I know that having a testpipe makes the car non smog-legal, which i cant do, but i was wondering...:

when my car gets smogged, the engine is under no load becuase they dont ahev AWD rollers. he jsut rev's the engine and puts some sensor in my exaust. So, if i got a testpipe or a gutted cat (so it looked like i had one), do you think i could still pass smog? i passed with a cat adn my car running lean...

 

Chances are slim that it would pass CO and HC readings with out a cat. They also have to visually inspect your car to make sure it still has a cat on it. Your best bet would be to get a HFC or you could go TP and put your factory cat back on once a year for Smog testing.

 

yeah, i'd just leave the cat on.. after the emission test put the TP on. My buddy just got his emission certification so if i get a TP it may be looked over.

 

is it that easy or something?

 

taking out a cat/tp is no fun. the bolts are a pain in the butt to get to, btu its DIY-able. hmm, i just got my car smogged a few months ago, how often is it required in california?

 

i wouldnt suggest tp eventhough i have one on, i am going to take it off because of the problems its causing. i cant get rid of the CEL. there is a software for 150 dollars that will clear the CEL which my local vw performance shop offerd me. the power gain is not that noticble unless you have a bigger turbo then ko3. if you get caught, ur f0cked

 

dude, I would say you should go w a HFC...a standard inline will costya 100$ and then you will have to have a muffler shop or any experienced welder modify your stock cat seup to save the sensors...badically you'd cut the stock cat out in between the sensors and weld the new one back in and reinstall...

that's what I am thinking about doing in the next couple months, luckily I have the run of the welders at my college....

and this is what i am talking about if you were at all hazy

 

if you have yearly inspections, i dont think it would be worth the hassle cause it is a biatch to take in and out...

the second o2 sensor is the one that checks on the cat to make sure its working... APR gave me the TP file for free when i got flashed..

i still have the CNC machined black from wayne on the vortex but i still got intermittent CEL from the TP though till i got the APR flash and i havent had one since

now with that being said... it spools slightly quicker (that all could be in my head cause the k03 spools crazy quick anyway) definitly louder but EGTs are also a lot lower and it cools down quicker as well.. i like mine but i dont think i would have it in a state that had yearly inspections unless i had my own lift