Can anyone give a definite answer on what the law is around catalytic converters.

I would like to go with long tube headers and an x-pipe. But how does this work for a daily driver?

Does the state require emissions tests when a car hits a certain age? I did a 3 year lease on my 2002 stang and never had to have it tested.

They say that driving with an "off road" exhaust pipe is illegal. But if the car is never tested, how would they know?

 

In August 1986, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new proposed guidelines for the construction, efficiency and installation of aftermarket converters. The EPA guidelines state that replacement converters may be installed only in the following situations:

1. The vehicle is missing a converter.

2. A state or local inspection program has determined that the existing converter needs replacement.

3. The vehicle is more than five years old or has more than 50,000 miles and a legitimate need for replacement has been established and documented.

 

For the most part, yes running w/ no cats is illegal. However, in places such as SC where I live there are not emissions testings and they aren't extremely strict about exhaust. So driving w/ no cats isn't as big of an issue. However other states with emissions testings, if you test without the cats then you will fail. I'm not exactly sure what the specific MI state laws on emissions are, so you might want to check up on that first.

 

I would have to agree, if you live in a state that inspects your car, you will get caught every time, the catyltic converter cleans up the emissions a lot. But if you live in a state that doesn't inspect, and you don't care much about the environment then take them off. I would just be nervous every time I took it in for work, worried that it would be noticed.

 

Well, I had my 2002 mustang for 3 years and it was never tested for emissions.

I wonder if there is a law that you have to test once a car gets to be a certain age?

I had an 86 Mustang back in the day and it required emissions testings in the early 90's......

 

It varies from state to state, for example Florida doesn't do inspections. I think Texas does them every year once the car gets to a certain age.

 

if you've never had an emission test on your vehicles that you've owned in the past, then you have no worrys
I live in GA, only a few Cities (metropoiltans) have yearly emission tests.
If you live in these areas, all you do is put your stock h-pipe w/ cats back on the vehicle for the test and replace w/ the off-road h-pipe right after.

 

Check the web for your state dept of environmental quality. They'll have all the answers.