This is topic NEED SMOG HELP ASAP in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
ok so i just got back from the smog shop and the car passed emissions but failed visual due to my high flow bbk cats. i need to know if i wasnt required to go to a test only this year and i did anyways do i have to go back to a test only after this little issue, and if so is there anyone here that knows someone who wont trip off of the 2 cats.
 
Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
Before I smog my fox I always ask the guy to check the car out first and see if there are problems with the aftermarket stuff most places will tell you up front if they will trip off some stuff.
 
Posted by 1FAST89GT (Member # 5071) on :
 
u do not have to go back to the test only, only if u are directed. your BBK high flow cats technically are illegal now and will fail at another shop
 
Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
i passed with them onthe last time i smogged at a test only so i just need to find a "cool" smog tech that wont visually rape my car
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
you got lucky and that last time could be many reasons,didnt look, didnt know,or just didnt care, or didnt know he could lose his job if he did care lol.pull them off and borror a set of mine but this time bring them right back! lol!
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
and actully, as far i know every dam mustang ive had has been a test only. you can run down to mikes at tommys and ask him , hell run your plates and tell you if your test only.
 
Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
i might just have to borrow a set cuz i dont see any for sale, but i actually read it wrong it is supposed to be test only
 
Posted by 95628stang (Member # 8478) on :
 
You can run your vin or plate number here and and you can find out if your car is a "Test Only " vehicle .
http://www.bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Vehicle/PubTstQry.aspx
 
Posted by 1FAST89GT (Member # 5071) on :
 
Hit me up Ty
 
Posted by bwkelley76 (Member # 8792) on :
 
Just recently had the same problem with a supercharged 347 built last year and the customer just tried to smog it for the first time since the build. It had bullet-cats and it did not go over so well visually. ..Car was test-only.

The guy threw on his old good/used stock H-Pipe and it passed with flying colors.

Unfortunately as of Jan 1st this year all aftermarket catalytic converters require an OE number. Most places are failing anything that doesn't look factory or doesn't plainly show an OE#. Bullet cats are no bueno for visual (even in the past they were sketchy) and usually don't last longer than 6 months to a year from an emissions reduction stand-point. ..as to why they have changed the rules. You can thank the road-side smog-tests for this, they found a lot of cars that failed within months of having an aftermarket cat replaced, so now all cats have to be legit, good quality units, AKA more expensive ones with OE#'s.

You'll be fine if you can borrow a good stock setup, or one with OE#'s. By the way another new law is that the car requires the same amount of cats it came with originally, UNLESS the OE# on the system cross-references for that year as a less-cats option, AKA 4-2 or 6-4 or 6-2.

They've got us by the balls, trust me I know, I'm a smog-tech (non-practicing). Good luck, shoot me a PM if you have any questions.

[ November 22, 2009, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: bwkelley76 ]
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
i am a smog tech an i would fail cars for having hi flow cats all the time
 
Posted by Saleen9675 (Member # 9207) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
i am a smog tech an i would fail cars for having hi flow cats all the time
do you want a cookie?
 
Posted by CobramanPhil (Member # 2170) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
i am a smog tech an i would fail cars for having hi flow cats all the time
The question that comes to mind is whether or not ford actually makes the stock h-pipe for either 86-93 or 94-95 mustangs anymore? I did a quick search and nothing was listed (perhaps I did not search thorough enough). If they don't make them anymore would there not be more lenience when going strictly by the visual or number of cats (eg..say for example the only aftermarket manufacturers produces a 2 cat arrangement)?

I could be completely off base...anyone know a manufacturer that produces a high flow 4 cat arrangement (the back cats could be bogus as I assume that the aftermarket ones do a better job then the factory ones)?
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by CobramanPhil:
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
i am a smog tech an i would fail cars for having hi flow cats all the time
The question that comes to mind is whether or not ford actually makes the stock h-pipe for either 86-93 or 94-95 mustangs anymore? I did a quick search and nothing was listed (perhaps I did not search thorough enough). If they don't make them anymore would there not be more lenience when going strictly by the visual or number of cats (eg..say for example the only aftermarket manufacturers produces a 2 cat arrangement)?

