CARB legal downpipe
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,301
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: http://kiva.org/invitedby/brett4254
Jesus - what a PITA I think I'll just run stock pipe for now.
There are rules stating that you can replace the cats with aftermarket ones, but it the original has to have "failed" and have more then 50K miles
There are rules stating that you can replace the cats with aftermarket ones, but it the original has to have "failed" and have more then 50K miles
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
My only catch is the exhaust, I can hide the fact its 3" pipe by using it all the way out (no change in size = not detectable) but what do to for a muffler. I was thinking just a stock STI one
Thought about that, played around with a spair shield I pulled from a junker. Too thin and would show the marks. When I ran it on the wheel I got a nice smooth look that with a little work was "stock" as can be.
also the tig weld is important so the joint/gasket wont fail down the road. I would more than likely wrap the whole pipe before I bolted on the shields to hide the bright polish.
also the tig weld is important so the joint/gasket wont fail down the road. I would more than likely wrap the whole pipe before I bolted on the shields to hide the bright polish.
its some crap pot metal
i tried polishing the stock turbo heat shield
it took an hour
VIP Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,351
From: pompous douchebag
Car Info: $200,000 sports car
you could possibly replace the flange on the OEM downpipe with a cast bellmouth, similar to the APS part, and still be legal.
but that's a lot of work to stick with the stock cat.
but that's a lot of work to stick with the stock cat.
VIP Member
iTrader: (17)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 22,776
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
The best I have come up with so far, is to run the perrin 2 piece downpipes, weld the 2 sections together (tig) then take the stock shields off the stock downpipes. Run them in a English wheel to stretch the metal out and make it fit the new 3" pipe and rivet them on.
The only way at that point anyone would know, is to rip the shields off.
The only way at that point anyone would know, is to rip the shields off.
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
The best I have come up with so far, is to run the perrin 2 piece downpipes, weld the 2 sections together (tig) then take the stock shields off the stock downpipes. Run them in a English wheel to stretch the metal out and make it fit the new 3" pipe and rivet them on.
The only way at that point anyone would know, is to rip the shields off.
The only way at that point anyone would know, is to rip the shields off.
If you have the skills to weld the 2 pieces together, english wheel the heat shields then why buy a manufactured exhaust set up? Just buy a couple hi flow cats and build your own.
The english wheel work is gonna be just as evident to a trained eye as a highly polished exhaust... and if you think they can't tell the difference between a 3 inch exhaust and the sock exhaust just because it is the same diameter all the way back then why cover it at all... they must be stupid. Right.
hell you can tell while you're driving behind the car if it's 3 inch or stock.
If you're gonna go through all the effort to weld up nice polished bits and try to cover them then I'd suggest building you're own TBE out of non polished stainless and use a stock(ish) can. That is the only true "stealth" exhaust.
Bottom line is these laws are gonna keep piling up as long as enthusiast keep letting them. And companies are not gonna pay for the process to make things CARB legal until we make them.
Look at the perrin piece. It's legal in all non carb states. Why would a company go through the extra effort when the part can be sold EVERYWHERE else.
More I hear this, more I don't like CARB. Why don't we just let snif test determine smog test and no visual? It may encourage more enthusiasts to buy exhaust pipe with high flow cat rather than going catless or external waste gates.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
Sounds like a waste of money to me.
If you have the skills to weld the 2 pieces together, english wheel the heat shields then why buy a manufactured exhaust set up? Just buy a couple hi flow cats and build your own.
The english wheel work is gonna be just as evident to a trained eye as a highly polished exhaust... and if you think they can't tell the difference between a 3 inch exhaust and the sock exhaust just because it is the same diameter all the way back then why cover it at all... they must be stupid. Right.
hell you can tell while you're driving behind the car if it's 3 inch or stock.
If you're gonna go through all the effort to weld up nice polished bits and try to cover them then I'd suggest building you're own TBE out of non polished stainless and use a stock(ish) can. That is the only true "stealth" exhaust.
Bottom line is these laws are gonna keep piling up as long as enthusiast keep letting them. And companies are not gonna pay for the process to make things CARB legal until we make them.
Look at the perrin piece. It's legal in all non carb states. Why would a company go through the extra effort when the part can be sold EVERYWHERE else.
If you have the skills to weld the 2 pieces together, english wheel the heat shields then why buy a manufactured exhaust set up? Just buy a couple hi flow cats and build your own.
The english wheel work is gonna be just as evident to a trained eye as a highly polished exhaust... and if you think they can't tell the difference between a 3 inch exhaust and the sock exhaust just because it is the same diameter all the way back then why cover it at all... they must be stupid. Right.
hell you can tell while you're driving behind the car if it's 3 inch or stock.
If you're gonna go through all the effort to weld up nice polished bits and try to cover them then I'd suggest building you're own TBE out of non polished stainless and use a stock(ish) can. That is the only true "stealth" exhaust.
Bottom line is these laws are gonna keep piling up as long as enthusiast keep letting them. And companies are not gonna pay for the process to make things CARB legal until we make them.
Look at the perrin piece. It's legal in all non carb states. Why would a company go through the extra effort when the part can be sold EVERYWHERE else.
now we can
but im trying to get it back to how it was
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
I have an empty iced mocha next to me... be nice if it was full.
Has nothing to do with that. it's just cold hard facts and logic.
California is trying to become **** germany minus the concentration camps... oh wait we're not to far off... seems every race and type has it's own "part of town" these days, even the gays.
Just saying man... if you've got a wheel and a tig and the skills... build your own TBE and save yourself the dough. While you're at it build me one.
Care to roll out some floor pans for me? My caddy needs some rust repair. Damn passenger side is all jacked up.
Has nothing to do with that. it's just cold hard facts and logic.
California is trying to become **** germany minus the concentration camps... oh wait we're not to far off... seems every race and type has it's own "part of town" these days, even the gays.
Just saying man... if you've got a wheel and a tig and the skills... build your own TBE and save yourself the dough. While you're at it build me one.
Care to roll out some floor pans for me? My caddy needs some rust repair. Damn passenger side is all jacked up.