is the O/R h pipe illegal in cali?

[DisposableHero]

i read that some of you have to put back the stock so to pass the smog tests.. whats up with that?

 

[01MustangGT]

i read that some of you have to put back the stock so to pass the smog tests.. whats up with that?

yes, it is illegal in CA. and u can't pass without the cat.
you will get a big fine if they find out u r running without cat

 

[squares98]

of course. Any aftermarket h/x pipe is illegeal(smog check). If smog is no concern the sound level of a catted h/x pipe should keep you out of trouble, But I would run a quiet exhaust like frpp or stock. Its going to be pretty loud.

 

[r281]

yes, it is illegal in CA. and u can't pass without the cat.
you will get a big fine if they find out u r running without cat

I think it's a $1,000.00 fine if they find out that you don't have cats.

That reminds me I need to put mine back on in a few months.

 

[Makalani_96GT]

I live in a really small town and I'm really loud right now only got pulled over once and he gave me a warning that when he saw me again I better have my exhaust quite. Too bad for him I don't give a crap and my car is licenced in another state. Cats suck! (waiting for my ticket)

 

[jimfitzgerald]

O/R X or H pipes are illegal for street use anywhere in the US. That's why they call them "off-road." It's a federal EPA law.

 

[mustang70]

Can't they impound your car in Cali if they pull you over and you don't have any cats?

 

[Makalani_96GT]

I'm sure that they could but I am taking the risk I don't mind

 

[Darkhorse845]

Yes, it's illegal! Don't risk it!

 

[Bill9000]

I compeltely agree, my next investment is an H-Pipe for my '97 GT - I am registered where there's no smog as well, and I could'nt completely care less about "the law" it's my car and I'll set it up the way I like, as soon as the government pays for it, then they can have a say in how it is.

But anyway, now that I gota that off my chest, my real question lies here:

I had a '02 GT with 2-chamber flowmasters (stock cats and all) and I was very disappointed with how quiet it still was, it had an awesome tone, but loud-wise it wasn't that muhc louder than stock, just a little.

My speculation is that all the cats that they put on these things are acting as mufflers, and that doesnt let the flow get to the flowmaster to sound ilke it should.

My question is here, I want to do the H-pipe, and ONE-chamber flowmasters to replace the stock mufflers, has anyone ever heard a setup like that, if so, what's it sound like? I am looking for "louder than most" and having that powerful flowmaster sound. I especially want to REALLY drown out those stupid hondas and neons running around my town with megaphone pipes (fart pipes as I call 'em).

Any advice would be appreciated.

thanks!

Bill

 

[bdcardinal]

there have been a few people pulled over for racing in LA county that get their car crushed. the police dont care if its a saleen or a 87 civic, the car gets crushed. yes any aftermarket midpipe is illegal in CA and if they come into my work we fail them. if you get pulled over and written up for modified emissions, you see a ref(my work) there is no paying off a ref or having hte ref "miss it". and if we fail you, you have to come back to a ref, we can call and you have to come back to a specific ref station so you cant confuse them.

 

[Makalani_96GT]

The cool thing about me is that even though I live in Cali I don't have to worry about going to get smoged. Cali sucks and I want my car to be set up how I want and if I get pulled over for exhaust noise I knew the risk. Haven't met a cop yet willing to get his pretty little hands and uniform dirty checking for cats on my car they just write the noise citation and wait to see me in court.

 

[arkansas mystic]

I am going to be statined in cali starting in january, and from what i have heard on here, im not going to chance it, im just going back with the stocker. I LOVE the sound of the o/r, and hate to lose it, but its not worth a ticket or maybe worse.