I've been looking at headers now for my ZX3, and it seems that a lot of them are "race headers" without a cat. If I were to buy on of these, and run without a cat, would I be able to pass inspection? I'm assuming that it's legal (I've seen it done other places) provided the car meets the emissions standards. Will the Focus meet the standards without a cat, or will I be passing by a very fine margain? Thanks for your help.
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
No, it will not pass emissions tests. Also I is not legal to remove the cat from an emission controlled vehicle. If you look at the fine print on most race headers they say for off-road use only. You should look into a shorty header and a high flow cat.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Thanks for the quick reply. So if I get a shorty header, then attach a high flow cat to that, can I bolt any Focus exhaust kit up to the cat? Thanks again
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
An exhaust for the focus is not really a cat back system, it's more of a flex back system. There is a flex pipe that connects to cat to absorb some of the movement of the engine. As long as you don't mess with were that flex pipe is located, you put any Focus exhaust on there.
Thanks for all of your help! Sorry about all of these questions, it's just that this is the first car I've seen with a cat in the header. I think I get what you're saying, but I want to verify it before I go spending my money. If I go get a shorty header, then attach a cat to the end of that, I can later attach any Focus exhaust because of the flex pipe? So I can go get a shorty header, and cat, and attach it to my stock exhaust for now with the flex pipe, then when I save some more money, that flex pipe will hook up to any exhaust system?
Sorry for all the dumb questions, I just want to make sure that the header and cat I buy now will work with the exhaust I buy later. Thanks!
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
Yes, you can get a shorty header and a hi-flow cat and use your stock flex pipe and exhaust then at some point replace the exhaust and flex pipe. That said I would start from the exhaust and work my way back. You will see more of a gain with an after market exhaust and flex pipe and a stock header and cat.
It's just my opinion, but look at an exhaust first, then look at headers. I have had good experience with http://Trubendz.com most of the exhaust stuff I have bought has been from them.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
i've been wondering for the longest time whether or not to remove my cat also. i was gonna use an offroad pipe in its place but removing the cat is "illegal" cuz of emmisions. then i hear "use a hi flow cat" but they say they hurt hp rather than help it. what should i do??? and also do they make an aftermarket flex pipe?
Last edited on Sun Aug 1st, 2004 11:00 pm by docinsano
It's illegal to remove or change the cat unless there is something wrong with it or the car has over 50k in miles, this is what I was told. Most shops will not install a off-road pipe or a high flow cat, but the good news is that they are fairly easy things to do.
You will see more performance from removing the cat, not as much from a hi flow cat but still more than a stock cat. Check out Random Technologies for high flow cats.
Check out http://Trubendz.com for flex pipes, they are good people to deal with.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Another thing that can be done is to get a universal high flow cat and have a muffler shop bent some pipe from the header underneath the car, then install the cat underneath the car. This would greatly reduce the temp in engine bay and help with the performance of the car.
Don't ever apologize for asking questions...that's what we're all here for.
As stated, no, you will not pass inspection and from what I can tell - to extrapilate on the CAT legalities...There are vehicle years where prior to said year can or can not have a cat and anything built after that MUST have a cat due to Federal Emissions Regulations.
I've never heard the 50k mile thing. I know that there are loads of ppl. here with more than 50k miles on their focus and still would not pass inspection if they removed it even if it were damaged or not. You must replace it if it's damaged and the vehicle came with one originally no matter what the milage.
I would check your state's DOT laws.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Poor, very poor, the pacesetter has terrible welds, doesn't fit properly, and has been known to fall apart very quickly. I know the price is tempting, but the quality just isn't there. You can get an MBRP exhaust for around $200 and you get high quality polished stainless steel with good welds, and a solid construction, but it's a bit louder than some people like.
Chelly02 wrote: I've never heard the 50k mile thing. I know that there are loads of ppl. here with more than 50k miles on their focus and still would not pass inspection if they removed it even if it were damaged or not. You must replace it if it's damaged and the vehicle came with one originally no matter what the milage.
I would check your state's DOT laws.
If damaged or failed, then it can be replaced.
In the pdf doc I just posted, it states that you can't replace a CAT untill 8years/80K miles on 1995 or newer cars unless the CAT has failed or gone bad.
Every who installs a race header or ORP on a street car is taking a risk of being fined if caught without a CAT.
A shorty header/hi flo CAT will keep you legal or the SVTF header/hi flo CAT package will keep you legal too.
If you get a cat back exhaust get stainless steel. It might cost more now but it will last a heck of alot longer. Also not to pimp my own stuff but my Borla exhaust is in the buy/sell forum, check it out if ya want.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Well My catalytic convertor went bad last month ...I purchased a Random Technologies High Flow Cat.....used the stock flex pipeand got a MBRP exhaust all for 512 dollars. I have the stock headers though but JBA makes shorty headers..I pass emissions fine ........The high flow cat i have still uses my O2 sensors
____________________ Captain Morgan and Dr.Pepper are my homies....
robbyl wrote: How much would a flex pipe with a cat bach add?
Price wise? A flex is about 120 or so, depending on the size and who you get it from. As for power, who knows, it all has to do with so many other things. Whether you have headers, whose headers, whose cat, hiflow or stock, which cat back, how big, intake? cams? cam gears? etc. Just throwing an exhaust on different stock focuses will give different results because the timing on all the stock cams are all slightly different.
and got a MBRP exhaust all for 512 dollars. I have the stock headers though but JBA makes shorty headers..I pass emissions fine ........The high flow cat i have still uses my O2 sensors