California Mods - what's good!?

[misterskeetz]

From intake back to exhaust..what are THE parts to have and keeps the car passing smog without a hitch?

 

[95redturboawd]

All the stock parts?

 

[gsx ftw]

i'm planning on passing smog with my future setup.

big 16g, 650cc injectors, o2 housing mounted external wg recirculated, obx fmic w/ greddy uicp and greddy type rs, 3" downpipe that deletes the cat (i'll be swapping stock dp and stock cat back on for this), full 3" catback, injen intake, hallman pro mbc, and some other things i'm probably forgetting

all tuned w/ dsmlink

edit: oh yeah, fuelab fuel return kit w/ fpr and a 190lph walbro

 

[GsxEcutioner]

Intercoolers are CARB Exempt, uhm I think the External WG would be visuals enough to not let you even try to smog....

 

[BoostFrenzy]

As long as it is tuned good, you can get away with a lot.

When my car was in the process of being sold to me, the previous owner (my friend) had gone through the trouble of smoging the car for me. On the car, was:

Intake: J-pipe to SMIC. Dejon Tool pipes all the way to the TB with a greddy type-s. Pre-turbo was an Injen intake that was barrowed with the CARB sticker.

Exhaust: Evo 3 mani/turbo/o2 connected to a RRE 3" DP with a 3" high flow cat to an apexi N1.

Fuel: 190 pump with a set of Evo 8 injectors. Tuned VERY conservative so it was a bit rich.

All in all, the car passed with flying colors. The only thing that was a problem was the '98 ECU not setting all the checks to "READY". That's why there is a '99 ECU in there right now. Put it in, and drove it around for a bit and it was all set to go.

Advice, just don't go about putting neon color crap in the engine bay. We had painted everything flat black with some DEI paint and there was nothing suspicious. And, if you have an open element filter, make sure you buy a CARB legal one with the sticker.

 

[gsx ftw]

i know more than a handful of guys who don't even care about visual, as long as you pass the major test and self-checks

the external wastegate, rerouted, won't effect my hc's or co levels

 

[misterskeetz]

Thanks for the helpful input. I don't THINK I will be modding that heavily. The intake isn't too much of an issue for me since it is pretty easy to uninstall. I like the downpipe w/ high flow cat. Will be going with a 1st yen bov so that shouldn't be an issue. Is the exhaust manifold legal? I was under the impression it isn't.

 

[Rob10_99]

Why do people always complain about smog in CA?
Dont put anything shiny, chromed, painted or otherwise not stock looking under the hood.
If it is shiny, either take it off, or get it black powdercoated/painted.
And stop putting stupid stickers all over the outside of your car, it's not a hello kitty lunchbox.

 

[fwdmaster]

^^^^^^^

Listen to him, he's right

 

[95redturboawd]

Just a thought... maybe just change stuff until the CEL goes off from the exhaust not being legal. Not sure if you have to reset it....

 

[mccurdy]

helps to drive the car hard around town for 20 minutes too

 

[braceyoself777]

Also, make sure you have a Catilytic Converter(speeling) too if you want to pass.

 

[SiNiST3R]

You can get away with alot as long as its not flashy I had a FP58 + comp cams 101200s and passed.

 

[misterskeetz]

Why do people always complain about smog in CA?
Dont put anything shiny, chromed, painted or otherwise not stock looking under the hood.
If it is shiny, either take it off, or get it black powdercoated/painted.
And stop putting stupid stickers all over the outside of your car, it's not a hello kitty lunchbox.

Well, my biggest gripe about smog would have to be not being able to get a dejon intake and a turboback exhaust. Other than that, I don't plan on having any mods that wouldn't pass visual inspection. I may be speaking differently later after I have completed my shopping list though.

Am I being assumed to put stickers on my car? IMO, stickers only detract from our DSM's natural beauty. I wouldn't put a body kit on my car, let alone stickers. I will leave FnF cars to the high schoolers.

NOTE - The only FnF car that I have ever liked was the 350z in tokyo drift. But I like my car better. for life

 

[misterskeetz]

As far as exhaust system goes...let's say I want to go with a full 3" all the way through. If I get a 3" exhaust manifold, 3" downpipe, highflow cat, 3" Thermal RnD pipe, might that pass smog? I haven't spoken to anybody that has a setup like that who resides in CA.

 

[Avionixx]

I passed smog with a 3" exhaust and 3" Catco high flow cat. OK, so technically it's not fully 3"; it's 2.75 at the EVO3 O2 housing and 3" after the flex section. Either way, it passed visual and sniffer with a slight idle surge and whacked out fuel trims.

 

[ApexVIII]

Just a thought... maybe just change stuff until the CEL goes off from the exhaust not being legal. Not sure if you have to reset it....

being a 95, like mine, its tested as Pre OBD-II so if the cel is on you can pull up to the smog shop, reset the cel light them smog it , all cars 96+ have to pass a readyness test wich is XX amount of start ups or miles. after the CEL is cleared

 

[crimsondragon]

Also, make sure you have a Catilytic Converter(speeling) too if you want to pass.

Catalytic for future reference.

 

[clockworktoy]

Why do people always complain about smog in CA?
Dont put anything shiny, chromed, painted or otherwise not stock looking under the hood.
If it is shiny, either take it off, or get it black powdercoated/painted.
And stop putting stupid stickers all over the outside of your car, it's not a hello kitty lunchbox.

If only it were that easy. Unfortunately its getting harder and harder to find people who dont care about visual. and somethings aren't that easy to hide like an aftermarket manifold or intake manifold.

 

[ApexVIII]

just go FMIC, Evo3 16g TBE stock ported 2g mani, 272cams dsmlink and hide the meth injection, that well be more then enough power for a street car

 

[braceyoself777]

Catalytic for future reference.

...I even spelled spelling wrong....spleeing?

 

[misterskeetz]

...I even spelled spelling wrong....spleeing?

DOOD!!...I was totally going to say something but I thought it was a joke!

 

[fwdmaster]

Also, make sure you have a Catilytic Converter(speeling) too if you want to pass.

what is speeling

 

[MrBentley]

heh everytime i misspell something i say i cant speel on purpose. And BtW aaron.... YOUR A NERD ON THESE FORUMS!! Talk like you really do meng.