What are california 355 owners doing when the exhaust manifolds go? Are the aftermarket headers street legal? Thanks Kenny
I get it... I have read the archives... I do know they fail... My question is simply for california residents- since we seem to have the most stringent smog policies in the nation. Can we legally change the oem units to aftermarket units and still pass smog?
Never had it come up. The good news is that with very few exceptions the smog stations don't even know what it is supposed to look like under the hood so they will not think to ask, as long as the air inj and cats are there. And the guys I know who know the diff don't care. I wouldn't worry about it.
IMO, this question has different levels to consider. If the aftermarket version is a quality part with the same features and functional components, I can't even envision what issue would ever even come up where the manufacturer/source of the header would need to be considered or researched from an "emissions" viewpoint. Having said that, I'd bet that (at the ultimate legal level) an aftermarket part supplier (for components affecting "emissions") must go thru some sort of approval process with a CA regulatory agency -- just my guess. If the aftermarket component has some functional differences -- this would be a concern to be looked into (even though IME, like others, the technician at the testing station doesn't have a clue). What is your project? Do you have some new source other the usual suspects (Tubi, QVL)?
You are correct, the header is considered by Ca law to be an emission part and as such any non OE needs to go through an approval/testing process to be allowed to be sold for installation on any over the road vehicle. But as you and I have both commented on, I can't believe anybody will notice. Plus the fact that particular issue is pretty far off the radar screen.
Thanks for the replies. I just know that many of the headers available come with disclaimers for California that say things like "only for off highway use" etc. I just worry because my mechanic has been telling me that the smog process will be changing soon...(how and what I am not sure of) Kenny
The process just underwent several very major changes and I am not aware of anything of signifigance on the horizon. All of my comments are taking the new changes into consideration.