Are the SZ 2.5" catted pipes Cali-Smog Legal?

[NeoTokyo]

Heya everyone.

I am about to pull the trigger on a set of SZ 2.5" catted midpipes.
SZ says that it is not CA smog legal in the straight through design (duh) but there is no additional information for when the high flow CARB legal magnaflow cats are chosen.
The cats used are legal (CA/CE) but if they are not in the same location then they are not legal and that is what I am worried about.

For $350 I get SZ 2.5" downpipes (4 bolt) and the SZ 2.5" catted midpipe, although one of the elements is loose and rattles inside the cat shell. There is no damage and they appear clean.

Let me know what you guys have to say, I have not paypaled the money over yet and will wait until I can find an answer.


Thanks everyone.

[NeoTokyo]

Well Crap, that was quick....
I just found the cat on Jegs website, 49 state only.

Even though it has the CA stamping for being ARB approved, I guess it no longer falls into being CA smog legal?
I dunno, but it sucks. lol

Let me know if I am wrong and that the CA/CE before the 54306 P/N means that it is smog legal.

I will try to give SZ and Magnaflow a call tomorrow too.

[NolimitZ32]

If the cats are a previously approved product would they not be grandfathered? I know nothing about CARB regulations but may be something worth looking at.

[NeoTokyo]

Alright, so here is what I found out.

Being that the cats were made in 2004 and the car is Pre-OBDII, these cats WERE at one time Cali legal as universals BUT these cats are rated for a larger engine and heavier vehicle, so they are outside the size range for the Z.

Even if the referee allowed them to be grandfathered in, they may still failed because of the size.

I am waiting on a reply from the Referee right now, they said it will be about 3 days.

[NeoTokyo]

Final say on it by the ref is that it they would have been ok had they been the correct size for the car.

[skwidstyle]

get the carb number, check it. all carb numbers are registered and can be looked up. the simple answer is to swap these out with your stockers for smog every 2 years it is a very easy garage swap - i have to swap out the longtubes on my trans am every 2 years to pass visual & while it is "easy', it's still a pain in the a**. swapping out just these catted mids should be cake even for a non-mechanical person. getting pulled over 99.9% of cops will not know you have non-stock midpipes or cats & even if they do suspect so it will be a $25 fix it ticket - swap out get signed off.

[NeoTokyo]

Skwidstyle thanks for the advice but that is what I was covering in the thread already.
They are CARB legal but for a larger vehicle with up to a 4.2L engine displacement, that is why SZ used them as high flows, they are physically larger than our stock cats.

I dont have my original cats either, I bought this car with an off road midpipe, thank god I have my Precats though.

I am trying to hunt down a stock midpipe right now.
After smogging the original setup is going right back on.

[skwidstyle]

then in that case yes the $350 would be a waste of money as they will still not pass you ... as you have stated, get a set of stock cats/midpipes for smog.

[DCaff300ZX]

It never ceases to amaze me the efforts some people make to avoid doing the usually-easier, and often cheaper correct thing.
The Z32 TT really does not need extensive exhaust work done until used for VERY high performance, and racing/drag apps. My own TT exhaust is stock except for larger HKS mufflers and of course downpipes for my upgraded turbos. Makes plenty of power and is quiet enough to not be overly-noticed (cops), but passes emissions easily and sounds quite nice when the go-pedal is planted flat (ish). 400+ hp and room for plenty more with my upgrades, NOT by any means stock but passes all tests...and cost me about $200 overall to have done along with all of the rest of the work.
So why in the world do you guys go to all of this trouble and expense, just to have non-compliant or barely compliant stuff that nets you nothing but more cost and trouble?

[NeoTokyo]

The great thing about modding cars is that you can do it your way and not care what anyone else thinks.
This world would be very boring if everyone did exactly what someone thought was the right way to do something.

When I upgrade my downpipes I will keep a catted midpipe, cats dont kill enough power to be worried about.

[NolimitZ32]

Y'all do what you want, I have a 92 and don't have to be smogged in my county any more so twin 3" dumps (like my signature says) is all I need.