I just moved to LA from Montana. I'm trying to bring my GTA down here in a couple months. Because I'm a student I can keep registering it at home for awhile so i don't need to worry about smog testing (I think). But what i"m wondering is with the stealth ram and headers and all the smog stuff off. If I put a cat back on it and get it tuned well, maybe a hotter ignition do you think it can pass smog? Or do they inspect the engine closely enough to know. I guess what I'm wondering is, do they care what I've done as long as what comes out the tailpipe meets their standards or does it have to be good in the engine bay too.

 

No that will not work.

They will pull out a complete diagram and catalog of the emissions-related components of your car, and inspect EVERY hose, EVERY tube, EVERY device, EVERY sensor, EVERY wire to see if it's in place. If even ONE is missing, you won't even make it to the sniffer test.

This is why those of us who have been there and done that, tell people DO NOT hack their cars up like that.

You'll have to put back on the original intake, or the only legal substitute, which is the super PITA SuperRam; and of course the entire AIR system and the cat.

 

I was afraid of that thanks for the advice.

 

LA as in Los Angeles, or as in Louisiana?
If its Los Angeles, then he's right. Every emissions device the car had when stock must still be on the car and fuctioning to pass the CA IM240 emissions test. Here in SoCal the guys in our club are making 400+ horsepower, running 12's in the 1/4 mile, getting 20+ MPG, and passing the emissions test cleaner than stock, so it can be done.