Workable smog test strategy?
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Workable smog test strategy?
I'm going to mod my Legacy GT but don't want to have to swap parts off and on every two years to pass smog. What I plan on is an AVO 380 turbo, catless UP, shorty catless DP, and TGV deletes. This will leave the OEM exhaust from the exhaust tips to the front cat and intake/filter in place.
What I plan to do is leave the OEM turbo heat shield in place making it difficult to see that the turbo is aftermarket. With the car on the ground it will be hard to see the UP and shorty DP. I will gut the TGV solenoids and install the covers and connect the wiring harness.
Will this likely pass visual inspection or am I dreaming?
What about if I get the Perrin stealth (black) TMIC?
If I have to install the catted DP every two years to pass the sniffer, it's not a big deal, but if I have pull everything off every two years it's going to be a pain. Of course then I could justify getting a FMIC since I'll have to swap the rest anyway.
What is your strategy?
What I plan to do is leave the OEM turbo heat shield in place making it difficult to see that the turbo is aftermarket. With the car on the ground it will be hard to see the UP and shorty DP. I will gut the TGV solenoids and install the covers and connect the wiring harness.
Will this likely pass visual inspection or am I dreaming?
What about if I get the Perrin stealth (black) TMIC?
If I have to install the catted DP every two years to pass the sniffer, it's not a big deal, but if I have pull everything off every two years it's going to be a pain. Of course then I could justify getting a FMIC since I'll have to swap the rest anyway.
What is your strategy?
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That's not true... it could pass the sniffer with just the rear cat as long as the car was fully warmed up. The main issue would be the visual inspection and how picky the tech is. I think the shorty DP would be the toughest thing to hide.
-- Ed
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It all comes down to how picky the smog tech is, from what I understand, a heavily modified car will pass the sniffer test with the stock down pipe, its the visual that usually gets us to fail.
Did you end up getting a catted down pipe with your new exhaust or did you just go with the cat back?
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I'm shocked! You guys passed the visual with the FMICs and everything installed? It just seems to me all those shiny tubes running all over the engine compartment to and from the front bumper scream AFTERMARKET. You didn't disguise the pipes by painting them black or putting Subaru stickers all over them? Maybe I can get away with a FMIC too.
Last edited by scottj; Mar 31, 2010 at 02:32 PM.
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From: san mateo
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I'm shocked! You guys passed the visual with the FMICs and everything installed? It just seems to me all those shiny tubes running all over the engine compartment to and from the front bumper scream AFTERMARKET. You didn't disguise the pipes by painting them black or putting Subaru stickers all over them? Maybe I can get away with a FMIC too.
FMIC, TMIC - doesn't matter according to BAR and CARB. The language can be summarized by saying that if the car came with an intercooler, any other intercooler may be used. That said, the intakes and vent-to-atmosphere blowoff valves typically associated with a FMIC are more likely culprits in failing the visual check.
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I forgot about the engine cover, maybe since it didn't come with one. I better find one.
I thought you couldn't touch anything after the air filter and before the last cat unless it has a CARB sticker?
I thought you couldn't touch anything after the air filter and before the last cat unless it has a CARB sticker?
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From: san mateo
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i have an engine cover you can borrow to pass smog.
Your best bet is to resort back to TMIC and OEM intake for smog w/ the engine cover, then simply re-install FMIC piping. Took me about 30 minutes to re-install my FMIC piping after I passed smog w/ the OEM TMIC setup
Your best bet is to resort back to TMIC and OEM intake for smog w/ the engine cover, then simply re-install FMIC piping. Took me about 30 minutes to re-install my FMIC piping after I passed smog w/ the OEM TMIC setup
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