Per my previous post I've purchased Hooker 6901's for my sons 1976 Maverick that we are putting a 302 V8 engine in. Here in Phoenix we have to pass emissions testing once per year to get our license renewed. I called the emissions office and asked if my 1976 Maverick with a 302 V8 be required to have a smog pump and catalitic converter and the answer was yes to both. Here is my question - Will the Hooker 6901's work with a smog pump/catalitic converter? Does anyone have any experience with this? The place I purchased them from stated that they would fit years 1971-1977 Mavericks but did not say anything about hooking them up to the smog pump. Thanks!
I don't know about your state, but most states don't allow converters to be moved from stock position. Headers may or may not do that. I have never had a Mav with cats. Also, if the car had one cat and single exhaust, most rules don't allow adding cats or dual exhaust. Not trying to get you down, but these laws are restrictive. The good thing is that many inspectors don't know or don't care... Some are goose-steppin' ego maniacs though. Dave
Exactly what Dave said ..... Federal law is very specific about not altering the original design of the exhaust system. That is why many headers are sold "For off road use only" to cover the makers butts.
When my 75 was in NC, they griped about my headers. The referee at the highway patrol said 75s could be had with or without cats. The only way to tell was to see the original valve covers and read the sticker. It would say "Catalyst" or "Non-Catalyst". I no longer had my covers, but I knew for sure it said non-cat... However, the guy was a nazi. He said that without the cover to confirm what I knew, that they had to assume it had a cat. BS. I just registered it in TN and drove it in NC while I lived there. IMO: If any of you own a non-cat car, or a car like the 75, that could be had either way... You really should pick up a set of VCs from your year that say "non cat"! That way, if the EPA crap ever gets really into your business, you can whip out correct year stickers that exempt you from exhaust restrictions. I would very much like to find a set of 75 covers with the non cat stickers to keep around for mine. Dave
definately check the states regs on any moving or modding of cats. some states will allow you to buy and install after market dual cats if you get it certified by the muffler shop as correct backpressure and such. In cali, we also had to keep the stock style cat back in the early 90s. you could still get certified headers though and just had to have the piping go from the headers to the cat. chevys had an advantage here because there were often bolt up headers that didnt even require any cutting or welding. best way to find out is call a muffler shop, they are supposed to know the state regs.
Federal prohibits moving or adding cats to an exhaust system. Basically in order for a header to be legal it would have to be a direct replacement and connect in to the exhaust system in a stock, unaltered fashion. Secondly, it would have to be assigned an executive order #. This is something the manufacture would have to apply for and the part would have to go through "the labs" rigourous testing. Automakers first suffered from the cat. mandate in 1975, except trucks. The car would pass the sniffer for sure if all the emssions were still in place, but would not pass the, imo, ignorant visual inspection, at least here in commiefornia. Having said this, You may be able to find someone to work with you on this. You could visit a smog station and talk to a smog tech. You may find that if you "graft" cat in line somewhere he may let it go. Who knows, he could be a sympathic car nut like us. There are $100 guys still out there I'm not suggesting anything, Just an observation. Hope it all works out for ya man, I hate all this red tape bs, I really do.
I once had a 79 Bronco that was originally a non cat truck. In 79 the cat ones had "Unleded gas only" stamped on the gas gauge and a restrictor in the filler pipe. Mine had neither. Then the state of MD said it had to go through emmissions. It passed with flying colors. Was ready to pull out when the inspector told me to wait while he got his roll around mirror and looked under the truck. He said I needed cats on my exhaust. I politely explaind the differences to him. What I didnt realize, was, a motor I had stuck in there when I first got the truck had valve covers with catalitic stickers on them. Needless to say the remaining discussion quickly went from polite to using every word I learned in the Navy. Didnt mater, the emission Natzies have all the power. I ended up having to put a cat on it. I also had to install a restrictor in the filler pipe even though you could no longer buy unleaded gas. I hate this state.
