Headers - how are you guys pulling this off?

[valentinoamoro]

Spoke to a few folks and it seems there are massive gains to be had with headers and a tune (I'm hearing 440-450 wHP on 93?).

How are you all getting away with this - in WA state, after the first 6 years of ownership there are inspections every two years. I dont recall them checking the tail pipes (its been awhile since I had a 6 yr old car). In my experience though you can smell headerless cars.

Are high flow cats the solution? - I'm also hearing there is enough variance between high flow cats of the same model/make that one could pass and another would fail.

I believe the tune can mask some of the codes, but I assume the DMV guys are not idiots, esp if you show up in a loud ass Mustang. They must have other tools including tailpipe sensors and other informal inspections?

I've had the car for 3 years and am itching to get another 30+ whp out of it :-). Want to do my homework before taking the plunge.

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[Cruizer40]

Good question I'm interested in this too?

 

[AJ ROJO]

Pretty sure any vehical that is 2009 or newer will never be inspected according to rcw 46.16a.060? It says 5 years or newer, 25 years or older and 2009 and newer are exempt. I am a WA resident (Spokane) and the vehical that I have in storage there (an 09 F150) has never been inspected. The tags and registration are current as well.
Is West of the cascades different?
This confused me when I saw your location so I had to look it up...
Here is the link that I referenced my info from....good luck

http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.16A.060

 

[GritzNGravy]

Wish I could be more help, but Ive never had to worry about emissions living in WA State. Kind of funny just a 30min ferry ride from Seattle to a different county and you don't have to worry about emissions. The only thing holding me back from getting rid of my cats is the warranty left, and getting time to work on it. I have pp3 to keep warranty but have had it in my garage since March of last year just haven't had time to install it. Anyway good luck figuring it out.

 

[djpheer]

they find inspection places that dgaf and will give a sticker anyway or just roll without getting it inspected and if they never get pulled over they are good to go

 

[Weasel1]

No emissions tests here in East Tennessee.

 

[Zelek]

You can pass the visual inspection with high flow cats. My state doesn't do a visual inspection, only the OBDII test.

You will need a tune with all the sensors turned on in order to pass the OBDII diagnostics test. You will instantly fail otherwise. Normally, tunes have sensors off because they are unnecessary or can potentially throw a code if they are on. In my case, I asked Lund to provide my tune I have with an inspection friendly tune with the sensors on that should allow me to pass.

Worst case scenario, you can flash back a stock tune as well if your intake/TB/Manifold allow it just to pass inspection and reflash after its done.

Option 3, find the shadiest person you can to pass you because they love your car. There's always someone who "knows a guy".

 

[Grimace427]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96503&highlight=headers+emissions

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94276&highlight=headers+emissions

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89414&highlight=headers+emissions

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75350&highlight=headers+emissions

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40752&highlight=headers+emissions

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46929&highlight=headers+emissions

 

[EFI]

Unless you got a super STRICT state and/or inspection station, most places will not bother to fail you for having headers.

A few points you brought up:

- most places just scan OBDII codes and those can easily be made to pass
- you can have a semi-quiet exhaust even with headers, you just have to get the right catback
- most places do not do visual inspections, and even then as long as you have cats present they won't bother to fail you (this is again dependent on how strict the place is).
- not sure about WA, but most places do not have tailpipe sniffers to check exhaust gasses for emissions

I would not be worried about headers, many people I know with various different cars have had them and passed just fine, heck some don't even have cats. But it really depends on your state and if you can find a lenient station. I would ask around in the local forums for better info on how strict your state is with exhaust.

 

[AlmostFamous]

Worst case scenario, you can flash back a stock tune as well if your intake/TB/Manifold allow it just to pass inspection and reflash after its done.

I wouldn't necessarily call that a shady person. ;)

 

[NvrFinished]

I've been debating this myself, but I live in California and I don't think there is any way to pass an inspection /smog test with headers unless you know someone that will charge $$$ to pass.

 

[highvoltage]

Um you don’t have to worry about it in WA if your vehicle is 2009 or newer which it clearly is.

 

[JuRuKi]

Here in CA the smog check is required after 6 years of buying a new car.

 

[ahl395]

If you go with catted headers you shouldnt have a problem.

If you go with catless you can have them modified to bolt the cats back in/out easily. Personally I stuck with stock headers and did MAK cat delete pipes. I had the shop that installed them install it in such a way that its only 4 bolts on each side and I can bolt my factory cats right back in place to pass inspection. The same idea could be done to a set of real headers also.

 

[valentinoamoro]

If you go with catted headers you shouldnt have a problem.

If you go with catless you can have them modified to bolt the cats back in/out easily. Personally I stuck with stock headers and did MAK cat delete pipes. I had the shop that installed them install it in such a way that its only 4 bolts on each side and I can bolt my factory cats right back in place to pass inspection. The same idea could be done to a set of real headers also.

LOL!!! Thats an awesome idea. Any idea what the power gains with just that mod is and the cost of doing doing the install?

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