street legal power

I've just come from my local Porsche shop where I had a conversation about street legal power upgrades. I had plans of updating the stock heat exchangers, cat and muffler to SSIs, and sport muffler. I'm told that these modifications add about 17-22hp (Anderson's book).

Unfortunately, the local shop here says the car would then be illegal on the street in Colorado due to emissions. What can I do legally to my daily driver 1978 911SC to boost power? The locals also tell me replacing the fuel injection with webers (or any carbs) is also not legal. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks
DRS

Well, this is just a bit of hypothetical thinking, but since your SC is a pre-Lambda sensor model, so it simplifies your smog requirements a bit. What about SSI's with a couple of 'short' replacement cat. converters of the generic-kind, about 10-12" long, bolted right to the SSI's ... taking the place of megaphones seen on RSR's, and no mufflers at all? I hane always heard that Cat's were fairly effective as mufflers, of a minimalist kind!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

I have discussed this same question with my mechanic and have been told the following. While it is illegal for a mechanic to tamper with the emissions control system, it is OK for me to do it myself, provided the car will still pass emissions requirements. (We are talking New England here, and Colorado laws may be different.) I have heard of cars using a cat called the Supertrap. It is very small and attaches to the tailpipe. If the car is well tuned and efficient it provides adequate emissions control. I do not know the source of this device. I would be very interested in hearing what you decide to do, as I am contemplating the same conversion on a 1989 3.2 Carrera.

Good luck,
Tom Harris

Thanks Early_S_Man and HarrisTD. I suppose I will check with more local sources to see if I can make modifications myself. When I figure this out I'll post again.

Thanks again,

Dave

All states seem to be different in regards to smog. In California you must pass the 'visual' before you can actually get the test done. They might look and see that you have cats and then do the rest, but if you get an inspection station that really knows P cars, you won't pass the inspection outright. A few years ago there was a big stink about certain year Vette's that did not require pumps but all other Chevy's required them. The book made the Vette's fail the visual, even though they passed the actuall smog inspection. Had some fun with that one. Ah the prices we pay to live in paradise.

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John Birkett
72'T Targa