[Kid97GTS]

O.k., smog check for a certain Viper is coming up - car has HMS headers, Borla cat back and no cats. Will this pass CA smog sniffer (not visual)? I've heard that the cats (high flow or not) don't affect the ppm that the smog sniffer looks for. On a recent dyno the car had an air/fuel ratio starting at 14 and going to 13 at 5,000 rpm.

If this setup won't pass smog, will the high flow cats do the trick?

 

[tito]

I know you're in CA, but here in TX, all cars 96 and newer (OBD II) just get put on a diagnostic machine and it checks to see if all your sensors are working.

If you're in the same boat, as long as your check engine light is not coming on, you will pass.

 

[Kid97GTS]

CA has a fucked up dyno-like machine that they use for smog.

 

[weeztones]

O.k., smog check for a certain Viper is coming up - car has HMS headers, Borla cat back and no cats. Will this pass CA smog sniffer (not visual)? I've heard that the cats (high flow or not) don't affect the ppm that the smog sniffer looks for. On a recent dyno the car had an air/fuel ratio starting at 14 and going to 13 at 5,000 rpm.

If this setup won't pass smog, will the high flow cats do the trick?

Definitely not a smog expert here, but I thought the cats sole reason for being on the car was to reduce the NOX's coming out of the car, and that these NOX's were precisely what the sniffers sniffed. Like I said, I could be absolutely wrong with this information, but I tend to think high flow cats would give you a better chance than no cats at all.

 

[tito]

We have those also, but only pre-96' cars have to go on them. They check for nox, and the only accurate way to do this, is to put the car under a load and measure the levels.

I've had a couple of cars pass without cats and with the addition of heads and cam, but that was in Tejas. You could just go get it inspected, and if you dont pass just take it back after whatever modifications need to be made to get it to pass the smog test.

Good luck with it.

 

[brett]

Sounds like you need to get a converter on that car.

 

[_Mark_]

I passed no prob with high flows - I think you'll pass with no cats at all too. Here's a tip, save yourself some issues and just drop it off at Hartzheim to do the smog check.

I dicked around with Joe "I inhale" Smogcheck first and he was a prick with all the visual stuff. The techs as Hartzheim are racers and I don't think they'd care too much as long as the thing passes the sniffer.

I don't have any better advice than that, but you should give Ted May a call and see what he says, Valaya Auto, 408 448 8811. He'll know for sure. In fact, he might even be able to smog it for you - which would definitely be the way to go.

 

[socalrebell]

Chris it will not pass without cats, put cats in come down here I have a guy who will get creative, you'll pass visual but you need cats (I have hiflows) for the sniff :nod:


.

 

[brett]

It might pass without cats as long as it passes visual. SoCal...stick to stickin' chicken yo!

Word to ya' mutha'

 

[Yellow Fever]

Ron is right ...You won't pass without Cats.

Brett were ya been ?

 

[brett]

Just chillin' like milk. Things good with you? BTW...I've passed CA smog without cats before. They were hollowed out for the visual inspection...turn me in!

 

[Yellow Fever]

They were hollowed out for the visual inspection...turn me in!

DAMN ! Thats a first ..Did they do a Sniffer test ? I tried to get my C5 SMOGGED last year with no Cats and they sent me packin.

 

[brett]

It was on the dyno with a sniffer...just lucky I guess. Or it may have been that it was an M3 and it just ran cleaner. Dunno... So you put cats on the C5 and passed no problem?

 

[mxblue23]

It might pass without cats as long as it passes visual. SoCal...stick to stickin' chicken yo!

Word to ya' mutha'

Not a snowballs chance in hell it will pass with out cats. If your smog guy is a dick it will technically fail for running anything that is not OBDII CARB approved. At this point you have two options for CA approved cats, stock or the newly released Carsound. If you already have high flows take it to a performance shop that won't piss and moan on the visual and you should be good to go.

 

[NOITALL]

Mix in 2L of gas line antifreeze with 1/4 tank of the best gas you can buy. That shit burns clean.

 

[brett]

It might pass without cats as long as it passes visual. SoCal...stick to stickin' chicken yo!

Word to ya' mutha'

Not a snowballs chance in hell it will pass with out cats. If your smog guy is a dick it will technically fail for running anything that is not OBDII CARB approved. At this point you have two options for CA approved cats, stock or the newly released Carsound. If you already have high flows take it to a performance shop that won't piss and moan on the visual and you should be good to go.

Are you talking "visual"? You can't see the cats on the Viper can you? I've had cars pass the CA smog test without cats, but that's because they got past the visual. He may not pass without...i'm just saying "I HAVE".

 

[NOITALL]

You can't see the cats unless the side sills are off

 

[vipernathan]

I do a smog a week and it really depends on how clean your car is running. Doubt smog guy is going to care that you car is pretty damn loud and smells funny. They don't do visuals anymore (at least here they don't), so as long as your car runs clean, you should be good.

Besides most smog places offer 1 re-test anyway, so if you fail, get some high flows put on and then take it back in for the re-test.

 

[brett]

You can't see the cats unless the side sills are off

My point exactly. Gracias Craig. (wait...is that Canadian?)

 

[brett]

I do a smog a week and it really depends on how clean your car is running. Doubt smog guy is going to care that you car is pretty damn loud and smells funny. They don't do visuals anymore (at least here they don't), so as long as your car runs clean, you should be good.

Besides most smog places offer 1 re-test anyway, so if you fail, get some high flows put on and then take it back in for the re-test.

Can I get a haaaruuuumph!?!