I've read several different posts and looked at different websites on the subject of headers and am getting some conflicting opinions, so I need your help in answering them. I'd like to purchas ein the next month or so but want to get them qurestionsresolved before I do.

1. I've read a few things that state long tubes can make you fail emissions. Is that just CA smog ***** or would that happen here in Texas as weanll?
2. Is the stock y pipe good enough for short tubes/long tubesor do you have a recommended alternative?

If anybody has a brand (short or long) that they recommend (orto stay away from) I'd like to know thatas well.

Thanks guys.

 

im also wondering about this..

i just looked at the pace-setter web-site and they offer long-tubes but they dont have a catted Y-pipe.

just an off-road one =\\

 

You will need to research the laws where you live. I am running the Pacesetter lt's with thier Y. I had the shop install a racing cat after that. I am also running ao2simm. I don't think this setup would pass a sniff test. In Va (right now), if you have no CE light and have a cat installedyou pass.

I am very pleased with the headers both quality wise and performance wise. I have run the **** out of them and they still look brand new. If you decide on them, do not use the chknsht gaskets that come with them. Get the Felpro metallics or the copper ones.

 

I would like to know what works with OE Y and what works with lt's and which hooks to oe cat. I haven't taken a good look at the cat to see how it hooks up.

 

I think all Shorty headers made for our trucks hook up to the factory Y pipe, that's why there's so many brands out there. It's a bolt on mod. I've read that the Y pipe for our truck is restrictive, but I haven't found mention of an aftermarket one from any site that's larger, but comforms to factory lengths. My Y pipe is 3" diameter though as its a direct 1:1 fit with my 3" in/out cat right behind it. If that's restrictive, then so is my whole exhaust. Most guys say their exhaust is 2 1/2", so I wonder why mine is larger? I'm the original owner, andnever modded the exhaust before this summer,so I'm a little worried that my exhaust isn't "stock" and any headersI order won't work as a result. My old cat and stockmufflerhad a spot just before them and after that compressed down to 21/2 inch andthen expanded right back out to 3". I don't see anything onmy build sheet about special exhaust... Hey, I have a factory aux tranny cooler! Sweet!

I'm prettysure that Texas hooks a tube to your exhaust, (this from a state where you can pretty much shoot somebody who enters your house without provocation) so that'sa little more than no CE or cat, but I just got inspected this Saturday for the year with my newmagnaflow hi-flow cat and passed. I don't understand why a longer tube causes emissions problems, if you've still got a cat, that's what matters right?

 

yeah well iots not a problem for me, me and my friends usually team up (about 3 or 4 guys) on whoevers car has a SMOG test coming up, we keep all the stock parts and swap them over in a day or 2. pass the test with flying colors then put all the "illegal" stuff back on, then repeat it every 2 years..

mopowar - how loud is your system with their Y-pipe and their LT's and the cat?

 

It is not really the longer tubes perse. It's just that the cat ends up too far back in the systemto maintain the optimum light off temperature. Some of the high flow cats will throw a code installed in the proper place.

Loud. It makes women scowl and babies cry. I try to feather it out of the neighborhood the best I can.

 

excellent, just how i want mine =]]

does the LT's and Y come with O2 holes?

i cant seem to find someone that makes sims for the '96...

 

It comes with a bung for the upstream sensor. You only end up monitoring one bank of cylinders though.
I've been thinking of having a bung welded into the other side so that I can monitor the other bank from time to time.

I bought my simm from the Fastman.

 

my truck is registered in texas and i have the pacesetter longtubes with the after cat o2 simm and itruns great! as long as you have a cat you should be good as far as inspection goes, but i cant tell you how many times i have gone to get my truck registered and they just verified that i had insurance and gave me the sticker. so to answer your question just get a highflow cat installed and you should be legal.