Has anyone used a non-carb. approved header and gotten away with it ? I don't plan on side stepping any of the "actual" carb. rules/laws, I would like a better performing header. The OEM, primary tube to collector is a pretty bad design.

When I bought my JCW, the guy gave everything a cursory look and went on. Though he had a little trouble finding the JCW info in his computer, he asked no questions about aftermarket parts. And, since there's a heat shield covering the top of the header, he can't see it anyway.
So...I figure as long as the oxygen sensors are in the close to correct area, and doing their job, I "should...be able to get away with it..!?

Although I don't see that the OBX, 4, 2, 1 header is currently available or not, this is what I'm looking at doing.
OR...just a nice flowing header. Most of the collector designs, leave a lot to be desired.

Mike

 

*swore this was in the 2g section before

 

R53, Gen 1, belt driven..!!!

Mike

 

In CA as long as it doesn't have a check engine light on it will pass. They don't do sniff test anymore on newer cars (forget what the year cutoff is)

 

They still do the visual inspection so as long as it looks stock-ish and has a cat usually you can get away with it as long as you don't find the guy that thinks he's saving the world being a smog technician.

Catless opens you up to trouble at the road side stops which seem to be getting more frequent lately. There they will do a visual, a plug and play, and a sniffer test (They call it a safety stop ) no matter what the year of car.

Worse comes to worse, you have to go home, swap your stock header in and pay the Ref $35.

 

Great, thanks guys.
Obviously, that what I was hoping to hear.

I've been through "playing with" the smog guys with older American cars to get stuff to pass that wasn't supposed to. This is my first foray into dealing with Computer driven, newer cars.

Thanks again

Mike