I'm going to buy some Pacesetter LTs within the next few weeks and I was hoping you guys could answer a question before I buy. I don't really understand the whole "AIR fitting or race style" choice. I live in Illinois and need to pass emissions. I am going to be installing on a 99 Z. I want to install with a Y-Pipe and loud mouth or magnaflow catback. What are the pros and cons of the race style vs. the AIR style? Can I pass emissions with both? What do I need to install these(O2 extensions, plugs, simulators)? I tried looking some of this up, but only picked up bits and pieces. Can anyone set me on the right track? Thanks.

 

I thought the mids & shorties were the only emission legal types. I believe you need to relocate the cat for LT's and that is illegal in most places.

 

If they do visual checks, long tubes will not pass b/c of the relocation of the cats. Im sure some places would let you get by though. As for the AIR fitting, you want this. The race style deletes all emissions fittings from the headers. I dont have to pass emissions, but I bought my set with all the emissions fittings so I can put it all back on later if I need to.

 

"Emissions" style vs. "Race" means they provide the fittings for the AIR pump and for EGR (if applicable, which it is for your '99) whereas "race" (or non-emissions) do not provide those fittings (they would then just be smooth pipes the entire length, with the exception of the O2 sensor fitting).

Unless you plan to delete AIR injection and the EGR valve, order "emissions" style headers. The location of the cats is another issue. They may not be located precisely where they were from the factory, but at least they are still on the car! (which in some cases, is all that's important ..... presence and function).

So assuming you want cats, then get a catted Y-pipe, the emissions style headers, a pair of at least 12" O2 extensions (possibly included with Pacesetter headers? ) and EITHER A) a pair of O2 simulators, OR B) have the computer programmed, and delete the rear O2's altogether (they are only there to measure the performance/efficiency of the cats).

 

IL does the plug in test on OBD-II vehicles so as long as there are no SES codes present and not too many "not ready" statuses in the PCM, you should pass regardless of what style you have.

 

Thanks for all the help. 2000GTP: Are you saying that as long as I have all the codes deleted from the computer, I can pass with either set? I do know that they never did a visual check the numerous times I got tested.

 

You can't have any codes present, if you delete them because of the lack of AIR or EGR systems, they will most definitely come back. In that case, you will have to have the PCM tuned accordinally. Also, keep in mind that each time you have something edited out of the PCM, it simply posts a "not ready" status and too many of these can cause you to fail your inspection also. I would have the AIR and EGR editted out of the PCM and put rear 02 simulators in place of the rear 02 sensors.