how are inspections there? If you won't have a problem getting inspected yearly, get headers and you'll never regret it! 
Get Headers or Replace Cat?
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Chicago, IL
Get Headers or Replace Cat?
Found out for sure my driver side catalytic converter is bad today. Tomorrow I'm going to the dealer and see if they can warranty it. I've never messed with the cats but I do have a modified exhaust and no, I don't have the stock pieces plus my bumper is cut up to fit quads. But if I comes down to me paying out of pocket, should I get headers or replace the bad cat? I don't want to put in a used cat and since it's part of the exhaust manifold, it's going to be pricey. So now I'm wondering if I should get headers since it'll be the same price roughly.
id assume no...
and if no, whats the point of putting that HFC, why not just delete the cat since its already illegal?
Well deleting any working cat is illegal we all know that. But is my car legal with the hfc yes. I pass emission no problem. I also choose the hfc cause I rather not splice into my fuse box to hook up a o2 simulator to get rid of a CEL that common on these header cause your not running a cat. Another note I like the clean sound with the hfc the no raspy can rattle tone.
Well deleting any working cat is illegal we all know that. But is my car legal with the hfc yes. I pass emission no problem. I also choose the hfc cause I rather not splice into my fuse box to hook up a o2 simulator to get rid of a CEL that common on these header cause your not running a cat. Another note I like the clean sound with the hfc the no raspy can rattle tone.
got any sound clips of your setup?
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I don't have any clips of cause it pretty quiet just a little above stock sound. I prefer the performance without the loud sounds. But I've talk to that CL member in that video and his setup is loud with the Joe z exhaust if that what you want. It hard to tell from the video. I run the header,hfc,stock mid pipe, fujitsubo exhaust and it something I can keep for years without being annoyed by the sound. But if you want that aggressive sound run it cats less.If you still have the resonator you might not be so raspy.Check out his other video and you get a better feel.
Last edited by laobo979; Aug 29, 2012 at 11:48 PM.
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If your car is under 80,000 miles the cat is under warranty anyway
But yes, headers=illegal.
If you'll get caught depends on the nature of the inspection they do though- it'll likely pass a sniffer just fine, or an OBD-2 plugin only test fine too if avoid the CEL issues a few folks have had.
A visual on the other hand depends how observant the inspector is and if he knows what he's looking for.
But yes, headers=illegal.
If you'll get caught depends on the nature of the inspection they do though- it'll likely pass a sniffer just fine, or an OBD-2 plugin only test fine too if avoid the CEL issues a few folks have had.
A visual on the other hand depends how observant the inspector is and if he knows what he's looking for.
Its not really funny, it was 1/8 mile if were 1/4 ISF would just pull ahead 
my time slip was 8.47 to 8.6 all day and the weather was like mid 80's . No cats here , there is no reason to have cats when u have after market header. Install about 400$ on IS, and For ISF is about 550$ much longer due to the steering shaft, dipstick and subframe.
my time slip was 8.47 to 8.6 all day and the weather was like mid 80's . No cats here , there is no reason to have cats when u have after market header. Install about 400$ on IS, and For ISF is about 550$ much longer due to the steering shaft, dipstick and subframe.
Its not really funny, it was 1/8 mile if were 1/4 ISF would just pull ahead my time slip was 8.47 to 8.6 all day and the weather was like mid 80's . No cats here , there is no reason to have cats when u have after market header. Install about 400$ on IS, and For ISF is about 550$ much longer due to the steering shaft, dipstick and subframe.
my time slip was 8.47 to 8.6 all day and the weather was like mid 80's . No cats here , there is no reason to have cats when u have after market header. Install about 400$ on IS, and For ISF is about 550$ much longer due to the steering shaft, dipstick and subframe.can you tell me where in socal i can get these installed? thanks
