for people that can go two years bewteen inspections it might be ok, but isn't Cali every year?

 

No...CA is two years also.

 

I am not sure if that reply after mine was intended for me, anyway...
CA is every two years.
Ask any serious racer and LT's are always better, thats the bottom line. Whether its practical or modest for a particular situation is a different story. CA is hit hard with emissions. I would stick with shorties unless you are doing major mods (heads, cam, blower, etc).
I vouch for shorties all the way. Ive seen shorties support 500hp easily. Anything is better than stock manifolds.
LT's do affect bottom end and top end differently than do shorties.
Unfortunately in CA, if one gets pulled over and the cop has a legit reason to pop the hood, you're done. However, most cops (ive talked to them) dont know what to look for.
It comes down to preference and money.

 

I had the same problem, so i went with some MAC midlengths... they do not move the cat, and have been shown to be about as good as LT's... not as good, but ALOT better than shorties.... when i need to smog, i just use a emissions# from some edlebrocks and go to some small little smog shop that dont care...

and UNLESS the cops are doing some huge street racing sting, and are out to purposely get racers (and they usually only go after ricers who are in big groups racing), they wont check your engine... but if u live in a small town, the cops might out of boredom or complaints

 

The last reply made a lot of sense. I would have to agree with you. Cops do generally go after the idiots and large racing groups.

Not to sound to biased here, but generally domestics behave themselves better, respect the obvious power. Imports usually get busted more often. As said earlier, they start off slower so cops will go after them as they tend to have more illegal stuff done, just to keep up with us.

Anyway, I like that idea of borrowing a CARB #. I was talking to a smog shop and they told me any product that is approved is good. R & D has been done.
SLP's, MAC's, Hookers, BBK's are among the biggest names out there. The ones with a CARB # are even better.

How would one weld on a whole different CARB # without it looking funny? Usually they are "cast" within the pipe?
Daniel

 

SLP's 1-3/4" primary headers with Y-pipe. CARB approved. Best non LT imo.

 

So are the Mac mid's legal here in California? Are any mid's legal here?
I am undecided on what to do now after hearing everynoe's input, but it will probably not be shorty's b/c I would rather just spend the mony on headers once, and not have to buy another set later if I wanted more power.

 

The Macs are not legal in CA, unless that's changed in the last year or so...they had no EO # when I bought my SLP's. The Mac plug access is awesome though, so if you're going to go the borrowed # route, I'd definitely go with the Mac's, otherwise the SLP single cat 1-3/4" are the way to go IMHO.

 

Here ya go Bubba, page #5.

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf

 

z28marine or anyone else who does this: how exactly does one go about borrowing an emissions #?
Ps. thanks for all the help everyone

 

I'd recommend the PM route on this...you never know who's watching!

 

True! didn't think about that ; ill send a PM.

 

Good suggestion.

 

Thank you Aaik.

 

Anaik: since this is a Fedral regulation, doesn't that mean that no one in ANY state can install or have installed Long Tube headers, since they would have to relocate the Cats. Likewise, since it is against Fed law to remove the cats or go with 1 cat (unless the aftermarket cat replaces (2) cats) these actions would also be inviolation of Fed law.

I assume that those who live in states where there are no inspections, that they too come under these regs and are, in fact, subject to the penalties if by some horrible event they are caught?

So I guess the bottom line is install LTs, or remove cats, etc., at your own peril.