alright this is like my third post, sorry for being a nuisance

for illinois i am tested for emissions every two years. keeping this in mind what should i do here.....

buy a catted downpipe and catless uppipe (helix)

or

buy catted up/downpipes

...and keep in mind i'll have catback exhaust

 

How strict are the tests there in Ill.? Here in CA, we have to pass not only a sniff test, but also a visual inspection. You could pass the sniff and they will still fail you on the visual inspection if you have illegal gear.

Honestly, if you're going to buy an up-pipe, there's absolutely no reason to buy a catted one. The whole idea with getting a catless up-pipe is to improve airflow through the pipe and also to remove the cat, thus reducing the risk of the cat breaking up and going in to your turbo, which, trust me, would suck ***.

I guess you need to decide what you want to do. For me, I fail visual if I have aftermarket cats, and I fail visual if I have no cats (though I could potentially have my *** fined clean off if I get busted with all them cats missing), but I was previously catless because I was going to have to put stuff back to stock either way when it came time to smog. If you don't have the visual element and an aftermarket cat is legal in your state, to me, the 5hp or so isn't worth having a catless setup (in the turbo back exhaust) given all the work you'll go through to make yourself legal when it comes time to smog.

 

either way you're screwed. Both is illegal and a federal offence.

ywia

 

my plan is to go catless, but with a borla hush so I wont get pulled over for it, and I'll just pay some buddies with pizza or something to help me put it back to stock when its time to get smogged

 

is there a way to stay legal then, rather then change out my downpipe every two years? or would there be a slight possibility that i might pass with a catless uppipe and catted downpipe?

didn't know it was a federal offense.....makes me feel all delinquint and sheeeit

 

pretty much any mod that makes power will be illegal, except for maybe a catback.

But otherwise, removing or tampering with the stock cats in working condition is a federal offence. But most people don't care anyways. You're best bet is to swap out the exhaust back to stock when smog check rolls around.

 

As a mechanic in NY and a licensed New york state inspector we very rarely check for cats...unless the cars have to be lifted. I don't know how it is else where but if the car comes in just for inspection i don't lift the car.

I'm running a Helix catless downpipe with my stock catback...and she still sounds stock but with the power of a catless, i love it.

BTW if any of you downstate new yorkers need help with inspections and do not have a check engine light on...b/c with new testing, sniff test are no longer needed just and OBD II test
Let me know about your insp i will try to pass it, of course with a nominal fee

 

so then my best bet would just me to get a catless uppipe and catted down with catback (most likely borla hush) and hope they either look over it or dont care about it?

or should i just save some money and get catless everything. and just switch that dp out every now and then? by the way, is downpipe installation a pain, or is it not too bad?

 

just get whatever u feel like getting, but when smog check time rolls around, switch it back to stock to be on the safe side. You might pass with a high flow cat, but I wouldn't risk getting caught. Just my opinion.

 

just to let u know, getting a helix catless up/downpipe combo will run $450, or u can get the catted downpipe alone for $400... you decide.