figowitz

Ok, I wanna break the law. I would like to remove my perfectly functional cats and go with a new exhaust. Now I'm not looking to remove all the cats... I don't have a need for extreem performance... but that uppipe has got to go. Just want a little more flow.

Anyway, I'm handy with a car, but mostly lazy... so I was thinking of getting a shop to install the exhaust. Then I'm thinking I sould do my own work just so I know how to put the stock pipes back when my 2 year emisssions inspection rolls around.

I would like some feedback regarding everyone's exhaust setup vs. emission tests. Can I get away with an uppipe swap... keepin the rest of my cats and pass? Should I not mess around at all and return parts to stock for the test?

help

Calcartman

as long as you dont live in comiefornia and dont have to deal w/ CARB you can replace the full exhaust thing and get a high flow cat (i think). But as for removing it entirely im not sure how you'll do on emissions.

X1_SRT

technically its illegal to replace any working converter.
something like the upipes not a big deal if you only have a visual insp., like here in maine, b/c you can't see it anyway. but as for emissions, i dunno.

-PJ

figowitz

good... good... lets keep this one going...

I'm in Maryland... 2 year inspections... medium strict.

X1_SRT

so with this 2 year insp. do they hook something to your tail pipe and measure emissions? maine tried an emissions testing program once, but fell apart within 6 months. theres still too many cars and trucks that are excempt up here!! but we do have an annual insp. (headlights, tires, seat belts, rust, exhaust leaks, that kinda thing).

-PJ

figowitz

Maryland inspection is only emissions... every 2 years. Generally some combination of plugging into your OBD, dyno, exhaust sniffer, and mirror on a stick(to check for cats.) Things change every-so-often, so I don't know how up to date I am on things. Also, with AWD, it you might get lucky with an easy check. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of a min wage state employee running my car on the AWD dyno... just makes me nervous.

figowitz

I just thought of something.... what about a stock STi exhaust... either 04 or pre-04 JDM? Am I protecting my environment then? I'm talkin the whole shebang... headers and all. Or should I just light my wallet on fire?

X1_SRT

buy the whole sti system, and then you won't have to worry about lighting your wallet on fire... cause there won't be anything left to burn!

-PJ

BigSteve

If it is just a visual inspection you can go getto and gut the cats, cut it in half, but and exhaust system, then slap the two pieces back onto the aftermarket exhaust. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. Depends on how lazy the worker is.

figowitz

moved... sorry.. don't know where to post such a question... more of a mod/emmissions based thing... hmm

figowitz

need more info... keep em coming.