Now I could have sworn I had read, that the Magnaflow high-flow cats were legal in all 50 states.

But then I read in another post Hmmmm. If they are legal, and produce the same, or fewer emmisions than the factory cats, what's the problem ???

Here in Cali, we do have some rediculously strict guidelines for smog emmisions and such, but one good thing is, brand new vehicles do not have to be smogged for 5 years.

My idea was to wait a few thousand miles, until my true dual Magnaflows are fully broke in, and then if they were not loud and rumbly enough, to go on and add a couple high-flow Magnaflow cats, to replace the 4 factory ones. Of course I'd keep the factory cats, and should I have any problem passing smog, 5 years from now, I could always have them put my factory cats back on.

So what's the deal here ? Why might a shop tell me, "Nope. We're sorry...." ???

Fish

 

That was my post I believe. The reason for some shops not wanting to do that is because cat modification is sort of bending the rules for an exhaust shop. On a vehicle with 75,000+ miles they should do it no problem, but if you were to show up with a brand new truck they wouldn't because the trucks new with new cats. The average muffler shop could be fined for changing out cats that have nothing wrong with them. Magnaflows cats are EPA certified though that means they are legal to have ran in a truck.

California has its own Magnaflow cats, theres the 49 state cats, and cali cats. Search up on http://www.car-sound.com/

 

I just called carsound.com, and found out that they do not make a high flow cat for an F150 "which is certfied" for use in CA. And basically, if I choose to install them anyway, I will completely void my warranty. And any shop that does this, could be fined, or even lose their license.

No high flows for me :-(

Fish

 

Damn, sorry to hear man. What year is your truck though? 2006+ you should have 2 cats so you'll be good. Wont be as quiet as my 4 cat system.

 

Hello Chris You actually called and spoke to me. And I really wish there was something we can do. But its an issue with C.A.R.B.

 

Yes, and I appreciated your help. Certainly not MagnaFlows fault that CA is drowning in red tape crap like this !

Ya' know, I could see it, if I wanted to turn my truck into an oil dripping, smog chugging, environment wrecking beast..... but I'm sure the high flow cats would still do a great job. It's just that some dum-bass sitting behind a desk somewhere, who knows nothing about gasoline engines, or catylactic converters, signed some piece of paper to say, this won't be allowed :-( Urgggg....

Fish :-(

 

ya id move if i were you

 

Fish,

I too have always wanted high flows and long tube headers. Unfortunately, in CA if you want to replace your cats, they must be new OEM (factory) cats. Fines if you are caught can be up to 10 grand. (sucks).

The best to do is just get a kickass catback and hope its loud enough. You could add JBA shorty headers (CARB certified) and that should make it louder, but they are also like 600 bucks.

PS how are you liking the new "hands free" bluetooth law? fuggin lame if you ask me...

 

you get a po box in a place called inyo county. you only have to smog you vehicle when you first by them that s it end of story. You just notify dmv that you only have a po box in that county. you just go up there once a year and get reg info. thats what i do. nice place to go campoing and fishing. 4 hrs from la 3 from bakersfield. Vehicle code states no mods. to exhaust system at all. but is a cop going to write you for it, no. juist stop you for it (i know, im a cop). the cell phone thang a guy was talking about ,,,vehicle code 23123(a) is awesome i found a gun and an ounce of meth becuase of that stupid law. plus they est. 20 -3- percent of accidents are caused by cell phones.


theres your way around the problem. email me if you got anymore ca specific vehicle code questions

 

Now this is interesting :-)

I have a buddy with a big, smoking, puking, spitting, V8, in his little Toyota SR5, (it has 40" tires... no doors... all mudded out) who has it registered in the state of Nevada ! No smog problems, whatsoever :-)

I'm going to look into this..... Not only for the cat situation... But I have a few other mods in mind too :-)

Thank you Max,
Fish

PS, Yes, I might have a few more questions for you soon.

 

He could be friends with a guy at the inspection station and just charging him and slapping it in.

 

Yea , it's illegal for any shop to remove cats unless they are bad. So, you have guys installing headers and running up to the muffler shop (with open headers ) with there Magnaflow high flows in the back seat.

THEN - The shop will install the rest of the system. That probably won't fly in Cali. - But if you do get them installed, they pass emissions in states that require testing.

But in Michigan; - One of the states where "Emissions testing" doesn't exist.

 

I'd go to the source for the info that you seek:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...ftermktcat.htm