Will headers cause me to not pass smog?

[67corvette]

I was looking at the Borla headers then I'm told that I won't pass smog or whatever with those so is this true or false an if it is true what headers can I buy? Thanks, Christian

[Asphaltfrs1]

Inspection maybe? I'm not positive to be honest, if you have the cats it should. I think.

Plus you can just take it to those places that help you pass when the time comes.

[67corvette]

Well i got it with the Trd exhaust I figured screw it I'm financing it I won't feel it but I want headers but I don't want issues I don't think any of us do but thank you for your response if you get any more info would you please let me know?

[ysr50guy]

You will fail smog, but its a new car you dont have to smog it for the next 5 years I believe. When the time finally comes to get it smogged you can just swap out your borla headers with your stock headers.

[86_ZN6]

so you got the headers from the dealer?

[AVOturboworld]

Anything, and I mean *anything*, that replaces the OEM cat will cause you to fail smog if they do a visual check in california. Replacing it with an aftermarket cat will not work, there are none that are carb certified.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by 67corvette

I was looking at the Borla headers then I'm told that I won't pass smog or whatever with those so is this true or false an if it is true what headers can I buy? Thanks, Christian

http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/smog-check.php
In LA because california has some of the strictest emissions laws in the country it won't pass smog certification. You can only get catted EL headers, and a catted header-back exhaust, as well you will need to get a tune so the CEL will dissapear and no codes will be shown in the ECU during inspection before the smog certification test. That being said if your vehicle is six or less model years old, you are not required to obtain smog certification as long as you pay the annual $20 smog abatement fee, so you will be good going cat less for 6 years if you pay $20 every year, but honestly you would still need a tune to make sure the UEL or EL headers you get don't kick up a CEL otherwise every inspection will fail in that 6 year period, also some officers can smell the fact your car is cat less and will right you a nasty ticket, its not worth it, stay catted if you can with an aftermarket exhaust you will still get gains.

[marky]

was thinking about this but as a daily driver i dont think ill be getting headers.. just going to get a exhaust..

will i still pass for a after market exhaust ? or do i have to put stock back when its time for the smog

[bkblitzed]

CA smog laws are very strict. If you have a cat you might pass if the place doesn't really care about visual. But if you have no cat, you fail both visual and sniffer. But i heard they're changing it to just obd2 or something.

[67corvette]

So basically there is no way to get headers an be comepletely legal an no to the person that asked if I got it from the dealer I got the Trd cat back exhaust an I'm shopping for a cold air intake trying to find the best one right now and headers got the money just trying to do the homework I just don't want forced induction so I gotta do everything I can possible besides that

[67corvette]

But I've never had my car inspected when I get it smogged they just do it in like five minutes in and out

[bkblitzed]

Originally Posted by 67corvette

But I've never had my car inspected when I get it smogged they just do it in like five minutes in and out

Wow you might be lucky then, or you might be driving a car that looks like a DD. Every time i got smogged in my STi, they popped the hood, looked at my whole exhaust to see if I had my cats. It sucks that there's a cat in the header because i really like port and polished stock headers. Gain performance, and it looks stock.

[Nevermore]

This is a question I've been curious about. I want to do a whole exhuast eventually, but I don't know how many cats the car has stock, or where they are. I see people always wanting the catted headers, but they seem to be pretty rare.

[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