SSI heat exchangers = no cat conv = bad news for CA resident?

SchnellBoy · 01-19-2002, 09:22 PM

SSI heat exchangers + aftermarket exhaust = nice mod, nice gain in performance, but requires removing the cat....so as a CA resident, I should forget about it right? It's not worth the problems that may arise with emissions testing, right? Unless the smog guy mistakes the stainless steel SSIs as some sort of cat, I'm not going to pass the visual, am I correct? And if I do pop SSIs on, do I would have to pop my original equipment every 2 years......

I've read just about every "smog" and "SSI" related post on this message board, and that is the conclusion that I came up with. If someone can tell me that I'm wrong, I'll be very happy to listen.

Thanks,
SchnellBoy

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

See this thread, from this evening:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/vb/showthread.php?&threadid=57347

What a lot of people do is swap back the stock exhaust every 2 years.

Tom

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

The SSIs look suspicously like cats. And the typical smog inspector has no idea what those wacky rear engine air cooled jobies are supposed to look like. Know what I mean, nudge nudge, wink wink.

kepperly · kepperly's Garage

schnellboy,
why go with the ssi,s just do a cat bypass and sport muffler,
almost the same gain and alot less trouble especially when you have to change back every two years.
slant nose in kansas

whats smog?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Check out my previous post....mine just passed. BUT...it has a smog pump that most don't have on the SC. It was added when it was Federalized after import by it's owner.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57347

As long as you can convince the tech that it has a cat pipe(s)....AND your emissions are below the max, you will pass.....

YMMV

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
it has a smog pump that most don't have on the SC. It was added when it was Federalized after import by it's owner.

Which is in itself pretty wierd. US 911's in 83 didn't have a smog pump, did they? My 82 doesn't have one.

I wonder why they did that.

Tom

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

God who knows why they added a pump....it really does not do much.

I have put it on the tester without it tuning (diconnected the belt) and the changes are very insignificant....but that sticker in the door says it HAS to be there, so when it is tested or if anyone asks....it's there.

SchnellBoy · 01-20-2002, 06:11 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'm assuming that a 911SC with SSIs and an aftermarket exhaust (Bursch) will pass everything but the visual. I've read the thread about techron, about low grade vs high grade gasoline, and so on. I'm pretty buddy-buddy with the local Chevron station mechanic, so I'm pretty sure he'll give me an A-OK on the smog check.