Improving stock y-pipe's flow
 

I have been doing some research on y-pipes for a few months now. I couldn't find any answers that were diffinitive towards what my question is. I have a 1995 Maxima with everything stock except for a cone filter and a turbo muffler. I am wanting to get more power for cheap. I live in Missouri where the emission inspections are not require for a car as old as mine. I went to a muffler shop and talked to the mechanic who said the car has to look like it has all its original parts to pass the general inspection process, is this true? I have read through the DMV website about inspections and it mentions nothing to that affect. If so I may not be able to pass inspection with an eBay y-pipe and a high flow cat like I planned. The other option I thought of recently was to mod the stock y-pipe to allow more flow, while keeping the car looking stock. Would it be possible to hollow out the pre-cats in the stock y-pipe? And would there be any power advantage to doing this?

Thanks so much!

I live in Missouri also a little north of you and we do not have emissions either. Ive had a cattman y pipe on my 98 5mt since '11 with no issues. I also have a 98 turbo that has a strait pipe to the muffler and i havent had any issues with that either. Good luck and im sure you dont have to worry about it.

Also the y pipe flows against stream from the rear bank and on top of precats the stock y pipe itself is pretty small. Huge difference from stock when i got my stillen sri, cattman y pipe and catback exhaust. A good y pipe is your best bang per buck on the 4th gen. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reassurance! I'll go ahead and put one on.