So if its technically not legal, why even bother? Theres still a chance that you could fail visual even after everything.

 

Isn't it kinda hard to see the pipe from the top with the heat shield in place anyway? Seems like a lot of trouble to appear stock.

Anyway, I'm running the Invidia catted and I've been happy with it so far.

 

I love my Invidia. Cheap, flanges are so beefy they'll never warp, flat flange made easy to mate w/ my Trust PE Ti-R, fitment is great. what more could you ask for. If you're gonna get a downpipe just get whatever because in the end none of em are gonna be legal.

And as for smog just slap your stocker back on anytime you needa go.

 

If the thing looks stock enough from the top... than the smog tech has no reason to look under the car and investigate.
These guys ain't brain surgeons, and they aren't trying to do any more than the bare minimum to get through the day. If they don't feel like they HAVE to check everything out, they won't

 

When is the next time you have to smog your car?

 

I don't think the typical smog tech cares as long as you pass the sniffer. If you get sent to a ref you're out of luck with any downpipe.

 

I'm happy with my cobb downpipe and stock axleback. I didn't have any smog problems.

 

What kind of gains are you looking at with just installing a high-flo cat but maintaining the stock catback? Doesn't the catback defeat the purpose of having a high flow cat since the catback is restrictive?

How are you going to tune the car? Cobb AP map? Custom AP map?

 

This is true.