Low resistance headers - why don't manufacturers put them on as standard?

[JulesMaximus]

If it's the automaker putting them on at factory build, it's not aftermarket.

Ford makes a plethora of aftermarket headers for the Mustang GT about half of which aren't street legal in CA.

 

[exdeath]

Ford makes a plethora of aftermarket headers for the Mustang GT about half of which aren't street legal in CA.

Sounds like CA's problem.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sounds like CA's problem.

They may or may not be street legal in other states as well. I'm not sure because I lived in CA when I owned my Mustang GT. I did install a set of Motorsport shorty headers that were labeled for off-road use only on that car though and never had a problem passing smog with it.

 

[SSSnail]

A lot of aftermarket parts that are illegal in California are also illegal in any states, simply because they fall under EPA regulations. Although the EPA regulations vary from state to state, CARB is the strictest.

Jules, just because you passed smog with it doesn't mean it's legal, or the technician did his job properly.

 

[exdeath]

If it passes smog, it's only illegal because someone didn't get a cut.

Typical government nonsense that need not be obeyed by the free and armed.

 

[JulesMaximus]

A lot of aftermarket parts that are illegal in California are also illegal in any states, simply because they fall under EPA regulations. Although the EPA regulations vary from state to state, CARB is the strictest.

Jules, just because you passed smog with it doesn't mean it's legal, or the technician did his job properly.

Oh, I know for a FACT that they weren't legal. I knew that when I put them on the car, but I was so sick of trying to get the cheap shit MAC headers the previous owner installed to seat properly and not leak that I said fuck it and bought the Ford Motorsport headers. The smog tech didn't notice though and I sure as hell wasn't going to bring it up. The car passed, and I got my registration renewal, that's all I cared about.

Those headers were great too. The car ran much better, pulled harder and sounded better and I didn't bypass any smog shit and it wasn't throwing a CEL so who cares?