Exhaust -- "Off road use only" Er?
01-28-2004, 06:29 PM
#1
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Exhaust -- "Off road use only" Er?
First off.. yeah, I'm clueless. What I know about cars would take mere moments to retell.
One thing I do know... More air in + more air out = good.
So, one of my first desires for my 04 WRX is new intake, and a new exhaust. I've spent some time researching, and reading uppipe, downpipe, turboback, catback, oh my...
One thing that I see very often is:
"Off road use only --- May not be street legal."
This is my daily driver, not a track car... What I'm wondering is what the criteria is for whether or not it's street legal (california, land of treehuggers), and maybe some recommendations on street legal mods..
I don't much relish the thought of Mr CHP impounding my car..
Anyhow, I appreciate any advice you have (Unless it's "**** off n00b"..)
One thing I do know... More air in + more air out = good.
So, one of my first desires for my 04 WRX is new intake, and a new exhaust. I've spent some time researching, and reading uppipe, downpipe, turboback, catback, oh my...
One thing that I see very often is:
"Off road use only --- May not be street legal."
This is my daily driver, not a track car... What I'm wondering is what the criteria is for whether or not it's street legal (california, land of treehuggers), and maybe some recommendations on street legal mods..
I don't much relish the thought of Mr CHP impounding my car..
Anyhow, I appreciate any advice you have (Unless it's "**** off n00b"..)
01-28-2004, 06:57 PM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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Car Info: WR Blue WRX
In california (and many other states) it is illegal to mess with any emission stuff so all of those uppipe/downpipe/ midpipes that say offroad use only because they remove the catalyic converter.
Many of the guys on here (including myself) run catless uppipe/downpipes etc. if you get caught you can be in trouble.
check out this site: http://www.mattrandolph.com/wrx.htm and look the turbo back with stock cats.
Many of the guys on here (including myself) run catless uppipe/downpipes etc. if you get caught you can be in trouble.
check out this site: http://www.mattrandolph.com/wrx.htm and look the turbo back with stock cats.
01-28-2004, 07:34 PM
#3
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The only legal mod here in CA is a catback exhaust, and all of those are legal. Avoid intakes, that's the first thing they will be looking for if they pop the hood. If you have a stock intake, stock BOV, and stock intercooler, they won't look any farther except to check for cats. If you have an exhaust with a highflow cat near the downpipe flange, you can show it to him. Most CHP don't know or don't care that replacing your cat is illegal, as long as you have one there. If you are concerned about getting inspected by CHP, limit yourself to an uppipe (they can't see it) a catback and black IC hoses. I got cited for having a GanzFlow intake on my RS in spite of the fact it has ZERO impact on emissions, but he didn't notice my Borla headers, which DO hurt emissions.
01-28-2004, 11:55 PM
#6
Re: Exhaust -- "Off road use only" Er?
Originally posted by Nephelim
One thing I do know... More air in + more air out = good.
One thing I do know... More air in + more air out = good.
thats where engine management,fuel system,and ignition comes in.
catback is legal if its below 95db.
but cops can write you a ticket if it annoys them even when exhaust is under 95db.
In that case you gotta go to court and prove that you are legal and thats a whole big waste of time.
so.. yea catback is good
01-29-2004, 12:45 AM
#8
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Originally posted by qwk_wrx
you can get an turbo xs stealth back which is a turbo back that uses the stock rear exhaust section so you get power gains but you won't get hassled by CHP....
you can get an turbo xs stealth back which is a turbo back that uses the stock rear exhaust section so you get power gains but you won't get hassled by CHP....
01-29-2004, 08:27 AM
#9
Try Xcceleration.com. They have a two cat high flow tbe. This should be no problem for visual inspection. No luck for the up pipe. Some i have heard say to gut it. I think if your going through all that trouble though, just put an aftermarket one on and take your chances.
01-29-2004, 10:39 AM
#11
yah i toss the stock stuff back on, and sense we don't have to go on the dyno we can keep the upgraded turbo and injectors in....
Hey BAN SUV's do they really check for a cat behind the heat sheild....???
or do they see the heatsheild and belive it is stock??
Hey BAN SUV's do they really check for a cat behind the heat sheild....???
or do they see the heatsheild and belive it is stock??
01-29-2004, 12:00 PM
#12
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Originally posted by Nephelim
I appreciate the responses, guys.
Now I just need to decide how much of a chance I want to take, if any.
Those of you who swapped out emissions equipment.. How do you pass the occasional smog checks? Do you throw the stock gear back on?
I appreciate the responses, guys.
Now I just need to decide how much of a chance I want to take, if any.
Those of you who swapped out emissions equipment.. How do you pass the occasional smog checks? Do you throw the stock gear back on?
Another SF area guy just passed the CA smog sniffer test with ONLY a high-flow cat (MRT). The post is somewhere in the BAIC on Nabisco.
01-29-2004, 12:05 PM
#13
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Wow I'm glad I live where i live. They don't check for any of that stuff. A Texas State Inspection just checks to make sure the car is in good running order. And the town I'm in does not really have any emissions requirements, if they do, they're not enforced. So i'll be running my downpipe with not much of a worry.
01-29-2004, 04:30 PM
#14
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Originally posted by qwk_wrx
Hey BAN SUV's do they really check for a cat behind the heat sheild....???
or do they see the heatsheild and belive it is stock??
Hey BAN SUV's do they really check for a cat behind the heat sheild....???
or do they see the heatsheild and belive it is stock??
01-29-2004, 10:06 PM
#15
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Nephelim - Hey if you get daring, a great exhaust sytem to go with is the new Stromung 3in Turbo Back Dual Tip. It has a High flow catpipe that comes after the Downpipe and gives you the Dual Tip look so it doesn't LOOK funny to the untrained eye. Mmm they also build them in Cally and have to deal with that stuff all the time so they tried to make their exhausts more suitable to the Cally inspectors!! 
If you are interested in one of these Turbo Backs or if you just want to go with one of the Dual Tip Cat Backs then let me know!! Check out my thread in the Vendor Classified section.
Just a heads up to anyone interested in getting a Stromung, I am going to be running a little sale for the month of Feb to save a little green!! Keep it on the Down Low!!
It must suck to live in Cally and have to go throw all of those inspections....in Alabama they don't inspect you unless you have a horse trailer hooked up to your car...LMAO.
Let me know if I can help!
Thanks,
Brian
Flash N Dash Performance
autransam@earthlink.net
If you are interested in one of these Turbo Backs or if you just want to go with one of the Dual Tip Cat Backs then let me know!! Check out my thread in the Vendor Classified section. Just a heads up to anyone interested in getting a Stromung, I am going to be running a little sale for the month of Feb to save a little green!!
Keep it on the Down Low!!It must suck to live in Cally and have to go throw all of those inspections....in Alabama they don't inspect you unless you have a horse trailer hooked up to your car...LMAO.
Let me know if I can help!
Thanks,
Brian
Flash N Dash Performance
autransam@earthlink.net