Will headers cause me to not pass smog?

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by Cesium Rainbow

Oic. FA20club came out with a UEL catted set not too long ago.

thanks but yea, I don't like how it runs up through the engine bay, I mean its good if you have a future turbo setup but my god, I would think all the heat from that header pipe will get bathed in all over the engine in the bay and if you have a vortech system it won't fit.

[wallace03]

Is smog something that only California does? Instead of creating a new thread would someone kindly tell me if any or all of the following will cause my to fail Tx state inspection: Headers, downpipe, cat-back exhaust, or FI.

[67corvette]

I understand this is a little off topic I appreciate all the responses and advice but how does everyone feel about the lack of power? When they're are cars like the genesis coupe for virtually the same price

[nakamur21]

Originally Posted by 67corvette

I understand this is a little off topic I appreciate all the responses and advice but how does everyone feel about the lack of power? When they're are cars like the genesis coupe for virtually the same price

I totally would understand your point of view based on all the mb chatter (here and others) about the BRZ/FRS lack of straight line performance. A common refrain from the Genesis coupe guys is that "a camry V6 smokes the BRZ...". Well, according to Car and Driver, Camry SE V6, 1/4 mile in 14.3 seconds. BRZ limited, 1/4 mile in 14.9 seconds. Hyundai Genesis coupe 2.0T (the one with all the BOOOST!!), 1/4 mile in 14.4 seconds. Wait, that's slower than the camry also, right?

HP and 1/4 mile aren't everything, you also need handling, and the 86 has loads of this right out of the box.

[67corvette]

I totally agree but doesn't it Piss you off when some Hyundai coupe is next to you at a light an you know you can't take them I mean my car doesn't have a turbo and I don't plan on one I'm going with headers and the Trd exhaust I got as an extra from the factory a chip and a cold air intake 18 inch rims an some better tires but Ehen I was shopping we went test driving my buddy in the passenger seat we got in the frs an took off we were smiling having fun grabbing gears hugging corners then I walked across the street hopped into the Hyundai coupe 2.0 which by the way has the worst clutch ever and gearbox but we took a drive an it was just silent in the car it was like we were running errands there was no fun an that is why I got the frs but my closest friends one has a challenger 09 rt the other a 04 r32 the other a g37 the other a speed3 an they give me shit an I wanna take my 3 grand an just save more an drop a turbo an blow their doors off but I need my car to last no problems my mother is a gm of scion an Toyota dealership so I got a hook up as well on all Trd Trd parts

[Cesium Rainbow]

Originally Posted by 67corvette

I totally agree but doesn't it Piss you off when some Hyundai coupe is next to you at a light an you know you can't take them I mean my car doesn't have a turbo and I don't plan on one I'm going with headers and the Trd exhaust I got as an extra from the factory a chip and a cold air intake 18 inch rims an some better tires but Ehen I was shopping we went test driving my buddy in the passenger seat we got in the frs an took off we were smiling having fun grabbing gears hugging corners then I walked across the street hopped into the Hyundai coupe 2.0 which by the way has the worst clutch ever and gearbox but we took a drive an it was just silent in the car it was like we were running errands there was no fun an that is why I got the frs but my closest friends one has a challenger 09 rt the other a 04 r32 the other a g37 the other a speed3 an they give me shit an I wanna take my 3 grand an just save more an drop a turbo an blow their doors off but I need my car to last no problems my mother is a gm of scion an Toyota dealership so I got a hook up as well on all Trd Trd parts

Its not a drag car. Its just not. You can turn it into one but from the factory dragging is not in its character. Even so, with stickier tires you should be able to take the 3 at the stop light and hang with everybody in canyons.
It pisses me off a bit when base Camaros and Mustangs rev on me and I dont have anything for them but its the same as the driver of an original Camaro thinking he's cool cuz he can take an MG on a straight road. Its stupid.
Add-wallace03 afaik most states have smog test only, and only for cars 3-5 years old. If you dont remove cats youre fine. If you do all bets are off. Just keep your OEM in case you have to swap it back on for testing, or even better, just keep the cats on. You're talking maybe 2 horses difference NA.

[bdanisi]

so your telling me some cops can actually SMELL the catless exhaust fumes, with their nose? what the hell does it smell like lol

[Kostamojen]

Seems like there isn't much experience with N/A Subarus here and California SMOG laws and tests and such...

*There are no CARB legal headers yet for this car, IE nothing is technically "California Legal" at this point.

*SMOG isn't required until 5 years after the first sale of the vehicle.

*Your car will not be inspected for emissions unless its pulled over by police and they tell you to have it inspected, or if you are pulled into one of the "Rolling SMOG stations" that are around California and setup by local police or the Highway patrol.


I've run all sorts of exhaust combinations of my old Normally Aspirated Impreza here in California and never been pulled over, harassed by police, or failed an emissions test. Here are some common sense things you guys need to know:

1) Our headers are underneath the engine, and are not normally visible to a visual inspection of the engine bay. If you use headers that retain the stock heatshields or something that looks like the stock heat shields, they will probably pass a "visual" inspection. Nobody knows the wiser.

2) Almost any exhaust will at least one catalytic converter will pass an actual emissions test (excluding visual) as long as your car doesn't throw a check engine light.

3) Keep your stock exhaust so you can reinstall it if you have to have your car inspected or end up making it to the 5 year SMOG testing time. Its worth it even though it requires extra effort and somewhere to keep it.


Finally, take this all with a grain of salt and with a great deal of caution... It all depends on where you live and where you drive, what you look like and what your car looks like, and more. If your car looks modded as heck, you will probably get pulled over and inspected at some point. If it looks stock your likely hood of being pulled over is greatly reduced.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by bdanisi

so your telling me some cops can actually SMELL the catless exhaust fumes, with their nose? what the hell does it smell like lol

Have you never been behind a catless car before???

[shayangh]

Would a catback exhaust system like the greddy evo3 pass smog or would that have trouble too

[Kostamojen]

Catbacks will have no effect on passing smog.

[slyphen]

Originally Posted by 67corvette

So I'm stuck just putting my stock headers back on in five years or however long it is. Or finding a place that will just take some extra money an let me go that would be the ideal situation

im moving to LA soon. where are these places that "take some extra money" to help you pass smog?