Colin

I've got a '96 SE with 133,000 miles on it. I need to replace my "front pipe" which i've come to learn is a y-pipe that i can buy online for 1/4 of what the mechanic wants to charge me. i'm just worried that i'll need more than the y-pipe itself. Will i be ok with just ordering the y pipe from Budget Exhaust, and will i be able to pass inspection in Massachusetts? any other m*******s around who might know?

ABK

Yeah if it's just they y-pipe that's broken that's all that you need. Plus budget y-pipe will give you an impresive gain of power

happyricefob

iTrader: (7)

just drive your car hard for 30 minutes before the smog check you'll be fine. if CA people with intake y-pipe catback can pass without a problem, you shouldn't have a problem in MA. good luck

-=PK=-Maxima

thats not true at all. i failed 2 times and and i know a lot of ca people who failed also . i drove around for 45 mins and let it idle for 10 mins before getting on the machine. if you have never changed your cat, i'm almost positive that you would fail.....that is if you live in cali i dunno what your state. but you also have to keep in mind caliornia has one of the toughest smog regulations in the US.

DR-Max

iTrader: (3)

I am also considering an aftermarket Y-pipe but skeptical about it because of the strict CA emissions test. So I was thinking about something during my commute back home this evening. How about taking a Budget Y-pipe, for example, to a good custom exhaust shop and have them make the holes where the O2 sensors go. Not sure how much this would actually cost but I'm going to ask around here in San Fernando Valley and see where it goes. Any inputs or thoughts?

-Dennis

ABK

Ahhh. Budget y-pipes have holes for 02 sensors, they just don't have precats

There are two diffent pipes one for california people (cali spec), and other everybody else (fed spec). It depends on your car and what kind of y-pipe it needs

BOZOnPJs

just get a CA spec y pipe. they make those.

DR-Max

iTrader: (3)

Are they manufactured by Budget too? And are there gains from these pipes as well? If not, I'm sticking with my old ones since there's nothing wrong with them at all.

ABK

Yeah they give gains, they just have one extra 02 sensor (maybe two, but I think just one). The pipe eliminates the precats and the gay bend is fixed by the straight one!!!

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Just because he lives in CA doesnt necessarily mean he has a Cali-spec max...

ABK

Yeah he is right go jump underneath the car and check out how many 02 sensors you got.

DR-Max

iTrader: (3)

Well I just moved to Cali from Nevada. I bought the car from an Arizona owner and the car was originally bought by that owner in Arizona so I cannot say that its Cali-spec. However, the only non-stock thing that's in it is a K&N cone filter w/ a MAF adapter. And soon, I'm making a home depot midpipe for it. I still haven't registered it at the DMV here but have to get it smogged first. So the midpipe and y-pipe is pending til it passes smog, plus I have to resolve this EGRC solenoid valve issue that's tripping the CEL. BTW, I have three O2 sensors.

ABK

yeah 3 O2s is fed spec. correct me if I'm wrong because I haven't looked underneath my car yet, other then changing brakes

Keith P

Just look under the hood by the oil stick. Count the fan and O2 connecter plugs on the block. 2 is fed spec, more is cali. This is in the FAQs.

ABK reminds us of why we want to change the (stupidly designed) ypipe.

The only reason that anyone needs to change the y pipe is damaged. What is wrong?

Maxtank

iTrader: (8)

Cali has 4 plugs on the right, Fed has 2.

Most Cali-spec maxes are NOT in CA

Eric425

You have three total? Or 3 on the y pipe? If you've got 2 in the y pipe, 1 cat, 3 total, then you've got a cali spec. Check the FAQ, you can double check with the vin too, if you are not sure. Also, do you actually care about getting another 10 hp or so? Is it worth the extra worry about smog, or hissing noises at high rpms, etc? If you just want a pipe that works, and aren't into modding your car, check the classifieds on the org, and ebay. I've seen factory pipes going for as little as $20. If you just want to get your car fixed, just get a used stock y pipe. Save yourself $170.

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Wrong, 3 total is fed-spec...

Eric425

I have 3 total, 1 on each of the downpipes, and 1 behind the cat..... ordered the cali spec y pipe, and it matched up perfect. The vin number also checked up as a california spec.

Shift_my vq

god damn it. Just read the F.a.q. All you have to do is check under your hood, there is a metal tag. Underneath your v.i.n is another row of numbers. The 12th letter will be v. for fed spec. If not it's canadian or cali spec.

Eric425

^^ yeah, that's the simplest way by far. But before you start damning everybody, you don't got it straight either. V is not fed spec, U is fed spec. V. is cali spec. N is canadian spec.

apbrian112

hehe... it's a good thing they got the FAQ's cus this thread is confusing as hell.

DR-Max

iTrader: (3)

I just checked mine, and now I'm certain that my Max is a V = Cali spec. I never really bothered checking this but thanks to you guys, I became curious enough to check it. Question: is California more strict with Cali spec Maximas? Lets say that Maxima has all the bolt on mods: Y-pipe, B-pipe, intake, etc. Would this Maxima most likely pass the visual and smog inspection? What's everyone's experiences on this?

enjoi

I have a cali-spec car, and I live in Massachusetts. Is there any difference between the cali-spec and fed-spec? Are cali slower or anything? And will this limit me from getting any aftermarket parts or anything? And do I need to get a cali-spec y-pipe even if I don't live in CA? Thanks, Steve