CA friendly exhaust and mods systems
 

Vendors or CA knowledgable users : please post any available performance modifications or systems that can pass CA regulations, if not, and a part can easily be replaced, (or hidden?) please post anyway. (ok, and lets keep the CA environmental nutjob jokes to a minimum : ) I'm hearing different opinions of what can and can't be used in CA. (also, I believe AZ is in the same boat?)



Many of us are reading these amazing systems that we cannot consider because of CA regulations. (and not all of us wish to move just to drive a car or buy better gas)

This will be of great help to the CA less fortunate : )

Thank you

California Air Resources Board, CARB, Dictates that you cannot replace anything in the air tract of the motor between the filter and the last catalytic converter.

You cannot have installed any device which allows modification of the factory engine control protocols.

you basically (legally) can change the cat back, air filters are usually OK as long as they are listed as a direct replacement part.

anything else requires CARB EO (exemption Order) numbers.

Sorry,

Man CARB is lame

likely won't be stopping me though lol

There's got to be a way around, at least some of this.

Also, does that mean aftermarket tubo's and SC's are out?

TRD is a legal option

I've been getting around CARB for years, and have never been referred to a smog referee (knocks on wood).

1) Your exhaust needs to be catted and not obnoxiously loud...I also stay away from exhausts with shiny "hey officer, this ain't stock" canisters...

2) Don't put racing stickers or aftermarket performance decals on your car...they're magnets for unwanted attention

3) Drive like a grandma in areas with a concentrated police presence...

4) Stay faaaar away from street racing areas and questionable gatherings of so-called car guys doing burnouts and blasting loud music

= All of that equates to me being able to do anything I need to do with my cars in this smog nazi state...full catbacks, t3/t4 turbo upgrades, big fmic, nitrous (save the F&F jokes)

:word:

Do you have to make any changes when you get smogged?

Yeah, I've had to do exhaust swaps before...and remove other bolt-on bits, but nothing too time consuming

Or

I've heard that you can find a tester willing to *cough, cough* look the other way during testing :D

i don't know where you are in CA, but i wish it was that easy around where i am [south bay]...

One of the many reasons I avoid meetups that involve standing around in an In N' Out parking lot staring at our cars.

It helps to keep the stock parts on hand in your garage or in storage too. Once I get the car, I plan to be as subtle as possible with my exhaust setups (catted pipes and all), but in the event of needing to get smogged for any reason, just swap out the parts before you do it, pass, and re-install.

Good tip. Keep all your stock exhaust bits, stock airbox...you never know if you'll need to slap em back on. Also, when trading in or selling a car, stock bits are looked upon more favorably than aftermarket.