ok, so I know this question has been answered many times but throughout my searching I found many different responses to the same question. I am under the impression that even though your vin may show cali-spec the only cali-spec cars with different emissions and a cat in the headers are on a 99. I also came out of my searching with the understanding that 95-98 max's are are all technically fed-spec as far as emissions are concerened and the one way to tell is if you have the 4 electrical plugs in the front of your engine bay. Did my searching lead me to the proper conclusion?

 

95's have 2 emmisions, fed spec with a mechanical evap. the charcoal canister in the engine bay where the abs would be. a 95 cali spec is like all 96-98's, electronic evap, canister under the trunk, and a map/pressure switch amung other things. They all have 2 front and 1 rear O2 sensors.

99's have a huge pre cat in the front manifold, with 4 O2 sensors up front. i have never seen a 99 without them. they also have swirl vavles to promote better combustion, and an electronic egr.

 

so whats the denoting number in the vin that says whether or not its cali spec...if not i guess i have to climb under the car, LOL

 

it's explained in the stickies, it is designated by a v somewhere in the vin number, check the stickies you'll find it there

 

jn1ca21a3xt700250 and mine is a 99 cali spec so maybe the v is in one of the other codes like the model code...