Questions about tuning and emissions for FI
 

Ok so I am looking to get an exhaust set up and I know I would need to swap back the stock parts to pass a smog. I will also be looking to get a s/c thats carb legal like vortech.

My first question is for the exhaust do i need to swap back everything aside from the cat back to pass emissions or just the header and the frontpipe since they have the stock cat?

Will the car be fine with the the s/c on the same tune with exhaust components swapped out?

Will the s/c need to be on the base tune to pass emissions or will it pass regardless of a custom tune?

I know first question is strictly exhaust related but I didn't want to have to post on to sections
Thanks any info would be appreciated greatly!

If you get a CARB rated supercharger the tune is locked. If you get a custom tune it will not be CARB rated.

So then I could just go back to the original tune?

Yeah, so if you get the CARB tune and you change out your exhaust and let's say you go catless just swap the stock parts back on. Now if you get a tune from Delicious you can just put the stock parts back on and then reflash it to the CARB tune. And after you pass just reflash and reinstall your parts.

thanks
that makes a lot of sense

You need the stock header and front pipe to pass visual.

The custom tune may or may not pass the sniffer; there's only one way to find out and if you fail, your car will permanently be flagged.

You don't *need* to be on the CARB tune to pass, but technically you're supposed to be on it.

ya i just read on another forum post that they mainly check to see if your car throws back any codes. Im guessing i should be fine with just swapping back the header and front pipe. The tune would be just to be extra safe.

if your car gets flagged what happens? Do they pay more attention to your car the next time around? Or a fine? Just curious... i had no idea cali laws were that strict.

You have to get a STAR smog test every other year (sniffer), instead of just a visual and obd2 readyness

I would flash back to the CARB tune before going to get checked. It takes all of 5 minutes, why not

What if you installed a turbo kit with an aftermarket catless turbo manifold/header, but replaced the frontpipe with one of these catalytic converter replacements?

These dual cat pipes seem to simply relocate the first cat from the stock header to the front pipe. Obviously, your exhaust will still be more concentrated due to the forced induction, but wouldn't this keep the smog output at legal levels?

With a low boost tune, this type of setup seems like it would pass emissions testing in theory, although I'm not sure about the visual inspection. Can anyone comment? This seems to me like an easy way to pass emissions testing without having to swap out your header. The Magnaflow Cat claims to be OEM Grade for CARB emissions requirements outside the state of California.

I'm trying to install a turbo kit on my 6AT that will pass emissions with minimal effort since the Works CARB legal kit is only for MT. I live in CT which is a CARB state but I don't think they're as strict as CA.

you cannot legally (emissions wise) move your cats.