so if i understand correctly, a y pipe connects the 2 headers from the v6 and combines them into one for exhaust. this also eliminates the catalytic converter i believe? so my question is 1. (im pretty sure the answer is yes) is it illegal (since the catalytic converter is no longer in use) and 2. what is the chance you wont be able to pass emissions with a y pipe? thanks

 

It bypasses the 2 precats. IIRC you will pass emissions once the main cat(what the ypipe connects to) is warmed up completely.

 

the warp speed Y pipe did NOT replace my cat. It connected to it

 

It does not eliminate the cat and you will pass emissions with it after warming up the car for about 20-30 minutes.

 

ya from my past experiences with my friends maxima and his y pipe, it just bypasses the two 'smaller' cats for lack of a better term. it left the main one there and he never had problems passing emissions. but he did not pass with his gutted cat on, thats for sure. :P

 

well now taht all of that is solved. what type of y pipe would yall recomend?

 

ummm I don't know if you will pass emmissions unless if u keep ur stock cat..
I have CE y-pipe and replaced the cat with high flow and my numbers were extremely high..and yes the car was warm and driven for 45mins.

 

He is keeping the stock cat.

 

If a smog ref is **** enough to look under your car, you will fail because you don't have the precats, but your main cat is good enough so that it will pass tailpipe emissions once the car is warmed up.

 

one last thing, what gains can i expect with a new y pipe if i have no further power mods? should i go with a new intake instead?

 

u will gain anywere from 9-15 horsepwer
and no u dont need a new intake the stock intake is fine

 

like they would know the difference

 

Ya Im sure someone who works around exhaust and emission equipment all day wont be able to tell the difference.

 

dude dont tell me that they will know that it has a y pipe... they see hundreds of cars each day... not like they know any specifically

 

still no recomendations as to what brand of y pipe? i saw a thread/poll on the 5th gen part of teh ORG, maybe 4th gens need one too..

 

Search! haha, it has been discussed many times. Can't go wrong with cattman.

 

And yet at every smog place I have gone to, the tech has been able to see that I have an aftermarket intake and ypipe, strange....

 

Unless you care about your financial future...

I'd go with either budget or warpspeed.

 

yes warpspeed is fine i just got one and it is fine

 

have you gotten rejected from your emissions test for it? And could it have something to do with being in california?

 

Possibly, smog is so strict out here they are suppose to fail you for ypipe and intake and stuff like that. I have a couple shops where friends work so they dont care about my mods. But, even before I met them I bounced around different smog shops, they all immediately noticed my aftermarket parts but they too did not care.

 

well yea if they see someone with a loud fart can exhaust and they open the hood and see a big blue intake they are gonna look further.....

 

So now you are saying that if they were to look further that they would notice the aftermarket ypipe. You just said earlier in this thread that if they looked they would not be able to tell the difference, so which is it?


Also, I didnt know my car had a loud fart can exhaust, or a blue intake. Do you think you could tell me more about what I have on my car?

 

all aftermarket y-pipes are illegal. if you notice all manufacturers list them as 'for off-road use only'. they eliminate the front two 'pre-cats' and therefore defeat part of the emissions system. you will still be able to pass a sniff test and if you have a '96 or newer (OBDII) you may not even have to take a sniff test. in that case they will just plug into your OBD port with a scanner and as long as your car doesn't throw codes you will pass emissions.

most states do not do visual inspections unless they have reason to suspect that illegal parts are installed. inspectors don't look for specific exhaust parts, necessarily, they look for what stands out, since a shiny new mandrel-bent y-pipe sticks out like a sore thumb next to 13-year-old exhaust parts that have seen their share of snow-belt winters.

keep in mind the above advice in regards to warming your car up. just drive for 20-30 minutes before getting tested and you will be fine.

 

Even if your car is OBDII you still have to take the sniffer test. In California at least, when you go in for a smog test the tech is technically suppose to do a visual inspection. Some dont bother, some just take a quick glance under the hood, some will look all over the engine bay and under the car.