I could be completely off base...anyone know a manufacturer that produces a high flow 4 cat arrangement (the back cats could be bogus as I assume that the aftermarket ones do a better job then the factory ones)?
if there is only two cats like high flow cats it would fail period it needs four cats 2 pre cats the front one an 2 reg cats the rear one an last i check ford still can get them you just have to go to the right dealer that know were an how to look for then
 
Posted by hard jokur (Member # 3360) on :
 
I just installed a carb legal 4 cat x-pipe from magnaflow in my 91. It even fits around a T-56, unlike the stock h pipe or bassani x pipe I had on the car.

I can post up a few pix tonite after work.

http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displaydirectfit01.asp?catalogid=48404&directfit=37338

********
I could be completely off base...anyone know a manufacturer that produces a high flow 4 cat arrangement (the back cats could be bogus as I assume that the aftermarket ones do a better job then the factory ones)? [/qb][/QUOTE]

[ November 24, 2009, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: hard jokur ]
 
Posted by hard jokur (Member # 3360) on :
 
sorry it's late here are pix of the new magnaflow carb legal x-pipe


3pcs to install
-

carb stamp
-

installed; it fits around a T-56
-
 
Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
thats a nice setup but WAY out of my price range
 
Posted by hard jokur (Member # 3360) on :
 
Get it from summit for about $500
 
Posted by phildog (Member # 1214) on :
 
That's a nice piece. Would that bolt up to a set of Kooks 1 7/8" to 3 1/2 collector headers? DoH! At least now I know what to get when I have to play by the rules.

I passed my smog check and engine swap certification with a smog REFEREE with a Bassani high flow cat (2 of them) X-pipe years ago. Guess I got lucky.
 
Posted by hard jokur (Member # 3360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by phildog:
That's a nice piece. Would that bolt up to a set of Kooks 1 7/8" to 3 1/2 collector headers? DoH! At least now I know what to get when I have to play by the rules.

I passed my smog check and engine swap certification with a smog REFEREE with a Bassani high flow cat (2 of them) X-pipe years ago. Guess I got lucky.
It's made as an OEM replacement. In my case BBK ceramic equal length shorties [Cool]
 
Posted by bwkelley76 (Member # 8792) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by phildog:
That's a nice piece. Would that bolt up to a set of Kooks 1 7/8" to 3 1/2 collector headers? DoH! At least now I know what to get when I have to play by the rules.

I passed my smog check and engine swap certification with a smog REFEREE with a Bassani high flow cat (2 of them) X-pipe years ago. Guess I got lucky.
I love this subject...lol

You got lucky that you found a ref that follows the rules of the era, not just his attitude like some..lol. ..They aren't all bad, just some I've heard of are just jerks and fail everything and think they know it all and they don't.

It was perfectly legal a few years back to replace the 5.0 Stang 4 cat setup with 2 cats, as long as the car was pre 1995 (non OBD2).

Ford's 4-part catalyst (stock h-pipe) is virtually the same as 2 complete 3-way cats as far as funtion, it's just divided into 4 housings instead of 2. They relocated the oxygenating section of the cat forward, into it's own housing is all. Later model 4.6's have 6 housings but the same internals as 2 complete 3-way cats also. Those have one part in each housing.

Hope that makes sense. Ford and a few other manufaturers did this a lot, and it's really annoying.
 
Posted by phildog (Member # 1214) on :
 
So is my Bassani X with cats still legal by the new smog laws? I take it that it is still okay because it was produced before the OE numbers stamp was required.
 
Posted by bwkelley76 (Member # 8792) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by phildog:
So is my Bassani X with cats still legal by the new smog laws? I take it that it is still okay because it was produced before the OE numbers stamp was required.
It's kindof a grey area from my understanding.
According to the new law the car has to have 4 cats UNLESS it has a 4/2 conversion 2-cat setup with an OE# that was installed before the new law was passed. Then you might fall through a loop-hole in the wording of the law.

