I have done a ton of searching and it looks like there is no way to legally do long tube headers in CA. I really really want to do LT's when I do my swap soon and trying to figure out a way to get away with it. If its not possible should I bother with shorties or just leave the stock manifolds? as for cats should I gut the precats and leave the 2nd set of cats alone? Thinking x or h pipe after the cats with true duals and maggie mufflers, (this seems to be the best & most preferred system here on the forums).

 

also thinking about running those electric exhaust cut-off valve, so I can go straight pipe when I want and run a quieter maggie setup than I normally would.

 

If the headers have a CARB approval then you can do it. No CARB stamp-no pass.

 

I think blfx4k lives in cali or has with longtubes. Maybe he will come across this thread, I'm sure he has looked into deeply before.

The setup your thinking about is exactly what I did. I installed cutouts and a quieter magnaflow. I go on long trips sometimes and I just don't want the drone, but I do all of my daily driving with the cutouts open since I for one love the roar! I have pics and videos up of my setup if you haven't seen them, in the thread "pics of my new setup with longtubes".

 

I can't comment on getting the cats since I don't know how cali works over there and don't want to give you false advice. But before you buy an x pipe pick out a muffler, some of the magnaflows like the one I have, have a built in x pipe. I'm not saying you need to go with one built in, just saying you probable don't want 2 x pipes. Lol nor spend money on one of the muffler you choose already has one.

 

I dont think there are any carb approved long tubes which sucks but Im still looking! Those cut-offs are way cool, they are electric right? what did they cost you if you dont mind me asking. I think bassically I have to basically gamble on being able to find a smog guy that will kinda look the other way at the headers, personally its not like Im trying to run no cats so I dont get what the big deal is but it is after all good ol california

 

Ya man im in the same boat as you. LTs HAVE to have an executive order or I wouldnt risk it. Ive searched and searched and am yet to find any that are not $1000+. I believe Doug Thorley makes them for this year of trucks. You can run Lts but you CANT touch the OEM cats. So running Lts and 4 cats is your only option IF you can find some that are 50 state CARB legal AND come with an executive order. I wouldnt waste your money on shorties unless there was something wrong with your OEMs.

 

And longtubes burn OEM cats up too. Maybe they knew this and wanted to get everyone's hopes up.

 

^^^ Then its not meant to be.

 

Yeah sorry for the guys in cali who can't have long tubes

I had LT's put in after I moved. I didn't want to run the risk of being catless or a sniffer test. It's a 10 or 15k fine!!!

Most places won't even consider a dual exhaust let alone touch the cats or longtubes

Best bet like when I pm'd you would be to run long tubes with carb compliant cats

Im not sure if you would pass or how much california differs in emissions testing vs. other states co emissions wise but maybe you could pass with longtubes, 50 state compliant cats and a dual setup. Maybe not but again you could find a guy willing to turn the other cheek and disregard your failed test and let you pass. BUT that could land him in huge trouble, fine and jail time.

 

Ya I am going to go start asking around locally at smog shops and see how strict and by the book people are locally, I am happy to run the cats and want my truck to pass the sniffer test, I just want the 30ish HP/TQ gain from the long tubes. How could long tubes burn up stock cats? Do we technically have 4 cats or 2 precats and 2 actual cats? Ill figure something out

 

If you do longtubes, dont do stock cats, thats just silly

You should get a custom tune to fully take advantage of the 30hp/tq gains

Some trucks have 4 cats, mine had 2 its an 08 and a cali emissions truck?

 

A hell of alot more of forced heat burning through the catalyst.

You have 4 functioning cats. All 4 cat systems worked with each other.

 

really there is that much more hot exhaust? I will be running a custom tune from Troyer, so ya Ill def take advantage of them if I figure out a way to get away with them. I think if I do I will probably run 4 high flows or 2 big ones as it has to pass the sniffer test or theres no way Ill ever get smogged!

 

This is comical, longtubes burn up stock cats? Where do you guys make this stuff up?

You can't move the cats in Cali so you will never be able to run longtubes legally.

You can run them illegally (been there, done that, when I was young and foolish) and swap for them for the smog ****. The thought of all that labor just makes my back/knuckles cringe!

California cops/chp are getting pretty smart these days so if your truck sounds like Nascar going 30 mph I wouldn't be surprised if he bends you over and writes you a one way ticket to the State Referee. Bring the lube, they won't go easy, ha!