Emissions and Headers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

shavn80 · 12-16-2003, 04:05 AM

The previous owner installed long tube headers but its still got the cat converters and now I'm up for an emissions test in February. Anybody think I'll have problems at the testing station with "illegal" headers? I have no idea what emissions junk is supposed to be on this truck, its an '80.

Dirty Dan · 12-16-2003, 04:14 AM

I've heard that it doesn't make too much of a differance. Emissions get harder every year.

I just take my truck to a local place that works on drag cars. They mess with the carburator alot, and I mean ALOT. They mess with it, drive it down there, tune it back the way it was when I brought it, then call me to come get it, and the papers.

Eyegore · 12-16-2003, 02:11 PM

How long were the header on the truck from the previous owner, had he taken it through emissions himself and passed? If he did you should be OK. And how do you know if they are "illegal headers" there are headers that are 50 state legal? If the cats are on I believe it should be fine unless he lived in an area where emission testing was not required.
Let me know what happens though, my son just got sme hooker headers from the junkyard that he plans to put on his 82 w/ a 305, so I'm curious to how this will turn out myself. Also you may want to head down to the library and find what was require, as far as emissions on an 80, there should be some kind of info there.

Dirty Dan · 12-16-2003, 03:25 PM

Yeah I've seen alot that say 50 state legal. Eventually I would like to get some.

shavn80 · 12-16-2003, 03:36 PM

IIRC he said they were Flowtech headers, which seems about right because the quality of the workmanship looks horrible

and according to Holley's website, they're only legal for off-highway use. I don't think the previous owner took it through emissions with them on, but it runs clean through the machine here at work, so all I'm worried about is the visual inspection

PHOENIX · 12-16-2003, 05:12 PM

If the sticker under your hood near the hood latch shows the smog pump / air system then you will need it for visual inspection. If your sticker doesnt show it then you dont need it. If you dont have a sticker they look in a book for your truck and figure it out for you, may not be the best route for you. Some dont even check for the air system, its a gamble. They do however check for egr, vacuum canister, pcv, and vacuum hoses. Most do a half @ss look over, but some dont.

12-16-2003, 04:05 AM	#1
shavn80 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 49	Emissions and Headers The previous owner installed long tube headers but its still got the cat converters and now I'm up for an emissions test in February. Anybody think I'll have problems at the testing station with "illegal" headers? I have no idea what emissions junk is supposed to be on this truck, its an '80.

12-16-2003, 04:14 AM	#2
Dirty Dan Oh Look Out! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: M'boro TN, Posts: 505	I've heard that it doesn't make too much of a differance. Emissions get harder every year. I just take my truck to a local place that works on drag cars. They mess with the carburator alot, and I mean ALOT. They mess with it, drive it down there, tune it back the way it was when I brought it, then call me to come get it, and the papers. __________________ Dan's Webshots "I have a lot of growing up to do... I realized that the other day inside my fort" - Zack Galifianakis.

12-16-2003, 02:11 PM	#3
Eyegore What Hump? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New River AZ Posts: 2,009	How long were the header on the truck from the previous owner, had he taken it through emissions himself and passed? If he did you should be OK. And how do you know if they are "illegal headers" there are headers that are 50 state legal? If the cats are on I believe it should be fine unless he lived in an area where emission testing was not required. Let me know what happens though, my son just got sme hooker headers from the junkyard that he plans to put on his 82 w/ a 305, so I'm curious to how this will turn out myself. Also you may want to head down to the library and find what was require, as far as emissions on an 80, there should be some kind of info there. __________________ Lil red 86 c-10 99 Sub 78 Camper Special w/ 454

12-16-2003, 03:25 PM	#4
Dirty Dan Oh Look Out! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: M'boro TN, Posts: 505	Yeah I've seen alot that say 50 state legal. Eventually I would like to get some. __________________ Dan's Webshots "I have a lot of growing up to do... I realized that the other day inside my fort" - Zack Galifianakis.

12-16-2003, 05:12 PM	#6
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	If the sticker under your hood near the hood latch shows the smog pump / air system then you will need it for visual inspection. If your sticker doesnt show it then you dont need it. If you dont have a sticker they look in a book for your truck and figure it out for you, may not be the best route for you. Some dont even check for the air system, its a gamble. They do however check for egr, vacuum canister, pcv, and vacuum hoses. Most do a half @ss look over, but some dont. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

12-16-2003, 03:36 PM	#5
shavn80 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 49	IIRC he said they were Flowtech headers, which seems about right because the quality of the workmanship looks horrible and according to Holley's website, they're only legal for off-highway use. I don't think the previous owner took it through emissions with them on, but it runs clean through the machine here at work, so all I'm worried about is the visual inspection

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