Emira V6 - Bolt-ons, Catalytic Converters, and Passing Emissions

[sbproducer]

So, I recently purchased the Aerie Motorsports Header and Valvetronic Titanium Exhaust. These along with the Eventuri Cold Air Intake round out the bolt-ons on my car minus the stock Y-pipe.

From my understanding, the Emira V6 has 3 catalytic converters, there are 2 cats in the headers, one on each side, and of course the 3rd cat many of us delete. It seems like the 3rd cat is much less restrictive than the first 2 cats in the headers. Also, deleting the 3rd cat doesn't seem likely to cause a failed smog test.

However, in my case, I will end up without any catalytic converters which will surely fail the smog test.

I didn't know this but there are 13 states in the U.S. that do not require an emissions test... period. In my State of Georgia, a new car will not require smog tests for it's first 3 years, and then will require once a year with registration renewals.

So, I'm good for a couple of years. But when the time comes, I'll need a solution. At the moment, there seems to be 4 options:

1) The F-it method, it's kind of like driving around with no insurance with the evidence visible on your plate. Not recommended.

2) JUBU has a solution with this JUBU HD Sports Catalytic Converter. However, I don't know if it alone can pass a U.S. Emissions test.

3) @mikemc mentioned a solution with something like this that can be welded on near where the 3rd cat was.

4) Pay your local tune shop every year for a switch out and switch back in... stupid expensive.

Any thoughts?

 

[Eagle7]

I'm in contact with Aerie at the moment to build a true dual exhaust system that can use either the factory exhaust manifolds, or the motorsport headers Aerie sells. It will have the option of adding two sports cats for those that already have or buy the motorsports headers. It will come with a custom muffler exhaust section, so the titanium muffler you (and I) have won't work. I'm just going to sell mine when this new system is done and I have it. Once I get it, I'll do a dyno run so there'll be numbers to look at for performance.

 

[Kaz]

In my state of Cali people just pay a trusted known shop to do their thing and clear them, *not legal advice lol...but that's what everyone does

 

[Tracked Emira]

In my state of Cali people just pay a trusted known shop to do their thing and clear them, *not legal advice lol...but that's what everyone does

That won't work soon with the new mission units that will prevent the mechanics from passing inspections illegally.

 

[Kaz]

That won't work soon with the new mission units that will prevent the mechanics from passing inspections illegally.

never doubt the arms race on both sides, so much money on the line...people are literally patched into the live database and hacking that way, it's kind of crazy. They time it out semi-randomly because the DMV is also recording time intervals between the approvals because they know the average time to setup the test and pass. Insane.

 

[PatrickJS]

what Kaz said is 100% on point in cali

 

[CHEESE]

In my state, they don't require emissions tests if you put less than 5000 miles per year on the car, but the car still has to pass a "visual" inspection. So, even if you don't even have to pass emissions, you can still fail if they notice that there are no cats.

 

[Mr. Wolfe]

In my state, PA, it goes county by county. Most counties require smog testing, but mine has no emissions testing.

 

[sbproducer]

In my state of Cali people just pay a trusted known shop to do their thing and clear them, *not legal advice lol...but that's what everyone does

Need this. I'm assuming it requires a "tip."

 

[Savanna7]

In my State of Georgia, a new car will not require smog tests for it's first 3 years, and then will require once a year with registration renewals.

Any thoughts?

I also live in Ga. It's a county by county issue here. Chatham county for instance doesn't check emissions. If you want to get around it, register it in Montana via an LLC. It's a cheap and simple process.

 

[RoryBellows]

I think the best solution would be to remove the 3 factory cats, relocate your sensors to the 3rd cat location and make a flange attached cat at the 3rd cat location that you can swap in and out as needed. In the 3rd cat location you only have to remove the diffuser and if its a flanged connection then you wont have to move anything around just pull off the cat and swap in a straight section.

 

[Kaz]

Need this. I'm assuming it requires a "tip."

ask your car buddies and the shop you use...someone will know - it's a bad economy and again, the marketplace and arms race to take care of this is the same in every city in America, someone you know will know a guy