legally only the stock stuff should pass

 

Use your stock down/mid pipe cats.

I have a hybrid 2.5L shortblock on 2.0L heads with a custom stage 2 map for catless. threw on my boy's sti stocker dp/mid cats and smogged it with out touching the tune.

Flying colors.

 

Hks makes a catted downpipe but in jdm length only.

As for aftermarket performance hi flow cats, they are not subject to the rules and regulations that stock cats have, so they won't last as long in terms of keeping the pollutants clean. Aftermarket Hi flow cats probably have half the life expectancy of a stock cat which is designed to last at least 10 years.

 

my brother just passed catless.......

 

That's impressive... would love to see the measured numbers (HC, CO, NO). I'm assuming the ecu has been tuned? What sort of tune, any other mods .. turbo, headers, etc?

As I said early on, this isn't about what would be CA smog "legal" (or would be likely to pass the visual check), just what would meet the numbers during a smog test, with the ecu in closed-loop mode.

 

I have a catted TiTek downpipe on my car. I want to know if it'll pass smog as well. Me and my friend were just talking about this last night. He wants to know if he should go stage 2 without having to deal with failing a smog check (and without swapping stuff out before and after the smog).

So I came up with this idea... Maybe a few guys can chip in for me to get a non-test only smog check (my state required one isn't due until 2010) and I'll post results on how the catted Titek DP do.

Anyone know how much a regular smog check would cost?

 

catless perrin dp 04 sti up pipe, tuned from vishnu like 4 years ago lol

 

Crazy... I wish the Cobb AP would have a 'Smog Check' map. LOL

 

"pre-test" is usually like $25-30. however, I've been told that there's two different pre-test modes... one is a "full manual" mode, while the other sends data to DMV (though, supposedly, it shouldn't matter).

I'd stop by a corner station when they're not busy at all, e.g. 2pm on a wednesday, and see if the guy there will take $20 to hook up the gas analyzer, take some readings, and write them down for you. since he doesn't have to put the car on the dyno or strap it down, and there's no DMV certificate fee, it's basically free beer money for him, slightly more effort than pulling ECU check-engine codes...

(CA smog check is expensive, these days, because of the dyno-loading. Since our cars are AWD, it'd require a 4-wheel dyno. Rather than making smog shops spend even more on 4-wheel dyno's, or making AWD cars go to specially equipped shops, they're exempt from the new-style dyno test.)
theoretically, any map should be within reason, assuming it's a decent tune. you should only see significantly increased emissions (resulting from the tune) under acceleration, or open-loop operation. similarly, since the engine is under near 0 load (in neutral), emissions are further reduced.

emissions will be slightly increased, because the Cobb/etc. map will be tuned for better fuel economy. running a richer AFR reduces certain emissions; some of the power gains are found in leaning out the mixture, at the expense of increased emissions.

in general, though, I wouldn't expect any of Cobb's off-the-shelf maps to be what causes you to cross the line. an aggressive dyno tune that's aiming to be as lean as possible might, but off-the-shelf maps will be more conservative, to avoid risk of engine knock. especially Cobb's CA91 maps.

 

Bing!

 

Please read the first post in this thread, where it's clearly stated that this is NOT about what would be CARB legal or CA legal, but rather, about what configurations would meet the CA numbers.

I ignored this the first time, but quoting it? Do you feel that compelled to re-state the obvious?

/rant

 

So let me get this straight no cats and a really decent tune will pass ya? Sounds like a hit or miss. Well good luck to the OP.

 

Just got an 02 bugeye wagon and Im a suby newby (as far as working on them) but it seems like if you had the tools it would be easiest to to get a full turbo back exhaust system, keep your stock setup in your garage and just bolt the stock setup to your car when you take it to get smoged.

 

Indeed. My plan exactly. As long as you have the storage space, the best idea.

 

I had a wrx wagon that had a TXS signature series TBE with a HFC. The HFC had about 90k on it when I smogged it, but I had just changed the oil, plugs and filter. After warming up the car, I took it for the inspection and convinced the guy the setup was factor.

He smogged the car, I passed the emissions part, but failed because I had recently reset the ECU and it hadnt performed the diagnostic tests.