Even if you have the 2nd CAT still in place, you have to remove the first one to put headers in its place - thus modifying the emissions system. According to Texas:

(b) No person may remove or make inoperable any system or device used to control emissions
from a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine or any part thereof, except where the purpose of
removal of the system or device, or part thereof, is to install another system or device, or part
thereof, which is equally effective in reducing emissions from the vehicle.

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/legal/rules/rules/pdflib/114b.pdf

 

Yes, it is illegal. If your city/state doesn't have emissions testing, then you don't have to worry about it. If you do have emissions testing, then find out if it's just the sniffer, or if it's visual too. If it's just the sniffer, then you have a decent shot of passing. If it's the visual too, then you automatically fail. Also, if you're CEL is on, then you automatically fail.

 

Well, this royally sucks!

 

thats the truth, and thats why i waited till i moved out of virginia to south carolina which thankfully doesn't have emissions so i can get away with a header i ordered one last week as a matter of fact

virginia law is really strict on the modifications to a car especially concerning headers

 

So, would a hi-flow cat do the trick to pass emissions testing?

 

Only if you don't have a visual inspection. TECHNICALLY, it's federal law so it's illegal in all 50 states. The states that don't test you can get away with it. But it's still illegal.

 

It's also illegal to remove a functioning cat. The cat has to be defective to legally remove it. A highflow cat also wouldn't be able to mount where the stock cat mounts, so that is illegal too.

 

So all in all, yes it's illegal.

 

What I would tell you is this. What county is your vehicle registered in/are you getting it inspected in? If you are listening to the beat of the ATX then you are going to need to pass a sniffer but visually I don't think so. I'll ask someone I know about that and edit this post they run a highflow cat and headers and live up in RoundRock. Peace out

 

This royally blows, ive seen elantras with some of this **** installed before, actually multiple times so i thought it was legal. Essentially this thread crushed my dreams of doing only a few mods and getting some pretty decent improvements. Becasue from what i hear is that if you want a good upgrade thats nice and noticeable do headers and a high flow and your sitting pretty. Well, looks like im out i have a friend that does inspections, but even still i doubt he would hook me up if somethign was hardcore illegal. I mean hell pass me for something im going to get fixed soon so i dont have to test again, but nothing too crazy.. Damn, Now all thats left is the little things.. well i guess im going to get cracken and start with a CAI.. But essentially my "final goal" dreams are crushed

 

In all honesty, just headers and no cat aren't going to net that much power. 5-10 at most. With all the bolt-ons, header, CAI, t/b bypass, underdrives, cat-back and adjustable cam gear 140whp is just about max.

 

Simple solution...get your headers...install them...than swap back to stock for inspection...than back to your headers afterwards. Pain in the ***, yes, but you get to have your headers and pass inspection as well. Still illegal, but not as obviously illegal.

if you feel environmentally conscious, throw a high flow cat into the mix.

 

there are alot of things that are "illegal"; headers are one of them. it is illegal to have one, but you arent likely to get caught for it unless you're in CA.

the hotshot header is very easy to take off if need be, and you'd probably never get caught if you had a heat shield made for it like the factory manifold has.

 

yeah i thought about that hehe, and that list of mods about is essentially what i was thinkin about. i think even had something simliar at the elatnra meet i was at, could be wrong though.. but i just remember him saying that when he went back to stock it was noticeable. im not lookin to be a racecar hehe, i just want a little more and 5-10 is fine in my book heh