Best Emissions Legal Catted Header & Exhaust?
 

What's the best catted header and exhaust combo that can still pass a state mandated exhaust emissions test? I'm thinking of changing headers/exhaust down the road but want something that is street legal. I don't want the hassle of having to swap headers every year just to pass emissions testing. I've searched through the threads but didn't find any that specifically addressed this issue. I also didn't find a post by anyone who actually swapped headers and passed an emissions test.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has changed headers and passed an emissions test. Please identify your State so that we can look up their exhaust emissions testing requirements to see home they compare to our home state. I'm also curious if anyone has managed to pass with a high flow cat.

[This thread should exclude California since any change to the cat will cause the car to fail inspection.]

What kind of emissions test?

Folks in California call them smog tests. Here in the east folks call them emissions tests. Same thing, just different terminology.

Well if it is illegal to alter the cats there like it is in Cali... Get a cat back and you're fine, but anything else is technically illegal.

In North Carolina they don't typically look at the cat to see if it's been replaced or modified. I've watched them do the testing and they simply put a sampling tube into the exhaust which runs the exhaust sample through their analyzer to see if you meet the requirements. I'm figuring other states probably utilize a similar method. In NC, we don't have the same extreme air quality problems as parts of California do, so things are less strict.

This is what I meant by what kind of tests since some also tests for obd2 readyness, running corn works with the air analyzer tests.

I think the consensus has been a single 200 cell highflow cat will pass most sniff tests. At what point does a new car like this even get a rectal exam anyway?

Sorry, I misinterpreted your question.

A North Carolina emissions inspection consists of connecting a certified analyzer to the vehicle's OBDII system to verify that all vehicle emissions components/systems are working per the manufacturer specifications along with a visual safety/tamper inspection. However, from what I have seen at some of the places I've had an inspection, inspectors often do not check the cat for tampering.

Header cat is hidden pretty well on this car

My brand new car was emissions tested as part of the state inspection I needed before I could drive it home. There's been discussion in the legislature about exempting new cars for 5 years but don't think that passed or they wouldn't have run emissions testing on it.

God bless Texas. That is terrible to hear about other countries.

Get a p and l or a jdl catted header

The jdl has flex joints
P and l doesn't

Well, so far this thread has been viewed 279 times and it appears that not one of those people has swapped headers and passed a state mandated exhaust emissions inspection. I want to make one more attempt to see if anyone has actually done it before this thread sinks off the front page.

In CA, a new car doesn't need to be smogged for 5 years. That's probably why you aren't getting too many responses.