I have done some searches on this, but I have come across some conficting responses.

I live in New Jersey, and Emmisions are an issue to me.

What type of Headers are legal?

I have a cat back on my car, with the Cat still on it (hooker, with the Hooker muffler).

Are shorties legal? Are mid-legnths legal? Are long tubes legal?

(also, how do you figure out if they are long tubes, shorties etc)

Thanks!

Todd

 

You will get more responses than this but shorties should be legal and if i believe right there are some type of mids that are legal but u can't get long tubes b/c of how it will move the cat. It will also tell you when you order them what kind they are

 

MAC headers are mid-length and should be emmision friendly. Order two sets, install yours, then come here and install a set for me.

 

Since you're in Jersey, go on over to SLP and get a set of their midlengths. Some call them shorties, but I call the midlengths because of the single catalytic converter design. Since the single cat cars(93-95) have the converter placed further away from the motor it allows the headers to have longer primaries. Still not as long as "long tubes" but a good bit longer than "shorties". SLP's are emmissions legal, they have all the fittings for the AIR system and EGR, oxygen sensors etc. So do the Mac's and Edelbrocks. Each of these headers systems will come with a Ypipe, you can either re-use the stock catalytic converter, or put a straight pipe in place(not legal). You will need to have an exhaust shop weld your new Ypipe to the catalytic converter or straight pipe. In many cases they will need to remove the catalytic converter from the factory Ypipe. That just gives you an excuse to drive the car open headers after the install to the exhaust shop to have them weld it up

 

The average NJ "state" inspection station - operated by the incredibly dishonest Parsons Corporation - will not likely look, and will probably not pick up the fact that you have headers, as long as you have the cat and pass emissions. If you have headers that are CARB-EO certified, you can run them with no problems. If they are not certified, you are taking a chance.

The typical "private" station will assure that you have a cat, but will likely not have sufficient info to know if you have a legal system of not, and will most likely pass you.

The big problem is the "DMV mobile inspection station" that they park on the roadside, pull over cars at random, and subject them to a full rolling emissions and visual inspection, ON THE SPOT. The people running these mobile inspection stations are equipped with sufficient resources to know if your exhaust is totally legal or not.

If the station that inspected your car is found to have passed it illegally, the owner of the station is liable for a $10,000 fine and 6 months in prison.

I no longer drive my car on the street, because of the really crappy laws.