Alright guys, try to stay with me in this short novel...

So getting pulled over the other day and receiving a ticket for my inspection being out has got my mustang mind ticking. My inspection is out because I don't have cats (currently have gutted stock H Pipe & straight pipes), and finding and switching in a catted setup is a major PIA. This combined with the strong possibility of me moving to California has me thinking I should bite the bullet and get a catted setup.

Well I absolutely love my no cats setup so going quiet is not what I really want. I'm no master mechanic so I need some help here. I'm thinking a perfect setup would be JBA LT's with a catted H and cut outs just before the cats. I know I would have clearance problems and I don't really care about that. My main question is will this setup do any kind of damage to my now stock engine (no tune or CAI). I've researched online and found many with a similar setup, but no discussions on possible engine damage, which is what I really care about (not performance gains and losses). I thought a member here had a similar setup with videos but I can't seem to find the thread.

Another concern I have is the Cali emissions laws (which I'm not very familiar with). Will this puppy have any trouble with cops and or these sensors I hear about on the roads?

Thoughts? Opinions? Am I crazy?

 

Find someone around you who can get you a sticker. Its just going to cost a little more.

But if you are going to end up in California, get that catted x.

 

The JBA H pipe and cutouts will not pass in California. Even high flow replacement non-oem cats will be a problem for you here. California only allows cat-back systems with factory cats.

2-1/2" Off-road H-pipe (shown)
6675SH*
2-1/2" H-pipe with cats
6675SHC*
3" Off-road H-pipe
6673SH* NEW
* For off-road use only.
Not legal on emission controlled vehicles.


http://www.jbaheaders.com/feature_pa...mustangnew.asp

 

depends on what kind of inspection you have.

you can pass MD emission test with no cats. as long as the computer says you're running clean through the OBD-ii port, then you pass the test.

 

CT does the same as MD with the obd-2 port. As long as all the systems are functioning then the car is passed. I replace my o/r x with a set of Magnaflow cats and custom H-pipe to pass in case they do a mirror check which is randomly done here as well.

 

What MD and CT do has no bearing on what the OP was asking. Tony is correct that only stock cats in their stock location are legal in CA. Some people run O/R pipes/hi flows and switch back for inspection. Some run LTs and do the same. Depends on how much you drive the car and how you drive it. Staying within the law everywhere else helps not to get pulled over but its still a risk. I love how my LTs, O/R pprochamber and Macs sound. But will probably put in some hi flows just to be a bit safer. As far as the emissions trucks go, the hi flows will pass the sensors but not the visual test. Its a crock that my car with hi flows and a good tune will have less emissions, better performance and fuel economy then it did stock but I could still get a huge fine for removing the stock cats. CA is whacked out like that.

 

he's in texas right now, which is why i offered the tip. nothing flies in california, but there may be hope in texas.

 

interesting, I had no idea an O/R setup could pass here in Texas. So your basically saying if the computer says everything is running properly, the setup would pass if there is no visual inspection? That is if they go through the OBD-2 port.... which I've never noticed what they do exactly.

 

California has the hardest emissions test to pass. My 2011 V-6 Mustang (100% stock)won't pass (according to the sticker on the inside of the hood) the emissions test in California.

I'm lucky, we don't have any kind of smog test in the town i live in.

 

They are supposed to be doing the visual check