What headers are Street legal In CA?

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by ZOMFGAARON

But do you really think all chp officers are going to look there before they look at your catback? If you're getting headers you'll be more likely to get a ticket for making your exhaust exceed the legal db limit before you get a ticket for not having a cat on the heads.

No, they will pull you over for the noise and catback and then decide to pop your hood after that if they feel like it.

[ZOMFGAARON]

Bottom line is none are legal you're running a risk with a header just like having your windows tinted/clear side markers with white LEDs/ running a loud CBE set up

If the cop you get is feeling like an ass, is low on quota, or you're being an ass to him/her you'll get screwed. Which is rare but can happen.
Good luck!

[Pbrown]

Originally Posted by hot86lova

So I've been thinking about replacing my stock header though I'm keeping my muffler and the "other" pipes idk what you call em. But yeah.. Any recommendations? Just wana keep simple and street legal but still want to hear that boxer rumble.

Get a catted aftermarket header. FT86speedfactory has one and it doesn't change the sound level much.

[bkblitzed]

Just put on stock cbe and you'll be fine.

[Jolaessss]

Originally Posted by KGFRS86

That's the cat on the stock header, isn't it?

Hmm it's hard to tell what im looking at. Im assuming this picture is from the engine bay?

[HapaHaole]

As a person who has a SMOG license I can tell you, not all police / law enforcement officers know as much as you think. I have trained a few and advised him how but, do you think they cop is going to get down to see it? they are known to ASK and if you act obvious then yes, they will know its not factory.

This argument would be the same as if you have an aftermarket camshaft, which is NOT SMOG legal but how the hell will they know?

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by HapaHaole

As a person who has a SMOG license I can tell you, not all police / law enforcement officers know as much as you think. I have trained a few and advised him how but, do you think they cop is going to get down to see it? they are known to ASK and if you act obvious then yes, they will know its not factory.

This argument would be the same as if you have an aftermarket camshaft, which is NOT SMOG legal but how the hell will they know?

They know everything.

[ET86]

Zero

[hot86lova]

Hahaha I've been going through all your thoughts on the comments and they are quite amusing to read.. But yeah I think you guys are right just play it safe and I'll be alright

[hot86lova]

Thanks

[Sypher]

Originally Posted by KGFRS86

That's the cat on the stock header, isn't it?

that is the heat shield on the over pipe. you can see the cat from the front of the engine bay. its a huge buldge just a little smaller than a football.

all headers are illegal in Cali.

if your concerned about a cop noticing get a header ceramic coated in black or gray. they will never notice it just by glancing in the engine bay. cops will never know. now if you get sent to a BAR ref then you are screwed and would need to put your stock header back on.

[HapaHaole]

Now plan B is to get a SMOG repair and inspection license, then when the police pull you over and say its illegal,use your license and say it's not now that you have more authority over him on determining if it's SMOG legal!!

[fatalelement]

Also, for what it's worth, a cop can't ask you to rev the engine or pop your hood. That's a search of your vehicle in both cases. Unless the cop can demonstrate in court to a judge (who, in most cases from my experience, is NOT actually on the cop's side if you aren't acting like a d*** in court) that he knows exactly what an FRS with stock headers vs. aftermarket headers sounds like, he has no probable cause to search your vehicle.

Also, it's a $25 fix it ticket at worst. I have a muffled track pipe on my car and cops don't care at all, even though it's like 20x louder than stock. Just don't blow by them and you're fine.

But if you do get pulled over, as long as you are courteous, you don't really have to answer any of their questions about your car. What they pull you over for is all you have to address. Refusing to answer if you have modified headers is also not grounds for them to search your car (i.e. pop the hood, have you rev, etc.).

On that note, I don't have any problem with 99% of cops and don't want to suggest they're all shifty or anything, but if they get really friendly and compliment your car and ask you what you've done to it, etc., don't be like "THANKS MAN IT HAS A TURBO AND CATLESS EXHAUST AND NONE OF IT'S CARB LEGAL OBVIOUSLY".

Source: good ol' UCLA school of law

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by fatalelement

Also, for what it's worth, a cop can't ask you to rev the engine or pop your hood. That's a search of your vehicle in both cases. Unless the cop can demonstrate in court to a judge (who, in most cases from my experience, is NOT actually on the cop's side if you aren't acting like a d*** in court) that he knows exactly what an FRS with stock headers vs. aftermarket headers sounds like, he has no probable cause to search your vehicle.

Also, it's a $25 fix it ticket at worst. I have a muffled track pipe on my car and cops don't care at all, even though it's like 20x louder than stock. Just don't blow by them and you're fine.

But if you do get pulled over, as long as you are courteous, you don't really have to answer any of their questions about your car. What they pull you over for is all you have to address. Refusing to answer if you have modified headers is also not grounds for them to search your car (i.e. pop the hood, have you rev, etc.).

On that note, I don't have any problem with 99% of cops and don't want to suggest they're all shifty or anything, but if they get really friendly and compliment your car and ask you what you've done to it, etc., don't be like "THANKS MAN IT HAS A TURBO AND CATLESS EXHAUST AND NONE OF IT'S CARB LEGAL OBVIOUSLY".

Source: good ol' UCLA school of law

Isn't having any violation of the vehicle code giving good cause to search for other violations? I thought I had seen that from some legit source (can't remember where ATM though)