So im movin from wa to cali the end of this summer. Been switchin all my stuff from my old car to my new car. So that i can sell it before i go. I pulled out my exhaust which is. rb header to aero high flow cat to modded (extended) apexi n1 cat back. Was going to put this on the car i would be bringing to cali, but wanted some suggestions as to if it would pass emmisions ect. Not sure how many cali peeps have exhaust systems or what they might have and not too familiar with state laws other than they strict as hell. Just wanted some feedback as to wether or not i should put time into this or sell it with the car. Thanks alot~!

 

modifying anything after the cat is perfectly legal it just has to be under like 92 db or something like that. but a smog station doesn't check for sound level just visual and emissions.
so first things first if it has a header its gunna fail, and if the airtube isn't connected to the after market cat its gunna fail.

the muffler is o.k.

what most people do is keep it stock for the test and then you get 2 years to mess around with it all you want. that is unless you get your hood popped and get sent to a ref.

 

pay under table if you got the hook up... and then do what ever you want

 

Thats what I do. to be perfectly honest its not worth having a modified car in cali unless you have a smog hookup. changing from modified to stock is wack especially if you're heavily modified.

 

what do you mean pay under table? you meanin a buddy that does the smog stuff?

 

yes, I meanin a buddy that does smog stuff

 

keep it registered out of state as long as you can ... my word of advice.

 

ok in that case how long until i would have to register it in cali?

 

ok so what did you mean by hood popped too? is there something different than wa state laws?

 

Buy the complete RB Steetport system and just pay the smog fee (usually $150 or so, but that's every two years...$75 a year to drive your car the way you want).

Cops won't hassle you (from Glendale to Beverly Hills) and you'll make the most power out of a complete bolt up system.

 

oh so thats an option to huh? so the rb system within spec of the 90 db's? and as long as its under the db's you can pay a smog fee if it doesnt pass testing?

 

okay hold up dude if your car is registered out of state right now keep that way you won't have to smog...Or get an out of state P.O box and have your mail forwared to hear and you won't have to smog either...

 

the hood pop comment refers to the visual inspection that all california registered cars must complete. any aftermarket modifications are subject to inspection. some parts are required to have these nice special stickers called CARB (california air and resource board) stickers to prove that they are complient in CARB laws and standards.

Additionally, if you are pulled over by a police person they can have you pop your hood and if they feel the car is in violation in any way they will give you a ticket that orders you to have the car inspected by a state referee.

Save yourself the hassle and if you're pulled over, you're in town visiting a girlfriend.


legally, i believe, you are required to register your car in CA within 10 days of moving to the state (might be 30 - I forget).

 

there is a limit to how long you an drive a car in california with out of state registration. not sure how long though. you can only get away with it for an extended period of time if you have an out of state drivers license as well; or if you are in the service(these people move around alot so its common for out of state plates. but sooner or later you'll need the cali drivers license for the change of address and when you finally have a cali drivers license and out of state plates its gunna catch up to you and the first thing the cop is gunna say is "so why is your home adress in california but your vehicle not registered in california?" then you get fined for not having california reg. in the allotted time and you still have to get your car to pass with that exhaust that to be honest is not that hard to convert back to stock.

just get a smog done when you get here. either pay someone and keep the exhaust or ditch it and pass legally. delaying the inevitable just gets you in more trouble in the long run.

 

just so you know you can find all cali rules here.

www.dmv.ca.gov

 

wrong. a law passed a couple years ago that anything louder than stock is illegal

 

thats how wa is now too, used to specify the db's. Hmm well i would definently keep it out of state as long as possible, thanks for the weblink. So how many of you actually modded your car and not have problems with inspection?

 

if your smart and dont drive around racing and acting like a tool the only time you will have a problem is when smog is due.

 

yup

 

I thought that anything behind the Cat was fine as long as it didn't exceed 95Db measured 20" back at 8" off the ground?

 

nope the law changed

 

Wheres that at?

 

where is what?

 

if i were you, i would get a custom Pipe to exit out right behind the front wheel. Screw mufflers and catylic converters!

 

I'd like to see this law...

the '85 with SP and full RB exhaust has never turned a head. If you really need to....fab the stock reactor heat shield over the header. These days, most old 7's have blown rear mufflers anyway and are a bit noisy, and stock. Just motor reasonalby and you'll have no probs.