no, i agree they don't really thoroughly "inspect" your car. they do look underneath the car (with those mirrors) to make sure of, well, stuff. if you took off your second cat (test pipe or whatever) they might find this, but even then i doubt it. yeah if you failed emissions they would probably just give you a sticker, i don't think they care enough to find out WHY you failed. but my point is i don't think you would fail as long as you still have the second cat on and your car has been running so that the cat has time to heat up. one cat should be good enough, the first one is just to reduce emissions til the second one heats up.

 

yes in that case i agree with you, first cat is not needed nor checked. when it comes inspection time u better believe u HAVE to have ur second cat present. possibly in cali, with all those laws and CARB garbage it might be hard to pass emissions with one cat, but im not even sure.

 

I saw something on the news the other night and they said all cars purchased after the year 2000 do not have to be smogged until 2005. Gives us Cali guys and girls plenty of time to put old cats back on for inspection. I have heard that if you heat up your second cat just before inspection, you do stand a better chance passing emissions. But you can almost always find a place that will give you a smog sticker regardless of whether or not you pass. My biggest concern is with sound levels and cops who want to see CARB stickers for intake, header, etc. if they pull you over and decide to be jerks about it.

 

Now I have a question that adds on this discussion. Can you have a turbo and not have a header? I am new at this and I am trying to get an idea as to what I want to buy for my new Lancer.

 

You need something to feed the turbo exhaust gasses, whether it's a true turbo manifold or the stock manifold and a return pipe like Road Race's kit. In short, no.