I was curious: the downpipe is illegal in CA due to the removal of the cat, right? Same with turbobacks, correct? So I how come I haven't heard much talk on the boards about those hi-flow catalytic converters a la Random Technology or those others brands with ads in the back of magazines like Sport Compact Car, etc? They're crappy, aren't they?
Also, are there downpipes or turbobacks that still have a cat in them, albeit a higher flowing one?
Thanks for the info. I hate living the automotive **** state known as CA.

 

yeah, it's illegal to remove a properly working stock catalytic converter. but since that's pretty much gonna happen anyway, the trick is to keep one cat. of course you're gonna toss your uppipe cat and the first one in your downpipe. that leaves you with cat #3 still intact. keep it or replace it with a better one. if you don't, a cop can impound your car. the problem then is finding a good downpipe that doesn't delete both cats. you have a few choices if you're looking for a bellmouth DP, turboXS being one of them. if you want a fully divorced wastegate, you've only got two choices: $hivnu or bosal. i've heard that both work very well.

 

Yow those penalties are pretty discouraging. Leave to big bro government to make a cheap buck offa car nuts haha. So is there any way possible to have a legal complete exhaust system (including uppipe and downpipe)? Or is that just a dream situation?
Thanks for the info guys.