Hey guys so I want to do some LTs but I live in Cali. So with that bein said I have a guy who will over look visual as long as I pass the sniffer. My truck is a 2000 NBS 2wd with a 5.3L in it. The truck is lifted 6"s with 35" tires and 4.56 gears in the rear. I have a volant CAI so far and was looking to do the headers next with a tune immediatly after it.

My truck is a daily driver so I'm not looking to get goons of power out of it, just a little extra. My plan is to stay with the CAI, LTs, and a black bear tune for now and build a stock motor on the side with upgraded 2.00 intake and maybe a very mild cam. Like I said it's a daily and I still have to work out of it which means a little towing and a lot of hauling. I would also like to keep my gas milage the way it is if not improve it. I may be willing to sacrafice 1mpg but not much more than that.

I was looking atthe bassani midtubes but everyone seems to be saying go LT or bust. Which is fine by me. I was looking at the LPP LTs and was wondering if I could use the stock cats welded into the ypipe( if I have to make my own ypipe so be it) would that be possible to use the stock cats? If not who makes a good reliable aftermarket unit that will work and pass the sniffer?

 

Lots of companies make nice aftermarket cats, my rcsb before had high flow magnaflow units on it, cam injecotrs and fully bolted it passed ontario emissions.

Lpp hands down best bang for buck, but you cant beat the quality and build of a arh setup, and you can get a y pipe with cats from them, but thats over twice the price compared to lpp

 

I haven't handled a set of LPP's myself, but they do look very nice.

I have however handled many of the different header/intermediate pipe sets for our trucks, and I can tell you ARH is superior. They do indeed cost twice of LPPs, but you get high-velocity spiked merge collectors, bigger primary tubes, high quality catalytic converters, ball and socket joints for a trouble free installation and no leaks, and minor, but the Y pipe flange is studded unlike others.

For me, it's clear that ARH is the way to go, only you guys can make that decision for yourself. It's only money, right?

 

While the ARH, Kooks, and other brands are available with cats, none of them have a C.A.R.B. number. Since you live in CA, that is likely to be a problem for you when inspection time comes around.

From what I've read, most of you CA guys save your stock smog legal equipment, and swap it all back on for the inspection, then back off after you get your sticker.

Maybe others from CA will chime in, and give you some better advice.

 

better hope you don't run into this guy:

Got pulled over for tint and cop checked the engine - LS1TECH

 

Being a truck that gets used for work looks different than a camaro with tint. As much as there is available for trucks I think cops kind of expect camaros to be nodded and not trucks.

 

what are those? How do they effect the exhaust?

Also what would I be looking for in a aftermarket cat besides inlet and outlet size if I were to get some?.......if I can get some since I live in Cali.

 

You may be able to get a little more out of LT headers and by all accounts they will net you the most gains but I am pretty happy with my Bassani's. If you are really hung up on squeezing more out of your truck and have a smog guy you are able to take it to than I'm pretty sure the LTs with cats will fit the bill but if your smog guy leaves the shop you take it to, or you get the dreaded "smog test only station" you will need to find a factory replacement y-pipe and manifolds. Just something to consider to save you some headaches.

 

When I lived in Cali, many years ago, they had spot smog inspections...I was under the impression that they still do...

 

I have only seen one pop up in the last two years and it was the first time I have ever seen one. If they are out there they are few and far between.