Hi, I'm looking into what to do with my car, but one of the major problems I'm having is finding things that will pass inspection. What do you guys do who have exhausts with no emissions or any other mods that don't normally pass inspection? Bribe? I'm in central virginia, and the inspection process isn't that hardcore, just a visual check for a cat, no smog sensors or anything. So what do you do? I'm wondering if I should go down the emissionsless path and pray, or go (slowly) down the legal way. Thanks guys.

~brian

 

Help? Anyone? Please?

 

Well, you could just replace all the performance stuff with the smog OEM stuff everytime you need to get a smogcheck (every 2 years in CA). Of course this is labor intensive and a real pita. Or you could pay a shop to do this but that's $$$. CA is realll strict about emissions so that's basically what you have to do here in order to pass smog.

 

Here they just do a visual check for a cat, I think. No smog sniffer or anything.

 

What about the SA's with no cat? I wonder if they would give a hassle about that?

 

In va, cars that are 25 years or older don't have to pass inspection. Aside from that, I don't think there are any other exemptions.

 

Here in Austin they (very surprisingly, though I'm sure it's coming soon) do not do emissions testing. I have the RB system (no cats). Last time I went to get it checked I went in with $50 in my pocket. I told em I need a test, 10 minutes later he pulled it around, said, "All done." $12 and I was out the door.

My car stinked of gas horribly, and I think he had it on the lift....no way he didn't know...so you just have to find the right shop. Ask around.

Right on.

 

if its just a visual then hollow the cat out. run a header, go all out if you want.

 

I've been talking with onepointone a lot tonight about exhaust stuff. I think I'm gonna get the $527 system from racingbeat, then get a shop to put a cat where the connecting pipe is. I'll probably hollow the cat out after I get the shop to put it in. Does hollowing out the cat give you much HP as opposed to if I had the system and all but didn't hollow out the cat? Thanks guys, I really appreciate all of your help/responses.

~brian

 

if your going to buy a new cat i wouldn't hollow it. Modern cats are pretty good for power, the gains would be mininal.

 

Ok, I won't hollow it then. Thx! With this setup, with the new cat and all, do you think I'd pass a smog test? (even though we don't require it here yet)

 

I smogged mine 2 days ago. Passed beautifully. RB header, Catco hi-flo, Rotary Performance muffler, rat's nest/ACV intact, timing to spec(Mazda's).

Find out what Va checks for and rebuild accordingly. After you pass, you can then "re"-rebuild.

jerij

 

here in NY i bribe someone only 60 bucks. A normal inspection is like 40 so it ain't so bad.

 

hey jerij: do you happen to have the numbers handy? NJ checks for NOx, CO2 and HC's, what were yours? I'm curious to see if it would pass here. thanks

 

Put the cat in. These things have improved ENORMOUSLY in 18 years.

B

 

take a old stock cat and cut out a stip on the top that is wider that the exuast pipe
take everything out and set the exuast pipe into the space you cut into the cat
weld the pecie you cut off back on and then weld the ends of the cat shell to the exuast pipe

should pass visual

 

HC = 1 LIMIT=220
CO = 0% LIMIT = 1.5%
NOX = NOT TESTED
CAT = PRESENT

jerij

 

Holy shnikeys, $40 in NY...how the hell is everyone advertising NYS Inspects for $10.00?

 

private inspection here can be as low as $30 and as high as $97. oh well, another perk of working at a gas station, i get it for free.