New dual exhaust/emissions questions

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The law from what I understand is however many cats the car had originally it must maintain, AND in the the stock location. Other modifications are allowed to the exhaust as long as it passes emissions .

That is exactly it, you can run a split exhaust after the cat, but you can't legally run dual cats unless that is a factory option. My Ranger has 5 cats, and I can't add or decrease that number. You could put 50 cats under a G body and it still would be just as illegal as no cats.

As for fed grater then state you should go back and reread the 10th amendment. Now as for putting duals on do as you need to, and abide by the laws you can. Shops in my state will do custom dual exhaust with cats, no one will install without. But then again we don't need all these nanny state laws as well.

Don't tell me, tell the feds as they often ignore all the amendments. Gun control laws break the second amendment but good luck explaining that to the ATF and FBI if you decide to buy a post 1986, full auto SBR without tax stamps and licences. The 10th has been severely weakened and often ignored since the Civil War.

If a car was only available with a single exhaust, single cat setup, it is illegal for any shop in all 50 states to remove or add the number of cats under a $25,000 fine for each violation. This means in all 50 states, it is illegal for a shop to install a dual cat, dual exhaust into a G body which carries a $25,000 fine for the shop and a $2,500 fine for the car owner. I remember a few years ago a sheriff department removed the cats off their cruisers and installed illegal dual exhausts. EPA found out, fined the department, and made them reinstall the factory exhausts. The EPA hunts for crooked shops that performs illegal exhaust work as those fines are big bucks. If your car model only came with a single cat from the factory, you are struck with that. Now you can run a split exhaust after the cat, but unless the vehicle was available with a true dual exhaust with dual or more cats from the factory, split exhaust is the best you can do.

You could also blame Chevy, Olds, and Pontiac for shafting their G bodies by never offering factory dual exhausts that would be EPA and CARB certified.

 

[montec]

Clone, I know how much the Fed feel they can do what they want. I dont pay much attention to that as long as they leave me alone. As I said my state they do nothing for emissions testing or inspections. I have a true dual exhaust on my '79. I will have true duals on my '83 T10 when the V8 gets done on that as well as my '94 Blazer. All I can say is that it was like that when I bought it.

 

[RegMan79]

Damn GM. I guess I'll continue research on this topic. What sort of modification is done to trans Xmember?

 

[jiho]

Not just the cat, everything between the motor and the cat is considered part of the emissions control system. That means manifolds, crossover, and intermediate to cat. It all has to be factory -- or certified aftermarket -- for the motor installed, which has to be the same year as the car or later. Otherwise you've been "tampering" and it isn't smog-legal.

That's the rule, anyway. As noted, though, what you can get away with will vary by location. A lot.

 

[pontiacgp]

Not just the cat, everything between the motor and the cat is considered part of the emissions control system. That means manifolds, crossover, and intermediate to cat. It all has to be factory -- or certified aftermarket -- for the motor installed, which has to be the same year as the car or later. Otherwise you've been "tampering" and it isn't smog-legal.

That's the rule, anyway. As noted, though, what you can get away with will vary by location. A lot.

Back in 1979 the cat was considered part of the exhaust system. On vehicles manufactured in and after 1984 the catalytic converters are considered part of the emissions system.

 

[Streetbu]

Best thing you can do is make friends with an inspector. Makes life much easier

 

[RegMan79]

Best thing you can do is make friends with an inspector. Makes life much easier

Did u modify the xmember or replace?

 

[Streetbu]

I've done both, but if I had to do it again, I would replace. $125 iirc and its done and over.

 

[RegMan79]

Nice, looks clean! I think I might go for the kit as soon as I get clear of emissions hassle. What engine combo do u have?

 

[Geo's66]

Reading this and confused- I thought any car more than 25 years old is emissions exempt? What gives