DP and TP - CELs and smog legal???

[Ghetto Mods]

Need a little advice on exh. upgrades. Looking at keeping the stock CBE since the prevailing opinion is that it flows pretty well and that the cat and downpipe are the big restrictions.

having stated the obvious, I now need to ask:

1) is there a DP/TP combo that is smog legal?

2) if not, is there a DP/TP combo that won't throw CEL codes right and left?

Recommendations welcome.

also, the money I save on CBE will be used for a turbo inlet pipe which IMO is a much bigger breathing issue and I'll likely have change left over for a decent bypass valve (forge or other)

 

[AutoXRacer]

None of the DP throw a cel (CP-E, CS, TurboXS)...
The only smog legal DP is CP-E's catted DP for now...other vendors are claiming to come out with one.

Honestly, if you plan on doing a DP/TP combo, just buy the whole system with the CBE included. Its cheaper that way. I wish I would have done that instead of buying only the DP. This is what a 3" DP looks like with the stock CBE:

It's horrible... And now my restriction is my CBE...

You'll be going from a 3" free flow to a tiny sub 2.4" pipe.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I don't have a particular recommendation as I am holding out until someone comes out with an affordable downpipe with a high flow cat in it. I'm about ready to buy a turboXS pipe and splice one in myself.
If you are that concerned with keeping this legal, be aware that it is against the law in many states to remove a functioning catalytic converter from a street driven vehicle, for any reason. Generally speaking, if your state "sniff tests", it's illegal.
I always thought it was against federal law, and I just found this reference on a site dedicated to catalytic converters:
Please note that Federal law prohibits removal or replacement of a properly functioning O.E. converter.
http://www.catalyticconverter.org/law/index.htm

 

[speed3shon]

if your gonna weld one in, why not just weld one in in place of the stock 2nd cat?

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

if your gonna weld one in, why not just weld one in in place of the stock 2nd cat?

I'm pretty sure there are three cats in this thing, two small ones in the downpipe, and one under the car. From what I can figure from the various posts (and I haven't missed many) there is the most to be gained by freeing up the flow right before and after the turbo. I'm not going to spend the money (at least not this year) on a turbo manifold, so that means the downpipe needs to breath better.
You're thinking in terms of overall restriction. Take out anything in the path that is an obstruction and it should help. This is true, but it won't help as much as taking out the obstruction immediately after the turbo. Installing a downpipe with a good sized bellmouth at the beginning and as little restriction as possible gives the exhaust gasses room to expand as they exit the turbo. This expansion room is important and very beneficial. From what I've read, it is pretty clear that taking into account difficulty of swap, cost, and power gain, the downpipe is clearly the first exhaust mod to do if you are like me and need to do your mods a little at a time. Ultimately I want to have either a high flow cat or a racepipe under the car, but the first step is going to be that downpipe.