Plan for my new GS400
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: California
Plan for my new GS400
Well, just inherited a 98 GS400 from a family member with fairly low mileage. It drives great but I want more. My first step, improve the engine airflow. I was thinking about adding the following:
1. SRT Intake - Seen many positive reviews of this and it seems like an easy set up. Primary question is are they legal in California? I saw one note in a thread saying that K&N Intakes were legal in Cali but that SRTs are not anyone know if this is true?
2. SS Headers - I have read about the cracking but have not seen anything regarding this problem since the second gen headers were introduced. Has anyone been able to confirm that the second gen welds are in fact better for me?
3. Tanabe Medalion Touring Exhaust - I love the sound of this exhaust however, I see on their website they also manufacture a Super Medalion Hyper which is compatible with my GS400. Is there any reason why I only see people on the forum using the Touring vs. the Hyper set up??
Other questions I have, can the SS Headers be a direct bolt on to the Tanabe Exhaust?
If I choose to add turbo or other mods after the fact, will I need to scrap my SRT ECU in favor of a more advanced AF monitor/ECU.
Thanks for any input up front before I decide to take the plunge.
1. SRT Intake - Seen many positive reviews of this and it seems like an easy set up. Primary question is are they legal in California? I saw one note in a thread saying that K&N Intakes were legal in Cali but that SRTs are not anyone know if this is true?
2. SS Headers - I have read about the cracking but have not seen anything regarding this problem since the second gen headers were introduced. Has anyone been able to confirm that the second gen welds are in fact better for me?
3. Tanabe Medalion Touring Exhaust - I love the sound of this exhaust however, I see on their website they also manufacture a Super Medalion Hyper which is compatible with my GS400. Is there any reason why I only see people on the forum using the Touring vs. the Hyper set up??
Other questions I have, can the SS Headers be a direct bolt on to the Tanabe Exhaust?
If I choose to add turbo or other mods after the fact, will I need to scrap my SRT ECU in favor of a more advanced AF monitor/ECU.
Thanks for any input up front before I decide to take the plunge.
1. The SRT intake is not legal. You would pass the obd scan but not the visual. You could take the intake off for testing and then re-install it. (Remember though, this intake also requires the ECU to be wired). You could also go with the K&N plus safc and make more power than the SRT. You could get away with the visual if you hide your safc. The SRT is a great bang for the buck and right out of the box, no tuning required. You just install and go. You could spend more on the safc and tuning, but you will also get more power, and the safc is adjustable if you change your setup in the future. Do some research and you will see that members have gotten very good results from both setups. It is up to you which you prefer and is best for you under your circumstances.
3. I think it just has to do with which look and especially the sound you prefer. I doubt either makes significantly more power than the other. I personally have the medallion touring on my GS3 and I love the sound and the look. I have heard it on a GS4 on the dyno and it sounds great. It has a mean growl to it but nothing at all or similar to a rufstang.
Good luck!
3. I think it just has to do with which look and especially the sound you prefer. I doubt either makes significantly more power than the other. I personally have the medallion touring on my GS3 and I love the sound and the look. I have heard it on a GS4 on the dyno and it sounds great. It has a mean growl to it but nothing at all or similar to a rufstang.
Good luck!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: CA
The SRT is definitely not CARB (California Air Resourse Board) legal. I got pulled over for thumping my 12 inch subs to some Hyphy Music on a Saturday night and the cops told me to pop the hood. They were cracking down on the illegal mods in one section of San Jose that night apparently. Freakin' profiling if you ask me. Every car they pulled over was Asian Import with an Asian driving it.. Anyway, They wrote me up with a fix it ticket for the intake, as it did not have a CARB sticker on it. As far as getting it smogged. It will pass the smog test but not the visual. However, many smog testers will overlook the visual, but ask them first before you pay. I go to a SMOG station in San Jose and they always pass my visual with the SRT. Needless to say just don't get pulled over. A cop who is a friend of mine told me I could of refused to pop the hood because he did not have any probable cause to look under the hood. So there you have it!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: California
So other than the SRT all other parts I am looking at are CARB compliant correct?
Seems easy enough to remove it for smog test, or find a guy who will look the other way on it for a small fee or because he just doesn't care. As far as not getting pulled over for speeding, that is another whole ball of wax I will deal with when it comes up.
Seems easy enough to remove it for smog test, or find a guy who will look the other way on it for a small fee or because he just doesn't care. As far as not getting pulled over for speeding, that is another whole ball of wax I will deal with when it comes up.
Probably not exactly legal, but if you really wanted it to pass. Can't you buy a cheam AEM/Injen intake, peel off the CARB sticker from that and slap it on the SRT? If the cop pops the hood, they will see the carb sticker there. Or if you want to go overboard, put the AEM/Injen sticker on the pipe as well lol. I doubt they have a catalog on hand of what every different possible intake looks like. If the car is properly tuned(which the SRT is because it comes with the signal modifier box), it should emit no more emissions than the stock intake.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: California
That is also a great idea I am positive that none of the smog folks/cops would really know the difference. Wonder what the cheapest CARB stickered item I can get is. Off to search the internet!!
Also, the headers do not bolt up to the Tanabe exhaust because they connect to the cats and then the cats hook up to the Y pipe/mid muffler, then the exhaust hooks up to that.
FYI, headers are not legal, but they are hard to see. As long as you don't get sent to the ref, then you are ok.
Last edited by GS FONZy; Jul 3, 2008 at 04:32 PM.
Trending Topics
Oh they know, they have a book to look up these things, but some just don't care.
Also, the headers do not bolt up to the Tanabe exhaust because they connect to the catsn then the cats hook up to the Y pipe/mid muffler, then the exhaust hooks up to that.
FYI, headers are not legal, but they are hard to see. As long as you don't get sent to the ref, then you are ok.
Also, the headers do not bolt up to the Tanabe exhaust because they connect to the catsn then the cats hook up to the Y pipe/mid muffler, then the exhaust hooks up to that.
FYI, headers are not legal, but they are hard to see. As long as you don't get sent to the ref, then you are ok.
what he saidexhausts for the most part are cosmetic. as many have mentioned, most purchase for the sound. i chose the MT over the blitz for the tip, sound, and cat back.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: California
Oh they know, they have a book to look up these things, but some just don't care.
Also, the headers do not bolt up to the Tanabe exhaust because they connect to the cats and then the cats hook up to the Y pipe/mid muffler, then the exhaust hooks up to that.
FYI, headers are not legal, but they are hard to see. As long as you don't get sent to the ref, then you are ok.
Also, the headers do not bolt up to the Tanabe exhaust because they connect to the cats and then the cats hook up to the Y pipe/mid muffler, then the exhaust hooks up to that.
FYI, headers are not legal, but they are hard to see. As long as you don't get sent to the ref, then you are ok.
Headers and Tanabe exhaust will install without any fabrication or any additional parts, but you will not have a true cat back system.
On this pic, see the red circle? That's where the Tanabe exhaust begins. See how to the right of the picture there is a Y pipe from factory still there?
Last edited by GS FONZy; Jul 3, 2008 at 04:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: California
So, is there a manufacturer that makes a cat back system capable of connecting the Tanabe exhaust with the S+S headers or should I just go to my muffler shop and have them build one for me? I assume this can be done at relatively low cost.
