR about the cats. It's been several years but IIRC, they'll take any cat as long as the application sheet for THAT cat states it is for YOUR specific car. Can't use a Mustang cat on a Camaro, but if that cat states it is a 50-state cat for that specific model Camaro, it should be legal. If the BAR states verifies this, then ask them for a copy (or link to) the specific regulation that shows this is acceptable. That way you can have the receipt for the cat and a printout of that regulation in the car. It's a pain, but there will be no more questions about the legality.

 

That's the problem, I don't think there are any 50 state legal cats anymore as of January 09'...only 49 state legal cats. You can't even order 49 state legal cats and have them shipped to a CA address.

 

Everytime lol!

 

I can find someone to pass me every two years, that isn't the problem. Sacramento has become "highly policed" and has random, mobile smog checks. Not only that, but they look for excuses to pull you over and pop your hood. I can get around a smog check every two years, I'm just sick of sneaking around silently and checking the internet for smog checkpoints in order to keep my car from going to the impound yard. Now that I want to take the longtubes off, It's real hard because no one even sells CA legal cats anymore. CA is really starting to suck!

 

Well doesn't the cat law state that even if the OEM cats are moved like one inch out of their stock location its automatic grounds for a ticket/impound/whatever...?

 

Technically, moving the cats is illegal. Most likely the only place you'd get popped for that would be if you were sent to the ref. No city cop knows the precise location of the cats for every car made, and will not break out his tape measure to check. I had the magnaflow direct replacement cats, and they looked so stock that no one would know the difference and I'd never sweat having to pop my hood for a cop. Longtubes are very obviously illegal to any cop, and thats why I'm removing them. I'm sure I won't have any problems with stock/shorty headers and a catted y-pipe.

 

Hello,
I have these very same Magnaflow direct fit cats on my 02 z28. I purchased the car this way. The previous owner had also installed JBA shortie headers along with the SLP large y-pipe out the back. Everything is smog legal. I am in the Los Angeles area and I have never had anyone crawl under any of my vehicles durring an inspection. However, if your car is heavily modded, that will only give the smog station attendant/owner further reason for a more detailed inspection. My system is 100% legal and in purchasing these cats, your should be too.

 

Before I put the longtubes on, my setup was identical to yours. JBA's, slp y-pipe and magnaflow cats. The problem is that as of January 09, NO aftermarket cats without a CARB number are legal in CA. You can check the CARB site and see that the magnaflow direct replacement cats on your car are indeed NOT legal. They are "close enough" for me and that's why I want them, but you cannot order them online as of January 09'. You can't buy the magnaflow direct replacement cats and have them shipped to a CA address. Check out summit racing or other sites and they will say "cannot ship to CA". Don't get me wrong I would like to put them back on my car..the thing is I can no longer buy them thanks to CARB.

 

seriously... just go this route

http://www.frozenboost.com/product_i...4dc11f7f10267a

 

Lol that's awesome! If I wasn't worried about the mobile smog dyno's, I'd probably consider it haha!