355 Smog Scenario for CA

My experience is limited, however, the pass/fail comes down to 3 points: (1) are the headers CA BAR legal (check with Fabspeed); (2) the smog inspection; and (3) the test results.

(1) if the headers have the sticker, then no issues, everything should be fine assuming your car is in tune, etc.

(2) Even if there is no CA BAR approval, it is possible, in fact very likely, that an inspector will not know the difference between stock and Fabspeed on a visual. You can either try a very experienced 355 inspector, who isn't going to ding you OR someone who hasn't much of a clue between stock and Fabspeed. As I consider the new Fabspeed 348 headers, this is a concern for me.

(3) If the car passes the sniff tests you might be home free regardless.

I think the best plan is to check with your nearest and best independent garage for their recommendation. They can send you to someone who has expereince and isn't going to ding yo for the upgrade if there is no BAR sticker.

 

I'm in the midst of this now (and in CA). Did it have the same set-up last time it passed smog? This will make a difference in assessing whether or not you might be looking at issues this time around. If the cats are aftermarket you may have to do some workarounds, which sometimes might involve having to re-install OEM cats for the test itself.

Also, you might want to invest in an inexpensive OBD2 reader and run a monitor check during the drive cycle to make sure the 355 is test-ready.

ketel

 

One thing to remember is some headers will dissipate lots of heat before it gets to the cat causing it not to heat up enough. This is where the stock insulated ones look good especially with the recent price drop. 15 years for headers is a record for me

 

Is say its doubtful that your Hyperflows will pass.

I was running Hyperflows on my 348 and it wouldn't pass emissions last year.

Switched to stock cats and it passed.

They have tightened up emissions and the Hyperflows were not "strong" enough.

Kai

 

New star testing is in place. The claim is these techs are smarter and taught to spot non OEM. Everything must have a carb eo numer or it is instant fail period. Of the tech let's it slide due to ignorance well you got lucky. Then you have to pass the tests. That is it. A stock car passes easy. Cool thing about 355/48 headers to mufflers can be swapped engine in right in your garage to stock and back in a few hours. There is no aftermarket ferrai stuff with eo numbers to my knowledge.

 

I went thru this with my 355. Fabspeed headers, Hyperflow cats and Tubi muffler. The original tech got hung up on not being able to find the CARB number on the cats but paid no attention to the headers or muffler. I'm pretty sure he didn't know what to look for. I then went to another shop that was really only interested that everything that was supposed to be installed was indeed there and it blew clean. Every city seems to have a place that looks the other was on these things as long as the car blows clean and passes the test on its own. I think it's just a matter of finding the "right" shop in your area.

 

I went through this a few months ago with my 355. The new CA law is the cats have to be OEM. If the factory numbers aren't present they won't even smog it. I had to find a set of factory cats to install. Headers and exhaust don't matter, only the factory cats.
Good luck, CA smog isn't easy to pass. But you'll have a blast once it does

 

Wow, I am glad that I don't live in CA. In IL, all non OBD-II cars are exempt from emission testing, and to pass an emission test all you have to do is have a readiness code established, no check engine light, and the check engine light comes on with the ignition on. Plus a gas cap check.

 

Man. Glad I don't live in CA any longer. The roads north of Atlanta about an hour are better driving roads anyway Tail of the dragon anyone. Amazing road.

 

It was in the mid 70's today and the weekend and all next week looks to be in the 80's. We may have some issues to deal with but we can drive them year round with some beautiful coastal, mountain and canyon roads all within 30 minutes of my house.

 

Fair enough, absolutely can't beat the weather.

 

Yes did that on a bike, way to crowded and slow. Think I saw 100+ cops also

 

Peter I have not used my heat at all this year, very strange for us.

 

If the CEL came on, you will need to do teh normal drive cycle. If not, you should be good.

 

To the OP:

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a feature on their website that allows you to search the Exemption Order (EO) database for the exemption order numbers that have been issued to approved aftermarket devices.

Hypothetically, if I were a person with a set of aftermarket catalytic converters, and I was concerned about whether these aftermarket converters had been issued an EO number to make them CARB legal, I could search the database for all EO numbers issued to Car Sound Exhausts Inc, dba Magnaflow. PM me for the rest of the details if this is truly an issue affecting your car.

 

Seems unusually warm this year. Been using the fireplaces but really only for atmosphere.

 

Upon purchase, I was required to smog my 99 355 spider and it passed. I run stock exhaust manifolds (soon to be replaced), hyperflow cats and a Tubi.

When considering the options available for exhaust manifolds, I gave my shop a call and asked what their experience has been with Fabspeed replacements. I was informed that they have replaced headers with non oem and have not run into difficulty so far. I would recommend contacting the shop you do business with and ask the question.

As far as the cats are concerned, I passed, but with the implementation of CA's star system, I don't know what we will face in the future. Suffice to say, I'll bet we see a larger number of these posts as the system is further implemented.

 

I think I have the card somewhere also, heck maybe I got it from you

 

Wow awesome if cali Nazis allow Hf. New rules got real strict on non OEM cats.

 

Seriously, though, if there are a set of OEM cats and exhausts out there "loose" please let me know. I may need to, ahem, "borrow" them soon. Given all the CA 355 drivers and the tightening CA smog restrictions around aftermarket (and the number of 355 owners doing almost exclusively aftermarket cats, headers and exhausts) there is demand for a set of stock cats and exhausts that can be, umm, "shared" among us CA guys come smog time so we can, umm, make the appropriate adjustments to stock. We can think of it like the holiday fruitcakes that keep getting re-gifted every Christmas but never eaten. They just make the rounds.

And if there are no OEM cats and mufflers out there it would also be worth us passing the hat and buying a set or two just to have a set sitting somewhere that can be sent out to everyone facing this problem.

There, I've said too much already.

ketel

 

OBD I is different than OBD II. Makes you '95 355 guys look a little smarter right now, eh? As for the inspection and replacement cats, you will not have an issue if your replacements look like stock. No one is going to crawl under the car and check BAR numbers is they look like what came wit the car. Mine were done by gothspeed and you cannot distinguish them from original except they are in better shape. Also, one could take the original ones and replace the interiors with more modern 300-cell metallic core versions and you would be good to go so long as they passed the sniffers.

To me the larger question is not so much cats as it is headers. If I purchase after market headers, I am surely keeping the stock ones to smog tests. However, you may run into a tech who doesn't know or care to acknowledge the difference so long as they read correctly. Again, I would check with your independent garage for recommendations.

 

Just put the stock heat shields on the new headers and show them the ansa markings. Fwiw, I have the stock cats for my car collecting dust on a shelf if anyone is in a bind and needs to borrow a set.