I do recall a ref saying that if you have proof it was installed before the law passed it might be ok. I think the law states something along the lines of "any cat installed after a certain date has to have an OE# and/or the same amount of cats originally equipped" ..I don't have this year's legal book to find it for ya or I would. SO I'm not 100% on this but that's what I understood the last time I talked to the ref.

Be careful, you don't want to get the last station that passed it in trouble for missing something either.

Before you go buy a new cat setup it might be worth a shot just to see if you can pass it as-is if that's the only thing that might cause a problem visually. Don't go to the ref first though. If you have any other questionable bolt-ons you might just be opening up a can of worms. It's always a good idea to see if it will pass at a regular station first, and if it doesn't then go from there.

Good luck and I hope this helps

[ November 27, 2009, 04:47 AM: Message edited by: bwkelley76 ]
 
Posted by stangin' (Member # 514) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by hard jokur:
Get it from summit for about $500
i just checked on summit on the part number you listed #37338 and its only #428.95. i wonder if that's a pricing mistake. their other x-pipe with 2 cats is listed at $499.95, but thats only 49 state legal.

maybe i should order one and get rid of my 2-cat bbk pipe.
 
Posted by Wolfie351 (Member # 651) on :
 
I'm going in for smog this week with my Bassani x-pipe. Don't know how I'm going to prove I bought it 10+ years ago.
 
Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
im still lookin for someone that can help out with a cool smog tech, car will pass the sniffer no problem
 
Posted by Wolfie351 (Member # 651) on :
 
Just passed and the smog tech didn't say a thing about my 10 year old Bassani cats. After I got the cert I asked about it and he said the new law only applies to OBD-II cars. I think that's 1996 and later, right? If he's correct, fox bodies shouldn't have to worry about it. But, as we all know, no two smog techs think the same way so take it for what it's worth.

Bump for Ty, good luck
 
Posted by 1965FALCOON (Member # 8773) on :
 
HATE TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE OF HAPPINESS BUT THEY WERE BOTH WRONG ALL CATS PRODUCED AFTER JAN 1 2009 MUST HAVE A CARB EO NUMBER AND ARE VEHICLE SPECIFIC JUST ANOTHER BULLSHIT LAW LIKE DIESELS BUT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ANY SMOG TECH TO BE ABLE TO TELL HOW LONG A CAT HAS BEEN ON A CAR SO THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT WAS INSTALLED BEFORE OR AFTER JAN 2009 SO FOR NOW YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH OLD CATS IN MY OPINION MOST OF THE NEW LAWS ARE BEING WRITTEN SO THAT COMPANIES THAT ARE STARTING TO FAIL CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY QUICKLY AND KEEP THEIR BUSINESS THEY ARE ALSO BEING WRITTEN SO UNCLEAR ON THE LAWS THAT NO MATTER WHAT A SMOG GUY DOES HE CAN STILL BE CITED FOR BEING WRONG NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRAINING FOR A DIFFERENT JOB OUT OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY CANT WAIT TO TELL CA TO TAKE MY SMOG LICENSE AND SHOVE I LOVE FORDS AND MUSTANGS ESPECIALLY I HATE THE BAR
 
Posted by CobramanPhil (Member # 2170) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Wolfie351:
Just passed and the smog tech didn't say a thing about my 10 year old Bassani cats. After I got the cert I asked about it and he said the new law only applies to OBD-II cars. I think that's 1996 and later, right? If he's correct, fox bodies shouldn't have to worry about it. But, as we all know, no two smog techs think the same way so take it for what it's worth.

Bump for Ty, good luck
You have pm...
 
Posted by Ty (Member # 4920) on :
 
got my problem all taken care of. thanks to everyone who helped, not namin names so ppl dont get snitched out
 
Posted by 5LiterSpeeder (Member # 8234) on :
 
In Healdsburg,the only time smogs required is when buying or selling a car, no bi-yearly smog is required in Healdsburg or any town North of Healdsburg [patriot] [Big Grin] YET....
 
Posted by 90GTSleeepr (Member # 9609) on :
 
If u still need Smog,,,pm me.....No BS...
 




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