I'm thinking about getting some headers ASAP. I just want to know what you guys think...........Mac mid length or hooker shorties? I live in Cali so emissions is really STRICK . Anyways any other headers out there gives pretty good performance besides LT's that will pass emissions????

02 sims Hmmm.....do I need to Install 02 also when I Install headers? what is the purpose of 02's???

T I A

 

I think the only headers that are legal in cali are shorties, which are pretty much useless for what you spend. I would either go with teh MAC's or LT if you can. You will see similar gains with both but when you start to get to internal work the LT will win out.

02 sims are used to trick your computer to believing you still have cats on the car.

Mark

 

so if i take my cats off and put on o2 sims then i will be able to pass inspection???

 

No ... sims replace the rear O2s and keep the PCM from throwing a code ... the cats are still not there and you won't pass a sniffer test, much less a visual.

You can run LTs - or any header fo that matter - with cats and you won't need 02 sims ... but do to the cat location the cats may not run as hot as stock. You may still see rear O2 codes and want to put sims in anyway ... In some states and sometimes you can still pass a sniffer in this configuration and depending upon the comptenancy/lienency of the inspecter a visual.

 

If i go with Mac mid-length, would i be able to pass emissions??
How much power would I gain from it and is it a waste of money??

 

Technically no ... only the shorties have a CARB # and can pass a visual.

Depending upon what other mods you have done to the engine you may still pass a sniffer. But it depends upon the compentency/leinency of the tester on wether you will get by with anything other than stock or CARB - read shorties here - approved headers ... heck if you can find a shop where they are too lazy to bend over and look under the car, I've seen people pass in California with LTs.

But I've also seen shops that will fail you on the visual for a lid, since technically anything done to the intake has to be CARB approved and none of the lids are.