I was interested in purchasing a set of long tube
headers with cats for my GTO. I have a question
about the NJ law on modifying or removing the
catalytic converter. I know this setup will pass
emmisions, however would it still be a street legal
car in NJ ? I heard that you cannot modify or move
the catalytic converters at all. Could you help me
on this. Thanks !!

 

It is against federal law to move or relocate the convertor. Now whether NJ enforces it... I don't know.
Terry

 

how much power do u lose through cats with long tubes on an ls1? o just purchased a set of pacesetters but am still deciding to go with cats or not.

 

just make friends with one of ur mechanic or somthing , but as long as u have catts most places wont even care

 

NJ has a mobile inspection, If your unlucky enough to be on the road where its being done and you have LT's, your screwed along w/ the shop that passed you...and believe me I see those mobile DMV vans ALL the time

You'll fail the visual because the cat was moved, shorties only in NJ...A ton of guys run LTs in jersey but thats a big chance there taking.

 

the converters (all emissions equipment as well), by federal law, cannot be moved, removed, or replaced, UNLESS they are required. if they were damaged or do not work, you may replace them with any suitable equivalent to that of the factory unit.

so, you can get aftermarket cats...you can have them put on the car, and you can get long tubes...after you have 50k on the car, or high-center on a speed bump. by the way...the dmv vans in jersey do a sniffer test...if you fail, they will further inspect to see why and submit proper tickets...and the shop won't go down if you tell them you were the one who put it on after the inspection. if your friends are cool enough to help you out...be cool enough to let them do it again by taking all the blame for yor wants

 

wow i figured NJ laws would reflect NY laws but i may have been wrong, technically LTs are illegal in most states b/c they move the catts back out of their origional locations, it takes longer for teh catts to heat up and work right and efficient

also if u car has under 5 years 50k then its also illegal to touch teh catts

 

its federal law, that any car that came with a cat or any engine swap where the new engine was equipped with a cat must have one....the fine for the first offense is 10,000 dollars, in my area of nj they actually have mobile inspection units, i guess ive been lucky so far

 

how do they no they inspected the car like that u can just say u did it after u got the car inspected

 

Severous01 explained that in the 2nd paragraph of his post.

A shop owner that puts a sticker on a non-compliant vehicle can get 6 months in jail, and a $10,000 fine. The MVC regularly sends rigged cars into the private shops to see if they can find all the non-compliant items. A friend of mine was hauled into court because they claimed he failed to check the second gas cap on a dual-tank truck, which had been rigged to fail the pressure test. He was able to prove that he did test it and it had passed in spite of the sabotage. But he had to spend a day in court, with a lawyer and the owner of the shop to get it resolved.

NJ is the worst.... my Formula would easilly pass the sniffer at the 500HP level, with dual high flow cats. But there is no way it would pass the "visual".... so my car is no longer street driven. It's "track only" and nowhere near as much fun to own. If it wasn't for the mobile inspection teams, I'd risk it on the street, but knowing how easy it is to get nailed by one of them, I can't risk it.

 

As already stated its not legal. NJ just happens to be really tough on this stuff. I have seen the mobile inspection teams on the TPK and 295. They are pretty decent sized box trucks and they say NJ mobil inspection on the sides. They are usually lined up with a few tow trucks and a few cops.

If you get caught, not only will the state prosicute the station but they will also hand over some hefty fines to you. In the end the fines could end up costing more than your car is worh....

IMO its not worth it in NJ. if its a street car I say go for a leagl set of shorties. If you must have LT then take it off the road.

Guys like Fred and myself have just faced the facts here and made the choice to make em track only cars.

 

I also have to keep in mind that I am licensed by the State of NJ as a Professional Engineer, and I don't think they'd consider it a reflection of the required "good character" if I got caught with my car on the public roads......

 

Up until a week ago I had no problem with running LT's with no cat. I had heard about the Mobile Inspection Units, but never in my area. That is until I got stopped by one. Thank God I was in my work truck and not the Camaro or I'd be f'ed. I'm probably going to be picking up a new car in the not too distant future for all around driving (most likely a Cobalt) and taking the Camaro off the street and making it a full race car. I have friends and family in law enforcement who have gotten me out of tickets, but it doesn't help with the DMV. After I get a new car, I doubt I'll have the Camaro out for anything besides quick trips around town, its just not worth the trouble.

 

Where were you when they stopped you?

I've run across the Mobile Inspection Team twice this week. On Rt 34 near the entrance to Earle Naval Weapons station, and then down on Rt 70 near where it joins Rt 72. The second one was only inspecting diesel trucks. I didn't get stopped, but it wouldn't matter because its the "company car" (2003 F-150 XLT Crew Cab 4WD, with yellow flashing lights on the roof).

 

The majority of the time thats what they are looking for. the "work" trucks that have been neglected and the street driven race car. If its a new truck they might let it pass by. Diesel trucks get a smoke test and saftey inspection... and I think the hit the average car just at random.

I was pulled over by DOT in PA on 95 last year at my old job. They fortunately found nothing wrong and sent me on my way. I was in a Ford E350 diesel.

I know they have been getting tougher with it and rumor has it they are adding a few more inspection teams to the crack down in the near future.

Ive seen the NJ teams on several ocasions on the njtpk as far south as exit 4 where I am.