1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Mazdatrix Gray Area Exhaust

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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 07:46 PM
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Mazdatrix Gray Area Exhaust

Anybody got it? How well does it cut the fumes? I'm trying to get my 83 (nest, smog, and emissions stripped) to pass an emissions test. They do hook up the hose and it is done by city employees so they won't listen to reason (money). Its got to happen or I will not be able to register it in dc, which means that I'd have to move it every two hours during the hours of 9 and 7, but only on the weekdays. Bout to release the monkeys in the district of columbia.
Suggestions?
glew
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 08:24 PM
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I'm not sure if its possible to pass emissions with headers and a cat. I think the stock exhaust manifold might have quite a bit to do with emissions.
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 08:43 PM
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thats poo-rific
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 08:54 PM
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Stock mani only affects emissions on the SAs. On the FBs, it quiets them down and restricts the exhaust more than anything else.
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 10:09 PM
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so, ye of many posts, what do you think? Think it could blow a passing emissions test without the 3 cat system?
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 10:12 PM
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bonez cat system... its what i just installed... still havent taken my car to smog yet.. u need an air pump which pumps air into the air control valve which lets air get flowed into this opening into the main cat so it can burn hotter and dillute the exhaust a little bit. good luck

theres other way to pass emissions... register in a non-emission county/state or pay someone to "pass" it for u
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 11:50 PM
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Headers and a good cat will pass the tailpipe sniff test just fine so long as all the smog gear is working right.SCC proved it years ago with an 83 that they fitted a RB header and Random Tech cat to.It put out only 5PPM of HC, down from nearly 2000PPM before with a blown cat and stock manifold.
Where the gray area comes into play is the visual inspection.In CA,all engine related mods have to be government approved to not affect smog output.Once approved,they are given an exemption number and a little tag or sticker.Getting this approval can help your product sell,but it also costs the manufacturer money to get the certification,so many do not bother. RB developed their headers long before the modern smog regs,so they never bothered to get them approved.If you pull into a smog station and the tech doesnt see a tag or exepmtion number for your header,youll fail the smog test before the car ever gets the probe put in the tailpipe.

Thats the sh*itty thing about the whole tree hugging,smog stopping,government run, mess of a system......they are more worried about proceedure and rules,than what actually comes out of peoples tailpipes.It shouldnt matter if I have a 900HP 20B with 3 turbos....if the sniffer says the tailpipe gasses are clean enough for my car's standards,then it should be LEGAL!!!!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:12 AM
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Here ya go, and if you dont pass you get double your money back!!!!



I took this with my camera phone I am super amazed on how good it came out.
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:14 AM
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20 bucks, for 50 cents worth of rubbing alcohol........

I guess you could splash some of that in the smog tech's face and he wont spot your illegal headers.....that might get you a pass!!!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:17 AM
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for reals???? i was interested.....
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:22 AM
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Nah, I dont think no additive is going to help a emissions free rotary pass. It was kinda of a joke. I saw it while getting lube, and thought thats a quick way to make a buck, becuase there is no way my Emissions Free, Full SP RB Exhuast having , Sterling Carb running Streetport 12a is gonna pass!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 01:32 AM
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but i have all emissions plus a new bonez cat, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, oil change before smog, oil filter, timing adjust before smog, acv which im not sure works (and if it doesnt work i just need the new cat to work long enough to get to the smog station and pass smog so i can get my car registered)... so it might have worked... and i might add some distilled (or whatever the right word was) alcohol to my gas tank... although i just seafoamed my car +(through a vacumm line) and i still have more than half a tank of gas with seafoam mixed in it.... i like the idea of double the money back too
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 08:06 AM
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I'll go ahead and repeat... In order to park in front of my house in washington dc (A) I have to register the car in washington dc (B). In order to register my car in washington dc (B) I have to pass dc emissions inspections (C). If (A) then (B). If (B) then (C). Therefore IF (A) THEN (C). So unless I want to leave my car somewhere else, where it is now, and not drive it, what I do now, I have to get it to pass inspection. Now, again, as I said before, to repeat myself, for a second time, these are city employees in a gigantic inspection station, and payoffs are not an option, like they are where buford bobby and his House o Gas are doing the "Certified" state inspections. So really, there no "other ways to pass emissions". So the general consensus is that I need my air pump to pass inspection, but I could have the gray area setup?
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 09:52 AM
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^^^ Damn dude sounds like your going to murder someone if you dont get and answer! ^^^
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 09:54 AM
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I know your not in PA but here if the car is made before 86, you dont need to worry about emissions!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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Man, way to rub it in! GOSH

You could put up a help thread in your local Regional fourm, or in the CA section. Im sure they could help you, as they have to pass smog.

So just to clear things up, there only ONE place that does emissions testing in the DC area?
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 11:57 AM
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yep just one place, its city run. I got a thread in the dc forum but most of the people there live in northern VA so they keep giving me info for VA. I actually have a VA inspection up to date as that is from whence I moved. I guess I'll have to go through and get the smog pump and refit some things. Or maybe Latin is right and I won;t have to worry about it cause its so old.
GOOGLE SEARCH here I come
glewis... OUT
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:08 PM
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even historics have ot pass an emissions test, but if I spend $725 on emissions alone and it still doesn't pass, they waive it.
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 01:09 PM
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Get some shop to make you a fake sales bill.

problem solved!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 01:24 PM
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do they do a visual check? or just test tailpipe emissions?


if its just tail pipe you'll pass easily with just a cheap generic cat. I flew through emissions testing here with header, cat & regular muffler. I built the cat to be removable so I can replace it with a resonator the rest of the year
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 10:05 PM
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I repeat.....
With a header and good cat,you can easily pass ANY tailpipe sniffer test so long as ALL your smog control gear is in working order.The only thing a header replaces on the FB,is the precats,which handle cold operation exhaust scrubbing.A single,modern 3 way main cat will clean you up no problem,so long as the engine is warmed up,and your ENTIRE air injection system is working properly.....

Whether or not you can pass a visual smog inspection with the gray area system depends completely on if the smog testing in your area actually includes a visual and/or functional component inspection as part of the entire test.If they are just sticking the probe in the pipe and checking output,you should be fine.
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 12:26 AM
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is a bonez cat three way? ah whatever i already put it in and gotta see if it passes smog
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 08:16 AM
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glew no likee "entire air injection system" line. Better find an air pump.
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 01:55 PM
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The Bonez cat will effectively replace all the stock cats.I have a friend who's stock 87 N/A passes fine with just the single Bonez main cat and the R.P. presilencer filling in for the precats (visually).

I install my stock precat on the turbo during smog time simply to keep the visual inspection guys happy.It might help me pass the sniffer test a little since I have a streetport,but Im sure the Bonez is doing most of the work.
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 02:01 PM
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like they said, if there is a visual or functionality test required in the emissions testing procedure you will most likely fail...especially since the air resource board seems to be moving from CA to EVERYWHERE.....stupid A.R.B. ...... i would suggest getting that air pump and maybe sticking the stock manifold back on if only just for the test. after you pass you can swap the setup again and be good for 2 years =)
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