 

yeah california is a bear about it (no pun intended)

illinois, wisconsin, indiana, ohio and a lot of other states are a lot looser

 

1. any modifications or removal to emission equipment is illegal
2. You will pass as long as the 'inspector' is not **** ~ not to mention it will be pretty obvious w/ a shiny section and the rest of it rusted as someone else has noted.

These are the typical things that they are supposed to check during an inspection...

• Steering system
• Wheel alignment
• Suspension
• Brake system
• Wheels / tires
• Fuel system
• Exhaust system
• Bumpers
• Fenders
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Mirrors
• Glazing (windows)
• Wipers
• Hood / catches
• Door handle latches
• Floor / trunk pans
• Speedometer / odometer
• Driver seat
• Safety belts
• Motor mounts
• Gear shift indicator
• Universal and CV (constant velocity) joints
• Emissions equipment

In reality I believe most of em will just check your windshield wipers, brake pad thickness, and lights after they do the odb2 thing and call it day.

 

it was a generalization, that was not pointed at you... just like the other posts say.. if they see an shiny intake amongst a dirty *** engine bay they are gonna keep looking further... most y pipes are getting rusty/dirty, unless u have a SS one.... so in ur case they see an intake, they are gonna keep looking to see if u have anything else... u should be smart enough to know to take that crap off when u go into emissions or they are gonna give you a hard time......

 

wow you guys have it bad in Georgia they test your gas cap and stick a something in the exaust pipe 10 check for codes that youre car might have and youre on your way

 

they dont even do that there.(chicago) 96 and older dont require ANY EMISSONS, they have stopped testing them.... they dont look at any exhaust setup or anything they just check for a MIL light....

 

I called a place today that told me most y-pipes have to be cut in order to fit correctly. they want to charge me an extra 85 bucks to put mine on. (275 + 85)

 

No that is a lie.

 

Everything depends on the state and county you're in.
Texas counties in and around Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas all require emissions testing. the ones out in BFE only require a safety inspection.

Oklahoma has NO inspections whatsoever.

All states that do an emissions inspection will perform, at minimum, a visual of your exhaust system.

But that doesn't mean you WILL fail. that just means they look at it.

Last week, I took my 240 in for inspection.. HAHAHAHA
visible failure points/mods:
1. Hotshot header (no precats)
2. no EGR tube. ends were cut off and welded shut.
3. no rear O2 sensor. it's a sim + resistor
4. test pipe in place of main cat.
5. ECU not in ready status.
6. bad right side low beam headlight
7. left turn signal light out
8. left driving light out
9. front tires both past wear bars
10. non DOT brake lines. custom made from parts at race shop.
11. Wilwood calipers (not DOT compliant)
12. ride height too low. I couldn't even drive the thing over their OBD-I emissions dyno without bottoming the frame rails.


After the car passed (I was amazed!!), I left and came back with my truck..
his first comment.. "Is that thing as big a POS as the last one?"

 

That place is stupid. go somewhere else.

 

if your stock y is not broken, then don't replace it. for regular driving, don't waste your $$.

 

if you are trying to get an aftermarket one installed then you dont need it to be cut and installation is pretty simple (there are a ton of instructions on the ORG) im not sure about the OEM replacement ones but i seriously doubt that they would need to be cut. rip off.

 

the y-pipe is the best bang for the buck on the max aside from nitrous. what are you talking about?

 

don't get rid of your stock and buy a new aftermarket y. the aftermarket y is not all that. what are you talking about? normal driving don't usually reach 4k rpm. to take advantage of the y, you need to reach high rpm. best bang for the buck if you have a broken y. there is no debate if you want to sup up your car all the way.

 

ok ur done talking buddy.... there is a HUGE difference between the 2, if u dont feel it then u must weight 400 lbs or ur running 87 in ur car or u have a bad KS...

with the stock y pipe the car basically doesnt go anywhere after 3krpms... i dont know what ur talking about... but get ready and put ur flame suit on..

 

Blue Line = Stillen Cone Intake + Aftermarket Y-Pipe
Red Line = Stillen Cone Intake + Stock Y-Pipe

Y-Pipes are not street legal as they remove parts of your emissions control.

/thread